The deadline to submit your images is September 22nd at 11:59PM PST.
What are the image submission requirements?
Images submitted must be under 10MB in JPG or JPEG format! The uploader will allow you to upload images larger than this, however, if you do this it will cause an error. Please make sure your files are 9.9MB or less and in JPG or JPEG format.
How much does it cost to enter the competition?
It costs $20 for 1, $35 for 2, and $45 for 3 photo submissions into a single category (Portrait, Birdscape, Creative, and Macro). There is also a New Photographers category that costs $10 for 1, $18 for 2, and $25 for 3 photo submissions.
Can I submit multiple entries?
Yes, you can submit as many entries as you would like.
Who can enter?
This competition is open to international submissions from around the world and not limited to just the United States where it’s hosted. Anyone over the age of 13 (as of August 24th) can enter into any category with the exception of the “New Photographers” category having specific conditions.
Who is the New Photographers category open to?
The category is open only to wildlife photographers that have been doing wildlife photography: for 2 years or less (at least once a month), OR cumulatively less than 24 outings over the course of their lifetime if they have been doing it more than 2 years. They must also meet the general criteria of who can enter above.
If I am a “New Photographer” can I also submit into other categories?
Yes, if you qualify for the “New Photographers” category, you can still choose to submit to the Portrait, Birdscape, Creative, and Macro categories.
Will the winner of the “New Photographers” category be in the running for the grand prize?
No, the first place winner from the “New Photographers” category will not be in the running for the grand prize.
Can I submit images to multiple categories?
Yes, you can submit as many images as you’d like. Bundle pricing only applies to images in the same category however, so if you’d like to purchase entries across categories you will have to purchase separate bundles. Add all of your bundles to your cart and click the cart icon in the top right corner to check out when you are ready.
How will my images be judged?
The images will be judged by the 5 judges after the submission window closes. The judges will create a shortlist of finalists for the live judging and awards event on October 5th. The finalists will then be judged live on October 5th at the link HERE so that viewers can watch the final stages of the process and see who wins.
What kind of editing is allowed in my images?
Editing exposure, light, color, and detail in a program such as Lightroom is acceptable. Whether it be the whole photo or a mask (such as radial, gradient), these types of editing are allowed. Anything that adds an element into the photo is not allowed. Editing that removes elements from the photo such as Sky swapping or removal of objects much more significant than a dust spot or small twig through cloning, for example, is not permitted. Additive post-processing techniques and the use of Generative AI is not allowed. As there are many specific use cases in editing it is impossible to answer each one here, If you have any questions, email us through our contact for to get verification on your specific case and what is allowed.
Can I watermark my images?
do not include watermarks on your images that you submit. This is to ensure unbiased judging in our judging process as the judges will not be allowed to see the names of who took which image prior to being judged.
Can I submit images already used in other competitions?
Yes, there are no restrictions on wildlife photography images permissible due to past competition entires.
Can I submit images that were taken long ago?
Yes, there is no limit on photos due to the date and time that they were taken.
The following competition rules (‘the Rules’) constitute the terms and conditions of the Wilder Photo Competition (‘the Competition’). By submitting an entry to the Competition, you are agreeing to be bound by the following Rules:
1. The Competition
The ‘Competition’ is owned and operated by Jeremy Neipp Creative.
The Competition is open to individuals that are aged 13 years or above on the 24th of August, 2024.
The ‘New Photographers’ category is open to wildlife photographers involved in the act of wildlife photography for 2 years or less (defined at a rate of at least once a month) as of the 24th of August, 2024. If you have done wildlife photography for once a month for more than 2 years worth of time you are ineligible for this category.
The Competition is sponsored by:
Cotton Carrier
Quikcamo
Titanium Micro
Topaz Labs
All communication in regards to the Competition should be made via email to: jeremy.neipp@gmail.com
2. Entry into the Competition
Entries must be received by 23:59 PST on the 22nd of September 2024 (the ‘Closing Date’).
Individuals (and their partners and family members) involved in the organization or running of the Competition, including any Competition Sponsors or Judges (as defined below), are not permitted to enter the Competition.
By submitting an entry to the Competition, you agree:
not to do or say anything that damages, or may damage, the reputation of Wilder Photo Competition or the Competition Sponsors;
that you have read and understand the Rules; that any entry you submit complies with the Rules; and
to accept all liability for any loss or damage caused to, or incurred by, Wilder Photo Competition and its licensees as a result of your breach of the Rules.
Images are not permitted to be entered into the Competition that:
have required the use of live bait;
feature domesticated animals;
feature captive or restrained animals, animal models, and/or any animal being exploited for profit unless for the purposes of reporting on a conservation story.
Any entry found not to comply with the Rules (at any stage of the Competition, including after the announcement of the winners) may be disqualified from the Competition at the sole discretion of Wilder Photo Competition. In such a case, no refunds will be made and the decision of Wilder Photo Competition on all matters relating to the Competition is final and binding on you.
If any entrant to the Competition is chosen as a winner but is subsequently disqualified for a breach of the Rules after any prizes have been awarded, the relevant entrant is required to return such prize(s) to Wilder Photo Competition within 30 days of receiving notice of such disqualification.
At any stage of the Competition, Wilder Photo Competition may, acting in its sole discretion, amend the Rules and/or waive a breach of the Rules.
3. Submitting an Entry to the Competition
Entry into the Competition is only accepted via the website atwww.officialwilder.com and not via e-mail, post, or any other means.
Entry into the Competition (with the exclusion of the ‘New Photographers’ category) are charged for at a rate of $20 for 1 entry, $35 for 2 entries, or $45 for 3 entries into the same category (‘Portrait’, Birdscape’, ‘Creative’, or ‘Macro’).
Entry into the Competition for the ‘New Photographers’ category are charged for at a rate of $10 for 1 entry, $18 for 2 entries, or $25 for 3 entries.
There is no limit on the number of submissions you may submit to the Competition.
Submissions must be submitted by the Closing Date.
Each submission package may be submitted to one of the following categories:
Portrait
Birdscape
Creative
Macro
New Photographers
It is your responsibility to ensure that your entry fits the description of the relevant category to which you submit your entry.
4. Ethics and Conduct
Without exception, you are expected to adhere to the following code of ethics in this condition. Any breach of these ethics will be deemed to be a breach of the Rules and may result in you being disqualified from the Competition.
Entries must not deceive the viewer and/or misrepresent the reality of the natural world in any category except for the Creative category.
Entrants must not:
injure, distress, or damage an animal for the purposes of photography.
The practice of ‘live baiting’ is strictly prohibited. For the purposes of these Rules, live baiting means providing a live animal as a prey item for the purposes of attracting, or eliciting any other display of behavior from, another animal. Using dead animals as bait for birds of prey is also prohibited. Other ethical means of luring animals, such as using bird seed, are allowed.
If working with a protected species, the necessary permissions must be provided to the Competition on request. What is deemed suitable permission will be determined by Wilder Photo Competition on a case by case basis.
Wilder Photo Competition reserves the right to disqualify any entry where it suspects either full disclosure has not been made or where the methods employed by the Entrant are judged to breach the ethical code of conduct shown in Section 4. It is the responsibility of the Entrant to ensure that the relevant permissions have been obtained when photographing on private land.
5. Image Specifications
Entries must be submitted in JPEG (or JPG) format.
Entrants that are shortlisted for the final round of judging may be required to provide:
raw format files (such as .NEF, .CR2 etc) or, if unavailable, original untouched JPEGs for authentication and forensic purposes. DNG files are not permitted unless this is the native raw output of your camera;
full, high resolution files of the final image; and
an extended caption description.
If an entry is unable to be authenticated by Wilder Photo Competition, or is not of a sufficient quality (to be determined by Wilder Photo Competition acting in its sole discretion), it will be disqualified from the Competition.
Post processing of images is acceptable, provided such processing is not for the purposes of deceiving the viewer and/or misrepresenting nature drastically different from what was truly seen.
With the exception of HDR, stitched panoramas, focus stacking, and in-camera multiple exposures, composited images are not permitted in any category except for the Creative category. Sky swapping or removal of objects much more significant than a dust spot or small twig through cloning, for example, is not permitted. Additive post-processing techniques and the use of Generative AI is not allowed.
In the Creative Imagery category, digital manipulation including removal of objects and additive post-processing techniques are actively encouraged. However, using generative AI is not allowed under any circumstance.
6. Judging Process and Prizes
Wilder Photo Competition will appoint the judges of the Competition (the ‘Judges’).
The Judges will judge the submissions to the Competition and, in respect of each category, will choose from the submissions:
the winners (the ‘Category Winners’); and
the finalists (the ‘Finalists’).
The Judges will choose a shortlist of entries on September 29th from which they wish to see further high resolution files. These must be supplied by October 5th, or may be disqualified.
The overall winner of the Competition (the ‘Grand Prize Winner’) will be chosen by the Judges from the 1st Place Category Winners. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a prize that replaces the prize from the 1st Place Category Winner in which they won.
All Category Winners and the Grand Prize Winners will treat any communication received from the Judges and/or Wilder Photo Competition as confidential. Category Winners and/or the Grand Prize Winner agree(s) not to disclose any communication received from the Judges and/or Wilder Photo Competition regarding the Competition until such date that an official announcement of the winners has been made by Wilder Photo Competition.
The choice of winners is at the sole discretion of Wilder Photo Competition and it’s judges.
Prizes are non-transferable.
Prizes must be claimed by entrant within 60 days of being contacted via the email address provided upon submission.
7. Publicity
All entrants awarded as Grand Prize Winner, Category Winners, or Finalists in the Competition agree that their name and likeness, and relevant submission to the Competition can be used, without any compensation, for the purpose of advertising, promoting, and/or publicizing the Competition.
8. Intellectual Property Rights
By entering the Competition, you warrant, represent and hereby agree that any entry you submit:
is your original work; and
does not infringe on any intellectual property right of any other individual or person.
You must be the sole owner of the copyright of all submissions to the Competition.
Wilder Photo Competition does not claim any rights of ownership in any of your submissions to the Competition.
You agree that the Wilder Photo Competition may, but is not required to, make your entry available on its website and any other media, whether now known or invented in the future, in connection with any publicity and/or judging of the Competition.
You agree to grant Wilder Photo Competition a non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable license, for the full period of any intellectual property rights (including all moral rights) in the Competition entry and any accompanying materials, to use, display, publish, transmit, copy, edit, alter, store, re-format and sub-license the Competition entry and any accompanying materials for any purpose connected with the Competition, including (but not limited to), promoting the Competition within printed and online media, the inclusion within printed and digital versions of the Competition book, the inclusion within printed and digital versions of the Competition calendar and other merchandise, display at exhibitions, use in press, promotional and marketing materials, social media networks and for the promotion of any future photographic competition in both print and online media. All images will be credited to the photographer where used.
9. Liability
Proof of electronic submission to the Competition is not proof of receipt of such submission by Wilder Photo Competition.
Without prejudice to any other terms and conditions of these Rules, insofar as is permitted by law, Wilder Photo Competition, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss or damage occurring as a result of taking up the Competition prize. Your statutory rights are not affected.
Wilder Photo Competition is not responsible for any emails or other forms of electronic communication that do not arrive. You must ensure that your email settings and spam filters accept emails from jeremy.neipp@gmail.com.
Wilder Photo Competition does not accept liability for the misuse of images and/or the failure of any third party to comply with the sub-license granted pursuant to condition 8.
Any third-party use, as outlined in Section 8, will be required to adhere to the same license granted to Wilder Photo Competition. Wilder Photo Competition is not liable for any violations of this license, and such instances are to be settled between the Entrant and the third party without the inclusion of Wilder Photo Competition in the matter.
10. Force Majeure
Wilder Photo Competition reserves the right to modify, cancel, or terminate the competition under exceptional circumstances beyond it’s control, including (but not limited to) computer viruses, equipment failure, and acts of God.
