Competition

WILD FRAMES

ALL INDIA NATURE & WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome!
Let's celebrate Nature. This is a competition to celebrate creativity and showcase talent. MediaMates Nature Photography Club has successfully conducted 4 state level photo contests on the theme "Wildlife" in the past. This year we wish to take our annual contest to the next level and hence for the first time, we are organising a National Photo Contest on Nature & Wildlife with bigger prize money and participation.

Entrants are welcome to submit images of Wildlife including marine animals, insects, fungi, reptiles, wild landscapes, migratory species in addition to the regular terrestrial animals and birds.

Think Different, Think Wild... Think Out of the Box....

2. Who can participate

This competition is open to anyone who is 18 years or older and a citizen of India. Both professionals and amateurs are welcome to submit their entries. Persons holding OCI cards are also eligible to participate. Employees of the organising committee and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.

While the entrants should be Indian citizens / OCI Card holders, the images submitted can be from any part of the world.

Contest Schedule

Submission Opens on 10 Feb 2025
Submission Closes on 20 Mar 2025; 08.00 pm
Judging : 25 Mar 2025; 09.30 am onwards
Call for Original Files from finalists : 26 Mar 2025
Final Date for submission of Original Files : 31 Mar 2025
Announcement of Winners : 1 Apr 2025
Exhibition of Photographs : 6 Apr 2025 - 8 Apr 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram.

3. Submission Guidelines

Participants must submit their entries through our official website. Submissions should be in JPEG format with a maximum file size of 5 MB. All entries must be submitted by 20 March 2025 08.00 pm. Photographs should have been taken with a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera in any format, but the entries should be in JPEG format with Adobe RGB Colour Profile.

Original RAW/ JPEG file with complete exif data should be submitted if your entry reaches the final 50 images. Tampering with the metadata will lead to disqualification.

Kindly note that basic adjustments of colour, contrast, saturation, sharpening, dust removal etc are permitted. While 20% cropping from the original frame is permitted, major alterations from the original image will result in disqualification of the entry.

Black & White images are permitted only if they are wild landscapes.

We strongly discourage submission of images of animals in captivity/ baiting

4. Entry Fees

An entry fee of ₹400/- is required to participate. Payment can be made through the contest website. Entry fees are non-refundable except in cases of technical errors caused by the organisers. Upto 4 pictures can be submitted per participant. Participants can submit additional 4 entries by remitting an additional fee of ₹400/-. A maximum of 12 entries shall be permitted per participant.

5. Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, and adherence to the theme. The judging panel comprises esteemed professionals in the field, whose decisions are final and binding. If there is dispute of any kind, the decision of the Jury will be final and binding on all concerned.

Judging

We shall be holding an open judging for the first time in Kerala, where any participant can join & watch the entire judging process. Judging venue will be announced by 20 Mar 2025. The judging process will have three stages; First Round, Semi Final Round & Final Round.

Jury

Balan Madhavan; Senior Fellow, International League of Conservation Photographers (www.ilcp.com)
Prof : Edayillam Kunhikrishnan ; Zoologist and wildlife expert with 4 decades of experience.
K.V.Uthaman IFS (Retd) : Former CCF, Kerala and Wildlife photographer with 4 decades of experience.
Praveen Mohandas : Award Winning Nature photographer & Leading Architect of Kerala
Prabhu Mens Sana : Assistant Conservator of Forests, Kerala; Film & Documentary maker and wildlife photographer

6. Copyright and Ownership

Participants retain full copyright of their submissions. By entering, participants grant the organisers non-exclusive rights to use the submitted works for promotional purposes, including social media, websites, and exhibitions. Participants must ensure that they have the necessary rights to grant such permissions and that their submissions do not infringe on third-party rights.

7. Prizes

The competition offers the following prizes:
First Prize: ₹25,000/- in cash, a certificate of Merit & Plaque (The First Prize is gifted by Paramount Photographers in memory of their Founder Sri.Paramount Velayudhan)
Second Prize: ₹15,000/- in cash, a certificate of Merit & Plaque
Third Prize: ₹10,000/- in cash, a certificate of Merit & Plaque

Anil Focus Memorial Special Jury Awards

Best Action Picture : ₹5,000/- in cash, a certificate of merit & Plaque

Best Macro Image : ₹5,000/- in cash, certificate of merit & Plaque

Best Wild Landscape Image : ₹5,000/- in cash, a certificate of merit & Plaque

Consolation Prizes : From the images that reach the final round, 5 images will be chosen for Consolation Prizes.

Winners are responsible for any taxes applicable under Indian law. Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for the organisers to use the winners’ names and submissions for promotional purposes.

8. Notification of Winners

Winners will be announced only after verification of the RAW files called for by the Jury. Winners will be notified via email or phone within 24 hours after the judging process concludes. The winners' names and works will also be announced on our website and social media platforms.

9. Disqualification

Entries may be disqualified for reasons including but not limited to:
Submitting offensive, inappropriate, or plagiarised content.
Failure to meet submission guidelines.

10. Limitation of Liability

The organisers are not liable for any losses, damages, or claims arising from participation in the competition or acceptance of prizes, to the extent permitted under Indian law.

11. Amendments to Terms

The organisers reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time. Significant changes will be communicated via email or website updates.

12. Governing Law

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

13. Privacy Policy

Participant's personal information will be collected, used, and protected in compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Privacy Laws in India.

14. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns, please contact us at: Email: mediamatesclub@gmail.com

I Agree to the above terms and conditions. Proceed