The BPPC, presented by the California Academy of Sciences, is an annual global wildlife photography competition that celebrates the beauty, diversity, and urgency of nature conservation. The competition invites photographers worldwide to showcase their work across various categories, with the opportunity to win cash prizes, recognition, and inclusion in exhibitions.
Information & Application Details: • Application open: December 1, 2024 • Application deadline: March 1, 2025 (11:59 PM PST) • Winners announced by: June 30, 2025 • Entry Fee: $25 for up to 10 images or $15 for 6–8 images in the Photo Story category.
Eligibility: • Open to all photographers worldwide. • Excludes: Employees, volunteers, and Board Members of the Academy and their immediate families. • Photographs must not involve harassment of wildlife or environmental damage. • Entrants agree to the Academy’s non-exclusive license to use winning images in related promotions and exhibitions.
Theme: • The competition focuses on the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, and human interactions with nature. • Categories include: 1. Terrestrial Wildlife 2. Winged Life 3. Landscapes, Waterscapes & Flora 4. Aquatic Life 5. Art of Nature 6. Human/Nature 7. 2025 Photo Story – In My Backyard
How to Apply: • Entry Fee: $25 for up to 10 images or $15 for 6–8 images in the Photo Story category. • Submission Platform: Entries must be uploaded digitally via the BPPC platform. • Image Categories: Select the category for each photo (only one per photo, except for the Photo Story category, which can also enter one other). • Image File: JPG or JPEG files (Adobe RGB or sRGB), minimum 1920px on the long edge, maximum 3000px. No borders, watermarks, or AI-generated images allowed.
Submission Requirements: • Image Captioning: Each image must include: 1. Description of behavior, background story, location, and species name (if known). 2. Disclosure if the subject is captive or deceased. • File Naming: Category and title (e.g., WingedLife_Flamingos.jpg). Photo Story images should be numbered (e.g., PhotoStory_Sanctuary_1.jpg). • Additional Details: Ensure that EXIF details are intact, and original files are available for authenticity checks if selected.
Selection Process: • Judging Criteria: 1. Overall Impact: Up to 35 points 2. Originality: Up to 30 points 3. Aesthetic Impact: Up to 20 points 4. Technical Expertise: Up to 15 points • Rounds: Three rounds of judging, including an authenticity check. • Judges: Professional photographers and photo experts, ensuring anonymous judging.
Program Benefits: • Grand Prize: $5,000 cash + Digital BigPicture Grand Prize Award. • First Place (7 categories): $1,000 cash + Digital BigPicture First Place Award. • Finalists: Digital BigPicture Certificate of Recognition. • People’s Choice Award: $300 cash + Digital BigPicture Certificate of Recognition. • Exhibition: Winning and finalist images will be showcased at the Academy and possibly in other venues.
Contact & Resources:
• For technical inquiries or competition rules: Email: bigpicture@calacademy.org • For further information or to request copies of the rules or winners’ list: Mail: California Academy of Sciences, BigPicture Competition, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118.
Website link: https://www.bigpicturecompetition.org/competitiondetails
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