Official Rules: The 2026 ConservationMag Photography Awards

The ConservationMag Photography Awards celebrate the resilience of the natural world and the photographers who document it. We invite photographers from around the globe, amateur, professional, and youth, to share their vision of biodiversity, conservation, and the human connection to nature.

By entering the competition, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions:

1. Eligibility

• Global Entry: The competition is open to photographers of all nationalities and countries.
• Age: The competition is open to all ages (Entrants under 18 must have parent/guardian permission).
• Ethics: We prioritise ethical photography. Images that appear to involve the harassment of wildlife, baiting, or damage to the environment will be disqualified at the judges' discretion.

2. Categories

Entries are accepted into the following five categories. The Editorial Team reserves the right to move an image to a different category if deemed more appropriate.

1. Roaming Free (Wildlife): Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and underwater life in their natural habitat.
2. Wings in the Wild (Birds): Bird photography, from portraits to behaviour.
3. Small Worlds (Macro): Insects, plants, fungi, and the microscopic details of nature.
4. Vital Habitats (Landscapes): Environments, ecosystems, and scenic views that sustain life.
5. The Human Element: Conservation in action, researchers, rangers, and the intersection of people and nature.

3. Image Specifications & Editing (The "No AI" Rule)

• File Format: Entries must be submitted as high-resolution JPEGs. (Maximum file size: 20MB).
• Optimisation: Please note that uploaded images may be automatically optimised/compressed for web display on our platform.
• Editing: Standard adjustments (colour, contrast, cropping, sharpening) are permitted.
• AI Policy: Strictly No Generative AI. Images created or heavily manipulated using AI generation tools (e.g., sky replacement, element generation) are not eligible. We reserve the right to request the original RAW file or original JPEG to verify authenticity for winning images.

4. Copyright & Usage Rights

You Keep Your Copyright. The photographer retains full and exclusive copyright to their images. Conservation Mag does not claim ownership of your work.

The License You Grant Us: By entering the competition, you grant ConservationMag.org a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use the image for the specific purposes of the competition. This includes:

• Displaying the image in the "Winners" and "Shortlist" feature articles on ConservationMag.org. Note: These articles are part of our permanent editorial archive and will remain online indefinitely.
• Promoting the competition on Conservation Mag social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Threads) and newsletters, with credit to the photographer.
• Inclusion in the "Conservation Mag Yearbook" (digital PDF) if selected as a finalist.

We will not sell your image to third parties or use it for commercial merchandise without your separate, explicit written permission.

5. Judging

• Winners and finalists will be selected by the Conservation Mag Editorial Team and appointed guest judges.
• Decisions are final and binding.
• Judging is "blind" where possible to ensure fairness based on photographic merit and storytelling.

6. Privacy & Data Protection

• We collect your name and email address solely for the purpose of administering the competition and notifying winners.
• Your personal data will not be sold to third parties.
• By entering, you agree that your name (e.g., "Photo by John Smith") will be published alongside your image if you are selected as a winner or finalist.