Wildlife

Wildlife photography focuses on capturing animals in their natural environments and requires patience, timing, and respect for the subject. A strong wildlife image often tells a story: a predator on the hunt, a bird mid-flight, or intimate portraits of mammals at dawn. Photographers should prioritize ethical practices: maintain safe distances, avoid stressing animals, and never interfere with natural behaviors for the sake of a shot. In this category, judges reward images that combine technical proficiency with narrative: excellent composition, sharpness where it counts, and lighting that enhances the subject.

Still Life

Still life photography celebrates arrangement, texture, and light. It is an opportunity to exercise creative control through composition, props, and lighting setups. Great still life images often showcase an eye for detail: careful placement of elements, thoughtful use of negative space, and subtle color harmonies. This category is open to studio setups and tabletop scenes, and judges will reward originality in styling, strong use of light and shadow, and technical excellence in exposure and focus.

Landscape & Nature

Landscape and nature photography capture the grandeur and subtlety of natural scenes: from sweeping vistas to close-up details of flora. Successful landscape images convey a sense of place: dramatic skies, layered foregrounds, and compositional lines that guide the viewer's eye. Strong technical skills such as depth-of-field control, dynamic range management, and timing (golden hour, weather) help produce images that feel immersive and evocative. Judges will look for images that present a distinctive interpretation of the environment rather than simple, generic snapshots.