Invitation: NPOTY 2025 Photo Contest
The Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 competition is officially open and runs until Sunday, May 18, 2025 (23:59 CEST). This contest is open to nature photographers worldwide—whether amateur or professional, young or old. Everyone is welcome!
Why Participate?
🌿 Win €25,000 in prize money & a prestigious exhibition
In addition to fantastic (cash) prizes, all winning photos, runner-ups, and highly commended images will be featured in the Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 exhibition. The exhibition will tour across the Netherlands and Belgium for a year and will have a grand opening during the Nature Talks Photo Festival in November 2025.
🌍 Support small-scale nature conservation projects
A percentage of the entry fees will be donated to small-scale conservation projects. By participating, you not only get a chance to win amazing prizes but also contribute to the protection and preservation of nature.
📸 Join the competition and showcase your best nature photography to the world!
NPOTY 2025 Competition Categories
The Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 competition consists of 13 categories in which you can submit your photos:
C1 – Birds
C2 – Mammals
C3 – Other Animals
C4 – Plants and Fungi
C5 – Landscapes
C6 – Underwater
C7 – Nature Art
C8 – People & Nature
C9 – Black & White
C10 – Animal Portraits
C11 – Nature of the Lowlands*
C12 – Youth 10-17 Years*
C13 – Fred Hazelhoff Award (Portfolio)*
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The Fred Hazelhoff Award*
This prestigious award is designed for nature photographers who can present a cohesive portfolio of 6–10 images. The portfolio may either follow a thematic concept or showcase a distinctive photographic style.
With the approval of the Hazelhoff family, we are honored to present this special award. What makes this category unique is that it does not focus on a single image but rather on the consistency and quality of an entire series of photographs.
Fred Hazelhoff (1925-2002) – A Pioneer of Modern Nature Photography
Fred Hazelhoff is considered one of the most influential Dutch nature photographers and the founder of modern nature photography in the Netherlands. His work has been acquired by prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), and the Print Room of the Leiden University Library. His remarkable photography has inspired generations of nature photographers and played a significant role in the evolution of the field.
Hazelhoff’s greatest passion was photographing red deer and other large wildlife, but in later years, he focused more on landscape photography. His legacy continues to serve as a source of inspiration for photographers worldwide.
He studied graphic design and photography at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and worked as an art director for various companies before dedicating himself fully to photography.
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Youth Category (10 – 17 years)*
Are you under 18 years old on Sunday, May 18, 2025? Then you can participate for free in our Youth Category!
🏆 Grand Prize: €250 worth of photo products + your winning photo will be showcased in the Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition.
This is your chance to showcase your talent and gain recognition as a young nature photographer! 📸✨
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Nature of the Lowlands*
This special category highlights the beautiful nature of the Netherlands and Belgium. Photos submitted in this category must be taken in the Lowlands and should showcase the diversity of our local nature.
🏆 Grand Prize: An all-round photography weekend or a three-day experience in Drenthe, plus your winning photo will be exhibited at the Nature Talks Photo Festival.
Of course, you are also welcome to participate in other categories alongside this one! 🌿📸
Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 – Award Ceremony & Prizes
The Nature Photographer of the Year (NPOTY) 2025 award ceremony will take place during the Nature Talks Photo Festival in November 2025.
The jury will select a category winner, a runner-up, and three highly commended entries per category.
Exhibition
All winning photographs will be featured in the Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 exhibition, sponsored by PLM Photo, which will handle the printing and processing of the images. The exhibition will be officially opened at the festival and will then tour museums, businesses, and public spaces across the Netherlands and Belgium for a year.
Prizes per Category
🏆 Category Winners: €500 cash prize
🥈 Runner-ups: Product prizes worth €250
🏅 Highly Commended: Honorable mention and encouragement
Youth Category (10-17 years)
🏆 Winner: Product prize worth €250
🥈 Runner-up: Product prize worth €125
Special Categories
🌿 Nature of the Lowlands:
- Open only to photos taken in the Netherlands and Belgium
- Grand Prize: A photography weekend or three-day trip in Drenthe, organized by Nature Talks
- Photos in other categories may be taken worldwide
📸 Portfolio Category (Fred Hazelhoff Award):
- Winner receives €1,000 cash + the prestigious Fred Hazelhoff Award
Overall Winner – Nature Photographer of the Year 2025
From the category winners of categories 1-12, the jury will select an overall winner, who will be crowned Nature Photographer of the Year 2025.
🏆 Grand Prize: €2,500 cash, in addition to the category prize, bringing the total to €3,000!
Competition Entry
🗓️ Opening Date: December 20, 2024
⏳ Deadline: Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 23:59 CEST (NL time)
How to Enter
✔️ Submit images exclusively via the website: www.naturephotographeroftheyear.com
✔️ Upload is possible after paying the entry fee (except for the youth category, which is free).
Submission Requirements
✔️ Photos must be taken in the wild, except for the People & Nature category.
❌ No photos of pets, captive animals, or cultivated plants.
✔️ Large grazers and wild animals within grazing or safety enclosures are considered free and wild.
✔️ Photos must not cause disturbance to the subject or environment. Suspected disturbance may lead to disqualification.
Competition Rules & Exclusions
📜 Full competition terms & conditions are available at www.naturephotographeroftheyear.com.
❌ Entries that do not comply with the rules will be disqualified.
✔️ By entering, participants agree to the Nature Photographer of the Year Contest terms.
Exclusion from Participation
🚫 Jury members and Nature Talks Photo Festival staff cannot participate.
✔️ Freelancers affiliated with Nature Talks are allowed to enter.
Jury – NPOTY 2025
The jury consists of a team of renowned nature photographers and experts. The jury members will be announced soon.
Contact & Information
📍 Nature Photographer of the Year Contest
📌 Nature Talks
📍 Boegbeeld 18, 1671 TB Medemblik, Netherlands
📞 Phone: +31 (0)345 246009
📧 Email: Contest@naturephotographeroftheyear.com
🌍 Website: www.naturephotographeroftheyear.com
Good luck and let Nature Talk! 📸🌿✨>