Frequently Asked Questions
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General Rules of Entry
How many times can I enter?
You may enter up to three photos in the contest.
How much does it cost to enter?
Nothing! It’s completely free to enter.
How are the winners determined?
We will have two Grand Prize Winners:
- Experts’ Choice Winner—judged by a panel of professional and expert wildlife photographers.
- People’s Choice Winner—based on number of votes from the public. See the Voting section below for more info on voting.
What are the prizes if I win?
Each Grand Prize Winner will win a wildlife photography trip with Natural Habitat Adventures. See the Prizes section below for more info about the specific trips.
What qualifies as a “wildlife” photo?
We are looking for photos of wild animals in their natural habitat. Please do not submit photos of animals in captivity, including photos of wild animals in zoos, photos of your pets, or photos of farm animals. Photos of animals in captivity will be disqualified. Note: Photos of animals in wildlife conservancies or wildlife preserves do not count as captivity and are allowed and encouraged!
What if there are people in my photo?
Submitted photos may contain people, as long as wildlife is also present in the photo.
Are there any size requirements for submissions?
Submitted photos must be at least 500 KB and at least 1024 pixels wide on the long edge.
Does the photo have to be in color?
No, photos do not have to be in color.
Can I have a watermark on my photo?
A small watermark in one corner of the photo is permitted.
Do I have to submit my photo electronically, or can I send you a CD or print in the mail?
Sorry, we can only accept photos electronically through the submission form.
Who is eligible to enter? Do I have to be a professional photographer?
You do not need to be a professional photographer to enter! Photographers of all levels are invited to enter, including amateurs and professionals alike. You just have to be at least 18 years old and reside in the United States or Canada.
Why are you only accepting entries from residents of the USA and Canada?
Each country has its own promotional marketing laws. To conduct a worldwide sweepstakes, we would need a promotional marketing attorney on call in every single country. The rules would have to comply with each country’s laws and be translated into each country’s primary language.
Who is sponsoring this contest?
This contest is sponsored by Wildlife Photo of the Day and Natural Habitat Adventures. Wildlife Photo of the Day (WPOTD) is a platform for celebrating and sharing the world’s most stunning wildlife photos. Natural Habitat Adventures is a leader in responsible adventure travel and ecotourism, and travel partner to World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization.
Prizes
What are the prizes?
There are two separate Grand Prizes, one for the People’s Choice Winner and one for the Experts’ Choice Winner.
Prize for the People’s Choice Winner: a spot on Natural Habitat Adventures’ Classic Polar Bear Photography Adventure to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. This is a 7-day, 6-night trip, valued at $7,700. See the official Terms & Conditions page for more info.
Prize for the Experts’ Choice Winner: a spot on Natural Habitat Adventures’ Hidden Yellowstone Photography Safari to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. This is an 8-day, 7-night trip, valued at $6,600. See the official Terms & Conditions page for more specific information.
What if I don’t want the trip, can I take the cash value instead?
All prizes must be accepted as awarded, there are no cash substitutes.
When do the trips take place?
Travel will take place in 2016 or 2017, and exact dates will be based on availability. The Classic Polar Bear Photography Adventure takes place in October and November. The Hidden Yellowstone Photography Safari usually takes place in September.
How will you contact me if I win?
We will contact you at the email address and phone number you provide with your photo submission. Make sure it’s an email address and phone number you check often!
When will the winners be contacted?
Winners will be chosen by July 31 and contacted soon after.
Are there any other prizes?
Yes! There will be at least three Honorable Mention Awards in both the Experts’ Choice and People’s Choice categories. Each Honorable Mention will be awarded a $200 gift certificate to B&H photography store.
Photo Submission Help
Voting/People's Choice Award
What is the People’s Choice Award?
The People’s Choice Award is one of the Grand Prize Winner categories of the 2016 Wildlife Photography Contest. It will be based on votes from the public.
When does the voting start?
To make sure all photos have the same amount of time to receive votes, the voting period starts as soon as the submission period ends. Voting will open on June 15.
Who can vote?
Anyone can vote, as long as they have a valid email address. If you enter, make sure to ask your friends and family to vote! Natural Habitat Adventures, Wildlife Photo of the Day, and WWF will also be encouraging their fans to vote.
Can I vote for my own photo?
Yes! You may vote for your own photo once per day.
How many times can other people vote?
Voters may vote once per day. Voters may vote for a different photo or the same photo each day.
Do my friends and family get anything for voting? How can I entice them to vote?
Yes! Everyone who votes will be entered into a drawing for a $500 Visa gift card! And, they can earn extra drawing entries each time they come back and vote again, and by sharing your photo.
