Entries for European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 have just opened and you could be in with a chance of winning up to €3000 ($3,400/£2,500). The competition is separated into eight categories as well as two youth categories for - 14 years and 15 - 17 years.
The competition was launched in 2001 by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) and has become one of the most renowned European Wildlife photo awards. Every year, it receives thousands of entries showing exceptional talent through a range of high-quality, diverse and unique images. Like last year, the categories will include, birds, mammals, other animals, plants and fungi, landscapes, the underwater world, man and nature and nature studio.
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Judges look for creative image compositions, interesting subjects, unusual perspectives and how nature conservation can be captured through photography. The jury for this year's competition has not yet been released but you can expect it will include a mix of wildlife photographers and wildlife experts who excel in their field.
Last year's overall winner was Angel Fitor, a Spanish Photographer whose image Medusa Ballet captivated the judges. The shot shows a sea of jellyfish at Mar Menor - Europe’s largest saltwater lake which was hit with a massive fish shortage in 2021.
The two youth categories give budding photographers the chance to enter their wildlife images into the competition. There is a 14 and under category as well as a 15 - 17 category for slightly more experienced young photographers.
The European Wildlife Photographer of the Year also includes the Fritz Pölking Prize and the Fritz Pölking Junior Prize which recognizes extraordinary work in the field of wildlife photography. In memory of the GDT founding member, Fritz Pölking who died in 2007, the prize is awarded to a unique wildlife project or a portfolio of individual photos.
Scroll down to see a selection of winning images from last year's competition…
The closing date for entries is 1 March 2022 at midnight and the competition is open to European residents and paid-up members of the GDT (overseas membership costs €103 a year). Full details of the competition can be found on the GDT website.
All winning images will be shown as large-format prints at an exhibition at the International Nature Photography Festival in Lünen, Germany, in October 2022 (assuming the Festival returns following its cancellation due to the pandemic last year).
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