ABOUT WILDERNESS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Great Walks' Wilderness Photographer of the Year, presented by Mountain Designs, is looking for breathtaking images of the Great Outdoors.
Now in its fifth year, the competition is open to Australian and New Zealand photographers and offers a prize pool of more than $21,000, including $5,000 cash and $16,000 in prizes.
Images can be captured in wilderness areas anywhere around the world and the best images, including Winners, Runners-up and the Top 10 in each category will be featured in Great Walks magazine (February-March 2026), and at www.greatwalks.com.au
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER?
EARLY BIRD
$25 per entry (Monday 31 March to Sunday 15 June 2025)
STANDARD
$30 per entry (Monday 16 June to Sunday 21 September)
LAST MINUTE
$35 per entry (Monday 22 September to Sunday 19 October 2025)
All pricing in Australian Dollars (AUD). Entries close 11.59pm (AEST) Sunday 19 October 2025.
WHO CAN ENTER?
Wilderness Photographer of the Year is open to citizens and residents of Australia and New Zealand. A resident is defined as a person who has lived in Australia or New Zealand for at least six months at the time of entering this competition.
Check the Terms and Conditions for more information.
WHAT IS WILDERNESS?
For the purposes of this competition wilderness is defined as a natural environment that has not been significantly modified by human activity. However, images that show the effects of human impact on the natural environment may be entered in the competition, in the context of illustrating the fragility or resilience of the natural world.
CAN I USE GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?
No. This is a photography competition and, as such, any entered images must have been entirely captured with a camera (digital, film or phone camera). Images created or edited using generative artificial intelligence (AI) may not be entered.
CAN I USE AI NOISE REDUCTION AND SHARPENING?
Yes, but... The use of AI noise reduction and sharpening technology is allowed, as long as the integrity of the original photographic image is maintained.
WHAT ABOUT IMAGE EDITING?
You can make basic edits, within reason. Adjustments may be made to cropping, noise, sharpness, shadows, highlights and contrast, including dodging and burning. Stitched panoramas, focus stacks, and HDR images, where two or more exposures are captured in the same location and merged to form a single image, are also permitted. Other composite images are not permitted. Cloning of dust spots and scratches is permitted. Simple perspective correction, to remove lens distortions, is allowed. Adding or removing elements from a scene is not allowed.
IS THERE A RESTRICTION ON WHEN IMAGES CAN BE TAKEN?
Yes. Images must have been captured after 1 January 2023.
IMAGE FORMAT
Images should be saved in JPEG format, and should be at least 2,500 pixels on the longest edge. Overall file size must be less than 5MB. Do not add watermarks, branding or text to your images.
THE CATEGORIES
There are three categories in Wilderness Photographer of the Year: Places, People and Nature.
PLACES
In the Places category, we're looking for your best landscape photos of wilderness areas. Think sweeping panoramas and dramatic horizons, spectacular coastlines and photogenic mountains. Images can be taken anywhere in the world.
PEOPLE
In the People category, we want to see photos of people experiencing wilderness areas. If there's one or more people in the frame, or signs of human activity like a tent or campsite, this is the category for you. Images can be taken anywhere in the world.
NATURE
In the Nature category we're looking for images of flora and fauna. Think kangaroos and wallabies, birds, wildflowers, beetles, mushrooms and much more. From the micro to the macro! Images can be taken anywhere in the world.
If you're unsure which category to enter, send us an email at hello@wildernessphotographer.com.au
DO I KEEP MY COPYRIGHT?
Yes. Some competitions require you to hand over the copyright to your photos when you enter. We don't. We only ask for a limited-use authorisation to use your photographs for the sole purpose of running and promoting Wilderness Photographer of the Year. Images will be credited with the name of the photographer if used by Great Walks, Wilderness Photographer of the Year, or its sponsors.
DEADLINES
Entries close 11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 19 October 2025.
JUDGES
Wilderness Photographer of the Year will be judged by leading outdoor and wilderness photographers. Judges will be announced soon. Find out more about the judges here.
PRIZES
Winners and Runners-up will share in a prize pool valued at $21,000, including $5,000 cash. Find out more about the prizes here.
RECOGNITION
Winners and Runners-up will be revealed in Great Walks magazine (February-March 2026 issue), as well as at greatwalks.com.au and Great Walks' Facebook page.
Top 10 images in each category will also be showcased in Great Walks magazine (February-March 2026 issue) along with a selection of judges' comments.
Also in February, Winners, Runners-up, Top 10, Top 20, Highly Commended, and Commended photographers will be notified via email with a certificate confirming their placing in the competition.
NEED HELP?
If you need assistance uploading your entry send us an e-mail explaining the problem and we'll do our best to help.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
You can find the full terms and conditions for Great Walks Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025 here.
CONTACT US
E-mail us at hello@wildernessphotographer.com.au
Thanks to our amazing sponsors...
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