Competition
Details
Open to all Photographers Worldwide
BigPicture is open to all photography enthusiasts and professionals alike worldwide to compete for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize. See eligibility restrictions below.
Competition Overview
Now in its 13th year, BigPicture encourages photographers from around the world to contribute their work to this competition that both celebrates and illustrates the rich diversity of life on Earth and inspires action to protect and conserve it through the power of imagery. Chaired by award-winning conservation photographer Suzi Eszterhas, BigPicture welcomes high-quality nature, wildlife and conservation images and is open to all photographers around the world. Enter your work for a chance to win cash prizes and be exhibited at the California Academy of Sciences.
Entry Fees
Each photographer can enter photos as follows:
$25 for up to 10 single image submissions in any category.
15 for each Photo Story submission: 1 video with up to 5 supporting images.
Payment is made on a secure web page using a major credit card. Entry fees must be received by the competition deadline to be eligible to win. Images are not entered into the competition, eligible for prizes, or made viewable to judges until entry fees have been paid. Entry fees are used to provide the competition prizes and help the Academy in its mission and are non-refundable.
Competition Period
The BigPicture Photo Competition begins at 12:00 am North American Pacific Standard Time (PST) on December 1, 2025 and closes at 11:59 pm North American Pacific Standard Time (PST) on March 1, 2026. Presented by the California Academy of Sciences.
Eligibility
BigPicture is open to all photographers worldwide, except employees, volunteers and Board Members of the Academy (as well as their sponsors) and the immediate families and individuals living in the same household as such employees, volunteers and Board Members. The Academy reserves the right to verify, in its sole judgment, entrant eligibility. Void where prohibited.
Image Rights
Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to submitted photographs subject to the following: By entering the Competition, each Entrant grants to the Academy a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, and display submitted images directly relating to the Competition in all media throughout the world in perpetuity. This includes but is not limited to use in the context of the Academy website and social media sites, the exhibition of winning images* at the Academy, and all promotional and marketing materials regarding the Competition and Exhibition. In other circumstances, commercial opportunities may exist for awarded photographers to benefit from the use of their images, such as print sales or merchandise. Where such a commercial benefit is likely to arise, permission will be sought in advance and terms and conditions will be agreed upon with the photographer.
*Winning images include images designated as grand prize, first place, and finalist images.
Additional Information
Competition
Categories
$12,300 in Cash Prizes to be awarded to the 2026 winners!
The Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000 for the best overall image in the 2026 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition and be featured in the annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences. The first place winners of the seven official categories will each receive $1,000 in cash and also have their winning images featured in the annual exhibit. Up to 6 additional finalists will be awarded a certificate of recognition for each category, with the exception of the Photo Story category. The Photo Story category will have one first place awarded.
A People's Choice winner will be awarded $300. Learn more about People's Choice here.
Art of Nature
Abstract expressions of nature and/or science. Life photographed out in nature or under the microscope. Images may include unusual close ups, angles, patterns, motion, or perspectives, black and white photography, and images created using scientific imaging tools. Artistic effects should not be the result of digital manipulations.
Aquatic Life
Marine and freshwater animals including mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (like corals and jellyfish) that spend the majority of their time in water. This category includes polar bears.
Winged Life
Birds or flying insects photographed anywhere in the world, in flight, perched or in action. This category includes flightless birds such as penguins, and ostriches.
Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora
Captivating images of wild places with a unique perspective, from landscape vistas of forests, deserts and mountains to the micro habitats of plants and other flora. Images may include water environments of oceans, lakes and rivers with images taken above or under water including waves, tide pools and other water scenes.
Terrestrial Wildlife
Animals photographed anywhere in the world. Images may include land-based mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and non-flying insects whether they live in trees or on land.
Human/Nature
Images that depict the efforts of scientists, conservationists, and others working to sustain life on our planet or the complex relationship between humans and nature. Images should illustrate the impacts of humans on the environment and can be either positive or negative impact stories.
2026 Photo Story:
Beyond the Photo
The Photo Story Goes Video! This year’s story is told in a short video format with up to 5 supporting photographs. All storytellers, photographers and videographers alike, are invited to submit a 2-5 minute video that reveals the story behind the photograph. Your video should take us behind the scenes of your images: What is the larger context for your image(s)? How did you capture the photograph(s)? This category will be judged by JG Collomb, CEO of Wildlife Conservation Network, in conjunction with the BigPicture team.
Photo Story Credit text
2026 Photo Story: Beyond the Photo
This year’s story is told in a short video format with up to 5 supporting photographs. Photographers are invited to submit a 2-4 minute video that reveals the story behind the photograph. Centered on a specific image or set of images, the video depicts what is going on behind the scene. How did the photographer capture the accompanying photograph? What is the larger context for the photographs? This category is open to photographers, videographers and everyone else, and will be judged by JG Collomb, CEO of Wildlife Conservation Network in conjunction with the BigPicture team.
