Are you an amateur university student passionate about photography and committed to tropical forest conservation? The ISTF Photo Competition 2025 invites you to display your unique perspective on tropical forests’ beauty, complexity, and challenges. This competition provides a platform for amateur photographers to gain international recognition while highlighting the importance of conserving tropical ecosystems.

Hosted by the Yale University Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF), this competition aligns with the 31st Annual ISTF Conference. Finalists will have their works exhibited at Yale University on January 31 and February 1, 2025. It’s an opportunity for participants to share their stories and contribute to a global dialogue on preserving vital forest systems.

Photographers can submit their best work under specific categories that capture various aspects of tropical forests, from stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife to conservation efforts and the human impact on these environments.

You may also check the ISTF Conference:

ISTF 31st Annual Conference on Governing Resilient Tropical Forest Systems

Ethical Considerations

Submissions must be authentic camera-based photographs with complete and accurate captions. Only non-captive wild animals, plants, fungi, and natural habitats are allowed; photos of farm animals, pets, or cultivated plants are prohibited. Photographers must avoid harming, distressing, or disturbing animals or their habitats.

Entries obtained through unethical methods, such as using live bait or harmful practices, will be disqualified, and such conduct may be reported to the relevant authorities.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2024, at 23:59 EST
• Result Announcement Dates: January 2025 (public online voting for finalists)
• Funding Type: Cash prizes
• Host Institution: Yale University Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF)
• Eligible Countries: All
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: University students and amateur photographers
• Focus Area: Photography, tropical forest conservation
• Number of Opportunity: Five
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: United States (Yale University, New Haven, CT)

Photography Categories

Submissions should align with one of these themes, showcasing the beauty and complexity of tropical forests:

• Wildlife: Display the diverse plant and animal life.
• Tropical Forest Landscapes: Capture forest scenes, from mountains and rivers to dense jungles.
• Conservation and Human Impact: Depict environmental challenges, conservation efforts, or human interactions with the forest.
• Urban Forests: Highlight the coexistence of nature and urban settings in tropical areas.
• Creative Perspectives: Explore abstract or unique textures, colors, and shapes in tropical forests.

Benefits and Prizes

The winners will benefit from this competition as follows:

• International recognition through an exhibition at Yale University.
• Cash prizes for winners of each category.
• Public exposure via an online voting platform and social media

Eligibility Criteria

Following are the competition requirements for the entrants and submissions:

• Entrants can be university students engaged in photography as a hobby (non-professional).
• Photography must reflect themes related to tropical forests, fitting into one of the defined categories (Wildlife, Tropical Forest Landscapes, Conservation and Human Impact, Urban Forests, Creative Perspectives).
• Entries must comply with ethical and technical requirements outlined in the competition guidelines.

Photograph Specifications:

Your submission should meet the following specifications:

• Submit as high-quality JPEG files.
• No borders, watermarks, or signatures are allowed.
• Permissible digital adjustments:
  • Tone and contrast adjustments
  • Burning, dodging, cropping, sharpening
  • Noise reduction and minor cleaning (e.g., sensor dust removal)
  • Correction of chromatic aberration, lens distortion, vignetting
• Prohibited adjustments:
  • Adding, moving, or removing objects, animals, plants, people
  • Removing elements like dirt, highlights, bubbles, debris
  • Composites, foreground painting, background removal
  • AI-generated images are not permitted
• Caption requirements:
  • Must be complete and accurate and include the photo’s name, location, ecosystem description, and year taken
  • Maximum of 2,500 characters for captions
• Do not include personal identifiers (name, copyright data) in the caption or file data.

Judging and Prizes

The ISTF Conference Committee will assess photographs based on originality and narrative.

In January, fifteen selected photos will be presented for online public voting via social media.

The top-voted photo in each category will be declared the winner, with one winner per category. Successful participants will be notified after the initial selection.

How to Apply?

• Submit your entry by December 15, 2024, by uploading your high-quality photo to the competition portal.
• Ensure that your photo adheres to the format and ethical guidelines.
• Follow ISTF on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram) for updates and further details.

Submit Now

Further details and information regarding this competition are available on the official ISTF website. For inquiries, contact the organizers at [email protected].

Check More Opportunities:

Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award ($250,000)

St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition (20,000 CHF Award)

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Environmental Photography Awards 2025 (Grant: €11,000)