For those of you who enjoy wildlife photography, nature walks or simply stopping to observe a bird, insect or animal along the way, here's something worth considering.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027 competition is now open for entries!
Organised by the Natural History Museum in London, this internationally recognised competition celebrates the beauty, diversity and complexity of the natural world. More importantly, it uses the power of photography to inspire people around the world to appreciate wildlife and understand why it deserves our protection.
And I would like to encourage more people to take part.
You don't have to be a professional
When we think of wildlife photography competitions, we often imagine photographers travelling to remote forests, African savannahs or distant oceans, armed with expensive cameras and enormous telephoto lenses.
But wildlife is not found only in faraway places.
Sometimes, it is right in front of us.
It could be a spider patiently waiting for its next meal, a dragonfly defending its territory, a mudskipper emerging from the mud, or a bird going about its daily routine. Even an ordinary walk through a park can reveal fascinating moments if we take the time to look closely.
These encounters remind us that nature is full of stories waiting to be discovered.
You don't necessarily need the latest camera or the longest lens to tell those stories. What matters is your ability to observe, your patience in waiting for the right moment, and your willingness to share what you have witnessed.
The competition welcomes photographers of different experience levels, including amateurs and young photographers. Even photographs taken with smartphones have received recognition in previous years.
So, don't dismiss your photographs simply because you are not a professional.
Photography is more than just taking a beautiful picture
A photograph of an insect might encourage someone to look at an animal they would normally ignore. A close-up of a spider might replace fear with curiosity. An image of wildlife struggling in a changing environment might help someone understand the challenges animals face in the modern world.
Sometimes, a single photograph can change the way a person sees nature.
That is the power of visual storytelling.
We live in a time when natural habitats face increasing pressure from human activities, development, pollution and climate change. Many people may never have the opportunity to encounter certain animals in the wild. Yet, through photography, we can bring these encounters to them.
A photograph cannot solve every conservation problem. But it can start a conversation, spark curiosity and encourage people to care.
And that is a meaningful contribution in itself.
Let your photographs tell the stories of our wildlife
One of the things I appreciate about this competition is the diversity of subjects it celebrates.
The categories cover much more than the familiar images of large mammals and spectacular birds. They include animal behaviour, invertebrates, plants and fungi, underwater life, urban wildlife, natural artistry, photojournalism and conservation-related stories.
This is particularly encouraging for those of us who photograph wildlife closer to home.
You might have an image of a tiny insect in your garden, a bird hunting in an urban environment, or an animal displaying an unusual behaviour during a nature walk. You may even have a photograph that documents the relationship between wildlife and the environment in which it lives.
You never know which image might capture the judges' attention or connect with an audience.
More importantly, you may already have photographs in your collection that deserve another look.
Perhaps it is time to revisit your photo library, select your strongest images and consider submitting them.
An opportunity for photographers in Singapore
For photographers based in Singapore, we are fortunate to have opportunities to encounter wildlife in our parks, nature reserves, mangroves, wetlands and even the spaces between our buildings.
We do not need to travel overseas to find interesting subjects.
Look closely enough and you may discover a world of behaviour, interactions and remarkable adaptations that most people walk past without noticing.
Our photographs can also help others appreciate the wildlife living alongside us and understand the importance of protecting the habitats that sustain it.
There is another encouraging point for photographers in Singapore: the competition's entry fee is waived for eligible applicants residing in Singapore, subject to the competition's residency requirements and verification if requested. The standard adult entry fee is £35.
For the adult competition, photographers can submit up to 25 photographs across the categories for one entry fee, where applicable. Young photographers aged 17 and under can enter the separate Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for free, with up to 10 photographs permitted.
Do check the official rules and eligibility requirements before submitting your work.
A few things to know before entering
If you are thinking of participating, here are a few important details:
Competition: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2027.
Organiser: Natural History Museum, London.
Closing date: 3 December 2026, at 11:30 GMT (7:30 pm Singapore time).
Adult competition: Open to photographers aged 18 and above on the closing date.
Young competition: For photographers aged 17 and under on the closing date.
Eligible subjects: Wild animals, plants, fungi, landscapes and habitats, subject to the competition rules.
Ethical photography: Wildlife welfare must come first. Images must comply with the competition's requirements, including restrictions on baiting, disturbing wildlife and AI-generated imagery.
Photographs must also meet the specified capture-date and image-processing requirements. Before entering, read the full rules carefully and make sure your images are eligible.
You can find the details and submit your photographs here:
Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Official Competition Website
Be part of something bigger than photography
Winning a prestigious photography award would, of course, be an incredible achievement. Having your work exhibited internationally and seen by a wider audience would be an unforgettable experience.
But I believe there is value in participating even if we never receive an award.
By entering, we become part of a wider community that celebrates the natural world and uses photography to encourage greater appreciation of wildlife.
We contribute our observations, our experiences and our perspectives. Each photograph offers a different window into nature, and together these images can help tell a much bigger story about the world we share with other living things.
So, if you enjoy photographing wildlife, I encourage you to give this competition a try.
Go through your existing photographs. Revisit those moments you captured in the field. Look beyond the obvious subjects and consider the stories your images might tell.
And if you have friends who enjoy nature or wildlife photography, encourage them to participate too.
Let's use our cameras not only to capture wildlife, but also to help people care about it.
You never know. The photograph you took on an ordinary day, of an animal you almost overlooked, might be the very image that inspires someone else to see nature differently.
One photograph may not change the world overnight. But it might change the way someone sees it — and that is a good place to start.
Important link
Competition details and categories