WildArt Bird Photography Awards
Rules

1. Eligibility

1.1 The competition is open worldwide to photographers of all nationalities and skill levels.

1.2 Entrants must be aged 18 or over on 11 October 2026, or have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to enter.

1.3 The Youth Award is open only to entrants who are under the age of 18 on 11 October 2026.

1.4 Employees or agents of the Promoter (Freeze Frame Images Ltd), their immediate families, or anyone professionally connected with the competition are not eligible to enter.

1.5 By entering, entrants confirm that:

• they have read and agree to these Rules;

• their submission complies with these Rules; and

• they accept liability for any breach that results in loss or damage to the Promoter.

​

2. Competition Categories

2.1 The competition consists of the following categories:

• Abstracts

• Behaviour

• Black and White

• Misfits

• Portraits

• Small in Frame

• Urban

2.2 In addition, the competition includes:

• Portfolio Award

• Youth Award

2.3 The competition opens on 10 July 2026 and closes at 23:59 (UK time) on 11 October 2026.

2.4 No entries will be accepted after the closing date. Unused entries are non-refundable.

​

3. Entry Fees

3.1 Entry is subject to payment of the applicable fee via the competition website.

3.2 Fees are charged in GBP. Currency conversions are determined by the payment provider.

3.3 Entry packages:​

• £20 – 10 images

• £30 – 20 images

• £50 – 40 images

3.4 Young entrant packages:​

• £10 – 10 images

3.5 Multiple entry packages may be purchased. Entry fees are non-refundable except at the Promoter’s discretion.

​

4. Submission Rules

4.1 Entries must be submitted digitally via the official competition entry procedure as directed on this website.

4.2 Entries cannot be amended or withdrawn once submitted.

4.3 Images may be captured using any photographic device, including mobile phones.

4.4 There is no restriction on when an image was taken.

4.5 Previously awarded images may be entered.

4.6 Images should ordinarily be based on a single photographic capture. The following techniques are also permitted:

• focus stacking

• HDR

• stitched panoramas

• in-camera multiple exposures

Focus-stacked, HDR and stitched panoramic images must represent a truthful depiction of the photographed scene.

4.7 WildArt Bird Photography Awards welcomes in-camera multiple exposure photography as a creative means of interpreting birds and their behaviour, provided the following requirements are met:

4.7.1 All component exposures must be created in camera using the camera's multiple exposure function. Images created by blending separate photographs during post-processing are not permitted.

4.7.2 The completed image must represent a single, continuous photographic event. All component exposures should be made during one uninterrupted photographic sequence and relate to the same subject, scene or behavioural event. Images should not be taken more than 15 minutes apart.

4.7.3 The exposures must not combine unrelated moments, locations or subjects that cannot be viewed from the same location.

4.7.4 Normal post-processing is permitted, provided it does not involve adding, removing or blending photographic content beyond the original in-camera multiple exposure.

4.7.5 Photographers must retain the original RAW file(s) and may be required to provide them for verification if their image is shortlisted.

4.7.6 The judges reserve the right to determine whether a multiple exposure represents a genuine photographic interpretation of a single event or an assembled composite of separate moments.

4.8 The use of generative AI to create or alter image content is strictly prohibited. AI-assisted editing tools that do not materially alter the authenticity of an image (for example, noise reduction or sharpening) are permitted.

4.9 Permitted adjustments include:

• exposure

• contrast

• colour balance

• dodging and burning

• cropping

• sensor dust removal

• black and white conversion

4.10 The following are prohibited:

• adding, removing or relocating elements

• replacing backgrounds

• excessive manipulation that alters reality

4.11 Original RAW files (or original image files where RAW capture is unavailable) must be retained and made available upon request. Failure to provide them may result in disqualification

​

5. Image Specifications

5.1 Initial submission:

• 1920 pixels on the longest side

• sRGB colour space

• maximum 4MB file size

5.2 Shortlisted images must be at least 3000 pixels on the longest side in their submitted crop, without upscaling.

5.3 EXIF data must be retained. Removal will result in disqualification.

​

6. Ethics and Conservation

6.1 All images must depict genuinely wild birds. Images of captive, restrained or trained birds are not permitted.

6.2 The competition operates a strict conservation-first policy. The welfare of birds and their environment must always take priority over obtaining a photograph.

6.3 As a guiding principle, if obtaining a photograph required the welfare of a bird or its environment to be placed secondary to the creation of the image, that image will not be eligible for the competition. The judges reserve the right to interpret and apply this principle where a practice is not specifically addressed within these Rules.

6.4 Entrants must ensure that their actions do not:

• disturb or stress birds

• disrupt natural behaviour

• place birds at risk from predators or human interference

• damage habitats, nests or surrounding vegetation

6.5 The following practices are strictly prohibited:

• baiting of any kind (including food or sound/call playback)

• the use of live bait

• the use of drones

• flushing birds for flight photographs

• interference with nests or nesting sites

• the use of artificial perches or manipulated environments

• photographing birds under controlled or staged conditions presented as wild

6.6 Images of vulnerable species photographed at or near nests will be subject to heightened scrutiny and may be disqualified unless the photographer can clearly demonstrate that no disturbance was caused.

6.7 The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any image where it reasonably believes that the methods used to obtain it conflict with either the specific requirements or the guiding principles of this Ethics and Conservation section.

6.8 Entrants are responsible for ensuring that all necessary permissions, licences and land access rights have been obtained where required.

​

7. Judging

7.1 Entries will be judged by an independent panel.

7.2 All judging is conducted anonymously. Images are presented to the judges without any identifying information relating to the entrant.

7.3 A scoring process will produce a shortlist, followed by panel discussion.

7.4 Shortlisted entrants must provide high-resolution files within 14 days.

7.5 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

​

8. Prizes

8.1 Prizes will be awarded as outlined in the Prizes section of the official competition website.

8.2 Additional commendations may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.

8.3 Prizes are non-transferable.

8.4 Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes or duties.

8.5 The Promoter reserves the right to substitute any advertised prize with another of equal or greater value should circumstances beyond its reasonable control make this necessary.

​

9. Copyright and Competition Usage

9.1 Entrants retain full copyright in all submitted images.

9.2 By entering the competition, entrants grant the Promoter a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use submitted images for purposes directly connected with the administration and promotion of the competition, including:

• promotion

• exhibitions

• editorial coverage

• the official competition website

• social media

• press and publicity

9.3 Photographers will be credited wherever reasonably practicable.

​

10. Commercial Licensing

10.1 In addition to the licence granted under Section 9, entrants grant the Promoter a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to reproduce and use submitted images in official competition-branded products, including but not limited to printed and digital competition books, calendars and other competition-branded merchandise produced for the promotion and celebration of the competition.

10.2 Appropriate credit will be given to photographers wherever reasonably practicable.

10.3 Any commercial use beyond official competition-branded products, including third-party licensing or standalone commercial exploitation, will require a separate written agreement with the photographer.

10.4 The Promoter may invite shortlisted or winning photographers to participate in additional commercial opportunities. Participation is entirely optional and subject to separate agreement.

​

11. Data Protection

11.1 Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR.

11.2 Personal data will be used solely for administering and promoting the competition. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further information. Our Privacy Policy can be found here.

​

12. Liability

12.1 The Promoter is not responsible for:

• technical failures

• lost, delayed or incomplete entries

12.2 Entrants indemnify the Promoter against third-party claims arising from submitted images.

​

13. General

13.1 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these Rules where reasonably necessary.

13.2 The competition is governed by English law and subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13.3 Entry constitutes full acceptance of these Rules.

​

14. Promoter

Freeze Frame Images Ltd, 38 Bridge Street, Andover, Hampshire. SP10 1BW United Kingdom

​

Our Privacy Policy should be read in conjuction with the rules and can be found by clicking here.