1. Organizer
- The Wild by Nature Photo Contest is organized by valokeilassa.fi.
2. The Categories
Wild by Nature consists of two separate categories:
- Wild by Nature – WILDLIFE – wild animals
- Wild by Nature – DOMESTIC – domestic animals and animals under human care
3. Participation
- The entry period is 1 March – 15 April 2026.
- The competition is open to individuals aged 18 and over.
- Participants are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide.
- Each participant may submit one (1) image to both categories.
4. Entries
- The entry must be a photograph taken by the participant.
- Images must be digital files.
- Accepted file formats: JPG / JPEG / PNG
- File size: 500 KB – 3 MB
- Both color and black-and-white images are accepted.
- Reasonable post-processing is allowed. No elements may be added to or removed from the image.
- AI-generated images are not permitted. With the exception of noise reduction, AI-altered images are not allowed.
5. Animal Welfare
Wildlife Category – In photographs depicting wild animals:
- The animal must not be lured, manipulated, or disturbed for the purpose of obtaining the image.
- The animal’s welfare must not be compromised in any way.
Domestic Category – In photographs depicting domestic animals:
- The animal’s well-being must be clearly evident.
- The animal’s welfare must not be compromised in any way.
The organizer reserves the right to reject an entry if the animal welfare guidelines have been violated or are suspected to have been violated. All submissions will be reviewed before being published in the competition gallery.
6. Voluntary Participation Fee
Participation in the competition is free of charge. Participants may, if they wish, make a voluntary donation in connection with their entry to support nature conservation. The donation is paid directly to BirdLife Finland’s account:
- Recipient: BirdLife Suomi r.y
- IBAN: FI7680001502095806
- BIC: DABAFIHH
- Please include your name and “Wild by Nature photo contest” in the payment reference/message field.
- Recommended donation: €10 per category
The donation is not required for participation and does not influence the judging of entries.
7. Copyright and Use of Images
- The participant retains full copyright to their submitted image.
- By entering the competition, the participant grants the organizer a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide right to use the image in communication and marketing related to the competition and in publishing competition results.
- Images will not be used for commercial purposes without the photographer’s separate consent. The photographer’s name will always be credited where possible.
8. Persons and Permissions in Images
People may appear only in images submitted to the DOMESTIC category. The participant confirms that:
- They have the right to submit the image to the competition.
- They have obtained the necessary consent from any identifiable persons appearing in the image.
- They are responsible for any potential third-party claims.
9. Jury and Judging
The winners will be selected by a jury consisting of: Professional photographer Lana Tannir & Animal welfare expert Tuire Kaimio.
The judging criteria include:
- Consideration of animal welfare
- Message and content of the image
- Technical and artistic quality
- In the event of a tie, the result will be decided based on public votes.
The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
10. Prizes
The winner of each category may choose one of the following prizes:
- A floating hide experience with Mia Surakka
- A gift card for private landscape photography tuition with Mikael Rantalainen (via Teams).
- A fine art print by Risto Raunio of their choice
The audience vote winner in both categories can choose from the following prizes:
- A £50 gift card for a course at ICM Photo Academy.
- A gift card for evening tea at Tiluksilla Farm.
Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.
11. Announcement of Winners
The winners will be published on 26 May 2026 on the competition website and on the @valokeilassa_art Instagram account.
12. Processing of Personal Data
Participants’ personal data will be processed solely for the purpose of administering the competition, communication, and publishing the results.
13. Limitation of Liability
The organizer is not responsible for technical issues, communication disruptions, or problems arising from participants’ devices or software.
14. Acceptance of the Rules
By participating in the Wild by Nature Photo Contest, the participant accepts these rules as stated. The organizer reserves the right to make minor changes to the implementation of the competition without separate notice.