By clicking "Start Submission", you agree to be contacted by the host regarding this opportunity.
By clicking "Start Submission", you agree to be contacted by the host regarding this opportunity.
About the Competition
Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award is an international photography competition dedicated to the extraordinary natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural heritage of Lake Kerkini National Park, one of Europe's most remarkable wetland ecosystems.
Created to celebrate photographic excellence while promoting environmental awareness and conservation, the competition invites photographers from around the world to capture the unique relationship between nature, wildlife and people within this internationally important wetland landscape.
More than a photography competition, the Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award aims to build an enduring visual archive of Lake Kerkini National Park—showcasing its rich biodiversity, spectacular landscapes and human stories through powerful and authentic photography. By bringing together photographers, conservationists and nature enthusiasts, the competition seeks to inspire appreciation and long-term protection of one of Europe's most valuable wetlands.
The competition culminates each year around World Wetlands Day (2 February) with the announcement of the winners, an awards ceremony, an exhibition and the international promotion of the awarded photographs.
Competition Categories
Participants may submit photographs in one or more of the following categories:
Birds of Kerkini
Celebrating the exceptional birdlife of Lake Kerkini National Park, one of Europe's most important birdwatching destinations.
Wildlife of the Wetland
Photographs featuring mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and all other non-avian wildlife species associated with the wetland ecosystem.
Wetland Landscape
Landscape images capturing the beauty, atmosphere and ecological character of Lake Kerkini National Park.
Human & Wetland
Images exploring the relationship between people and wetlands, including traditional livelihoods, local culture, conservation efforts and everyday life connected to Lake Kerkini National Park.
Awards
The 2026 Edition offers a total cash prize fund of €3,000, including:
- €1,000 – Photo of the Year
- €400 – Birds of Kerkini Winner
- €400 – Wildlife of the Wetland Winner
- €400 – Wetland Landscape Winner
- €400 – Human & Wetland Winner
- €400 – Young Photographer of the Year
In addition to the cash awards, selected photographers may receive:
- Exhibition participation
- Official certificates
- Online gallery presentation
- International promotion through the competition's communication channels
- Special Mentions and additional distinctions
Who Can Enter
The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers worldwide.
Participants must be the sole copyright holders of all submitted photographs.
All submitted images must have been taken within Lake Kerkini and its surrounding wetland ecosystem in Northern Greece.
Photographers aged 18–25 are automatically eligible for the Young Photographer of the Year Award.
How to Enter
Each participant may submit up to 10 photographs in total across one or more competition categories.
Entries must be uploaded through the official Picter submission platform in JPEG format and comply with the competition's technical specifications and ethical guidelines.
Shortlisted photographers may be asked to provide full-resolution JPEG files and RAW files for verification.
Judging Process
Entries will be evaluated by an international jury panel composed of professionals with expertise in nature photography, conservation, visual storytelling and photo editing.
The jury will evaluate each photograph based on:
- Artistic quality and visual impact
- Originality and creativity
- Technical excellence
- Storytelling and emotional impact
- Relevance to the selected category
- Respect for ethical standards in nature photography
The names and biographies of the jury members will be announced before the competition opens.
About the Organizer
The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award are organized by AGKISTRO ACTION, a social cooperative enterprise based in Northern Greece.
The organization is dedicated to sustainable tourism, nature conservation, cultural heritage and local development. Through its projects, AGKISTRO ACTION promotes environmental awareness, supports nature interpretation and develops initiatives that connect people with landscapes, biodiversity and local culture.
The competition reflects the organization's long-term commitment to promoting Lake Kerkini National Park internationally and encouraging the protection of one of Europe's most remarkable wetland ecosystems through the universal language of photography.