Maximum Number of Participants (5 minimum for judging): No maximum.
Purpose of this Challenge: Over the past few photo challenges we've covered a variety of subjects and techniques. I've received feedback that some folks would like a challenge focused on wildlife, and with so many SANP members searching for wildlife this time of year, this is a great time to set up something a little different. So with that in mind I offer the following challenge:
Create a series of photographs that show wildlife as an integral part of the landscape rather than as isolated subjects. The image should emphasize environment, scale, and place, with the animal or animals existing within their habitat rather than dominating the frame. Wide or environmental compositions are encouraged; classic wildlife portraits, tight crops, or shallow depth-of-field isolation are discouraged. Subjects may be small in the frame if doing so strengthens the relationship between the wildlife and its surroundings. The goal is to communicate how animals occupy, move through, or interact with their environment. Note the lens limitation below to help us focus on the bigger picture. To be honest I have difficulty pulling my eye away from any animal that stops long enough for me to photograph it. But, as wildlife photographers, we visit so many locales that offer fantastic landscape photography. Hopefully this challenge will help you, and me, to look at the larger scene and document the environment that our subjects live in. And, this will allow our landscape friends to practice incorporating our favorite species into their wonderful scenics.
You may ask, "What's so challenging about this?" Well, it's all about execution. It's easy to snap a quick shot of an animal out in the environment. The challenge is taking a compelling shot of an animal that is well composed within a landscape that is also well composed. One must be very deliberate to successfully create this type of shot without it appearing to be a simple snapshot. Watch your exposure balance between the subject and its environment; this can be quite tricky especially in very bright scenes. Also, try to incorporate dramatic lighting across the landscape and the animal subject. It's often difficult to balance the two; most attempts create a flat image of the subject or the landscape if the photographer is not careful. This challenge can create some of our most creative shots yet. I cannot wait to see what you capture.
Challenge Procedure: You must register for this challenge if you want to submit images for judging. You may submit up to three images for judging, following the guidelines below for file naming, file size, and deadline. Please follow file naming closely, many of the images submitted in previous challenges incorporate the file name incorrectly, requiring a fair amount of time to clean up the names of the entries. If you have questions, contact Hill Henry, at thillhenry@gmail.com.
If a Participant wants his/her images displayed on Zenfolio but not judged, that can be stated in the email with the submissions.
Note: Challenge image submissions will be posted in a Challenge Gallery on the SANP Zenfolio website accessible to the public. Winners will be displayed on SANP social media, the SANP website, and in the SANP Newsletter.
Equipment Specifications:
- Camera: Any handheld type of camera is allowed. Canon is the preferred brand, but by all means, submissions from other brands of cameras will be accepted (Drones are not allowed.)
- Lens focal length: Only lens focal lengths from 12 to 300 mm may be used (35mm equivalent focal lengths). Incorporating a wide angle lens can be challenging but the results could be exceptional.
- Filters: Neutral density, polarizing, and closeup filters may be used.
- Flash: On-camera or off-camera flash is allowed.
- Tripod: Any tripod is allowed.
- Cell Phone: Any cell phone is allowed.
- Other: The photographer must get signed model releases from any people recognizable in a photograph.
Photography Technique Specifications: Incorporate wildlife into broad scenes highlighting their existence or movement through the environment and associated landscape.
Processing Technique Specifications: None
Entering Challenge Images for Judging
Entries must be received by midnight, 21 March, 2026. Participants may submit up to three JPEG digital image files (not over 4 MB each). The Participant’s copyright information and the image metadata must be embedded in the submitted image files.
Send your entries to thillhenry@gmail.com. Entries received late, too large, or not in the proper file name format will not be judged. If you want your images displayed on Zenfolio but not judged, state that when you submit the images.
Name the digital files in the following format (PLEASE NOTE):
SANPPC-202602-Last_Name-First Initial-a
Where:
- SANPPC stands for ‘SANP Photography Challenge’ (do not change this)
- 202602 is the year and month (month is always two digits)
- Last_Name and First Initial are your last name followed by first Initial. (ex. Henry-H)
- "a" is the participant’s first entry (b = second entry, c = third entry)
