Terms & Conditions

It’s the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that they have read and abided by the terms and conditions set out below when entering the 2016 Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year competition.

1. ABOUT THE SUNDAY TIMES WILDERNESS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

Brought to you by Sunday Times Travel, Canon and Wilderness Safaris, South Africa’s premier competition for global nature photography seeks to reward outstanding images that celebrate extraordinary wildlife behaviour and the fragile global wilderness ecosystem in all its drama and splendour.

Win R550,000 in luxury safaris and camera gear in the year’s two overall prizes, to be announced in December 2016, plus R35,000 cash in our monthly categories. ‘Vote for Your Fave Pic & Win’ on Facebook and you could win R1,000 cash every month.

2. OVERALL ENTRY / JUDGING CRITERIA

• The 2016 Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year competition opens on May 1 and closes November 16 2016.

• All entries must be entered within competition deadlines.

• Entry is free.

• You may enter a maximum of 10 photos per category per month in ‘Endangered Africa’ and/or ‘Wildlife Behaviour’.

• You may enter your photos online (visit the enter now page), or e-mail your photos to wildphoto@sundaytimes.co.za.

• No responsibility will be accepted for lost or delayed entries.

• The organisers cannot be held responsible for any problems or technical failure of any communications, computer, IT and/or software systems.

• Only one photo per e-mail will be accepted.

• Whether entering online or by e-mail, you need to specify which category you’re entering – ‘Endangered Africa’ or ‘Wildlife Behaviour’.

• Your photo/s will be judged on technical proficiency; artistic value; composition; fulfilment of category subject matter and overall visual impact.

• Only photos taken in or after May 2013 are eligible.

• Prizes must be taken (or rejected) as awarded, cannot be transferred or deferred and may not be converted to cash.

• The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER AND WIN?

• Entrants must be over 18 years of age and hold valid travel documents (passports, visas, relevant health certificates).

• Amateur as well as professional photographers are welcome.

• Only entrants announced as a monthly category winner will be considered for the year's overall prizes, including the winner of the 2016 Public Choice Award. The year’s most popular Public Choice winner in the ‘Vote for Your Fave Pic & Win’ category will also be considered. The judges will choose the 2016 Public Choice winner in a tie situation.

• Entrants who won prizes in previous years’ Sunday Times nature-photography competitions are eligible to enter the 2016 competition.

• However, a photo that featured as a winner, runner-up or highly commended entry in previous years of Sunday Times nature-photography competitions is not eligible for re-entry.

• A photo that has been selected as a winner or runner-up in a national or international competition is not eligible for entry.

• The competition is open to South African residents, and South African citizens living anywhere on Earth.

• Canon, Wilderness Safaris and the Times Media Group’s employees as well as their immediate families may not enter.

4. 2016 OVERALL PRIZES

In 2016, the Sunday Times, Canon and Wilderness Safaris are giving away R600,000 in cash, camera gear and safaris to the winner of the Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year.

2016 FIRST PRIZE – WORTH A TOTAL OF R370,000

The 2016 winner will be chosen by our judges from the Top 15 (consisting of the Wildlife Behaviour and Endangered Africa monthly winners, plus the year’s Public Choice winner). The winner will earn:

South Africa’s most prestigious nature-photography title:

As judged by a panel of world-class experts, this year’s winning photo earns the 2016 Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year title.

A six-night luxury adventure safari for two with Wilderness Safaris to explore Botswana’s Okavango and Linyanti region worth R300,000:

Wilderness Safaris is Africa’s leading authentic and sustainable ecotourism organisation offering life-changing journeys to pristine wilderness areas. The prize will include accommodation in private concessions at Wilderness Safaris Xigera, Vumbura Plains and DumaTau Camps. Xigera Camp is located on Paradise Island where the prize winner and partner will have the opportunity to mokoro along the crystal-clear channels of the Okavango Delta. The prize winner and partner will then visit Vumbura Plains where land and water activities are enjoyed. DumaTau Camp is situated on the banks of the Linyanti River where raised tents offer spectacular views of the lagoon and surrounds. The prize includes inter-camp air transfers and regional flights from Johannesburg.

The first prize includes class-leading Canon gear worth R70,000, comprising:

• An EOS 5D Mark III camera with 24mm-105mm lens worth R56,999 – A 22.3 megapixel DSLR ideal for professional videographers. Shoot hand-held even after the sun goes down, thanks to an ISO 100 - 25 600 sensitivity range (extendable to ISO 102 400). Smart capabilities allow sports and nature photographers to get closer. The full-frame sensor provides finer detail, enabling you to capture a range of scenes, from sweeping landscapes to beautiful portraits.

• An EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM lens worth R7,999 – Along with the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM lens, this is the world’s first fixed wide-angle lens to feature optical IS technology. Ideal for landscape and reportage, it offers outstanding flexibility.

• An EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens worth R1,999 – A prime lens that enables you to capture images with subjects that pop from the scene, or create impact with beautiful background blur. Compact, lightweight and affordable, a welcome addition to any kit bag.

2016 RUNNER-UP PRIZE – WORTH A TOTAL OF R183,000

The 2016 runner-up will be chosen by our judges from the Top 15 (consisting of the Wildlife Behaviour and Endangered Africa monthly winners, plus the year’s Public Choice winner). The runner-up will earn:

A prestigious nature-photography title:

As judged by a panel of world-class experts, this year’s winning photo earns the 2016 Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year: Runner-up title.

A four-night luxury safari with Wilderness Safaris for two to experience Hwange, Zimbabwe, and the Zambezi, Zambia worth R150,000:

Two guests will enjoy a four-night journey into the Zambezi region. They will spend two nights at Wilderness Safaris’ Linkwasha Camp, Hwange’s newest and most exclusive luxury camp. The private concession offers exceptional year-round wildlife-viewing opportunities. The prize winner and partner will spend a further two nights at Wilderness Safaris’ Toka Leya Camp located on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Based just 12km from the renowned Victoria Falls, Toka Leya offers several water and land-based activities – from cruises, to white rhino tracking in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The prize includes inter-camp air and road transfers and regional flights from Johannesburg.

The first prize includes class-leading Canon gear worth R33,000, comprising:

• An EOS 7D Mark II camera with 18mm-135mm lens worth R28,999 –  The ultimate DSLR to capture action other cameras simply miss. This revolutionary camera is made for speed, with extreme power and performance providing the freedom to shoot a world of ever-changing action. Take exhibition-quality images you’ll be proud to display, explore new levels of in-camera creativity and put your imagination on the big screen, with cinematic movie capture.

• An EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens worth R3,999 – A versatile, compact pancake lens. A fast maximum aperture enables low-light shooting and depth-of-field control. STM provides smooth, quiet autofocus when shooting video with compatible cameras.

5. ‘VOTE FOR YOUR FAVE PIC & WIN’: PUBLIC CHOICE PRIZES

The 2016 Public Choice winner will earn:

A prestigious nature-photography title:

As voted by most likes on the Sunday Times Facebook page, 2016’s most popular monthly Public Choice winner earns the coveted status as South Africa’s most-loved wilderness shot.

A wild card spot in 2016’s top 15:

South Africa’s favourite wilderness photo joins the 14 monthly category winners from ‘Endangered Africa’ and ‘Wildlife Behaviour’ to complete the year’s Top 15, from which 2016’s top two winners will be drawn. The judges will choose the winner in a tie situation.

6. MONTHLY PRIZES

Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Month: ‘Endangered Africa’:

Each monthly winner bags R2,000, courtesy of Sunday Times Travel.

Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Month: ‘Wildlife Behaviour’:

Each monthly winner bags R2,000, courtesy of Sunday Times Travel.

Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Month: Public Choice

As voted by most likes on the Sunday Times Facebook page, each Public Choice winner bags ‘wild card status’ – giving the public’s favourites the chance to compete for a place in the year’s Top 15.

Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Month: Lucky Voter

One randomly drawn Facebook voter will win R1,000, courtesy of Sunday Times Travel. To vote and win, check the hashtag #stwildphoto to see the latest top photos.

The winner will be contacted via their personal Facebook page and asked to supply their details to arrange payment. Winners must respond with their details within two weeks of being contacted by the Sunday Times or unconditionally forfeit their cash prize. Please note: winners may have to approve a Facebook message request from @SundayTimesZA to receive their prize notification.

7. CATEGORIES

Endangered Africa

This category will recognise photos that tell a powerful visual story about rare or endangered wild landscapes, animals and plants native to Africa. You can:

• Highlight the beauty and glory of what we stand to lose in any threatened nature – urban, rural or wild; and/or

• Celebrate the ecological value of any rare or endangered wild ecosystem, landscape, biome, fauna or flora – urban, rural or wild, and/or

• Capture the heartbreak of nature in peril

Wildlife Behaviour

This category will celebrate photos that observe the extraordinary and often secret lives of wildlife living anywhere on earth – from the little-photographed leopard seals of Antarctica, to the microscopic creatures that form the foundation of life in our suburban gardens.

Photos of any free-roaming wildlife – urban, rural or wild – may be entered. Photos of domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, and livestock are not eligible.

8. THE ‘VOTE FOR YOUR FAVE PIC & WIN’ CATEGORY

The Public Choice Award puts the power in your hands.

We’ll post the month’s top five photos from ‘Endangered Africa’ and top five photos from ‘Wildlife Behaviour’ on the Sunday Times website and Facebook page with the hashtag: #stwildphoto. 

Vote for your fave pic & win R1,000 cash every month!

The most popular photo wins the month’s Public Choice Award. The year’s most popular Public Choice photo wins a spot in the overall Top 15 and will be considered by our expert judging panel for 2016’s top titles and prizes by Canon and Wilderness Safaris.

9. ENTRY DEADLINES – 2016 OVERALL

Overall entries for the Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year open on May 1 2016 and close on November 16 2016 at midnight. The year’s overall winners will be announced in December 2016.

10. ENTRY DEADLINES – MONTHLY

To be considered for one OR both Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Month categories – ‘Endangered Africa’ or ‘Wildlife Behaviour’ – entrants must enter no more than 10 images per month per category between these dates in 2016:

May winners:

May 1 and May 18 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of May.

June winners:

May 19 and June 15 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of June.

July winners:

June 16 and July 20 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of July.

August winners:

July 21 and August 17 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of August.

September winners:

August 18 and September 14 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of September.

October winners:

September 15 and October 19 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of October.

November winners:

October 20 and November 16 – entries close at midnight; winners are announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of November.

11. WINNER ANNOUNCEMENTS – MONTHLY & OVERALL

Endangered Africa and Wildlife Behaviour will be announced in Sunday Times Travel on the last Sunday of each month. Each winner will also be announced on the Sunday Times Facebook page and website on the following day.

Each Public Choice winner and lucky voter will be announced on the Sunday Times Facebook page and Sunday Times website towards the end of each month.

The year’s overall winner and one runner-up will be announced in Sunday Times Travel, and on the Sunday Times Facebook page and website in December.

12. REQUIRED PHOTO FORMAT

• Each photo must be submitted as a high-resolution (at least 300dpi) JPEG and not exceed 5MB in size.

• Each photo must be sized at least 2,500 pixels on the longest side.

• Colour as well as black and white photographs will be accepted.

• Photographs must be submitted in a format that is ready for publication. Borders, watermarks, signatures and thumbnails will not be considered.

• Caption info may not be written or imbedded on the photo.

13. PHOTOGRAPHER / CAPTION INFO

Whether entered online or by e-mail, each entry must include the following info:

1. PHOTOGRAPHER’S FULL NAME

2. CATEGORY NAME: ‘Endangered Africa’ or ‘Wildlife Behaviour’

3. CONTACT DETAILS: Cell number; an alternative number such as a work number or contact for a next of kin, and residential address in South Africa. South African citizens who do not reside in South Africa may provide their current residential address wherever they live in the world.

4. CAPTION INFO: This must include...

a. The name/s of the main species (fauna and/or flora) featured as subject matter.

b. Exact location (nature reserve name/town/city/province/country).

c. Where applicable, the wildlife behaviour that you have observed.

d. If you’re entering the ‘Endangered Africa’ category, your caption must either explain how your photo celebrates endangered nature; and/or describe the ecological importance of the rare/endangered subject matter; and/or simply share the heartbreak of nature in peril.

14. EDITING AND AUTHENTICITY

• Although moderate editing will be allowed, each entry must be authentic, the photographer’s original work and must not infringe the rights of any party.

• Each entry must accurately reflect the subject matter as it appeared in the viewfinder when the image was captured.

• Each entry should not be digitally enhanced beyond the basics required to achieve realistic colour balance, sharpness and contrast.

• Extreme saturation and sharpening, and digital filters that create distorted results will not be considered.

• Contrast – Selective dodging (brightening) and burning (darkening) may adjust the tonal range of an image as long as it closely resembles the original scene or subject.

• HDR images – “High dynamic range” images are eligible. All exposure and post-processing details must be submitted along with the HDR entry.

• The Sunday Times reserves the right to validate the authenticity of any photo. If a photo is selected for publication, the Sunday Times may ask the entrant to supply their camera settings, details of equipment used and the original, RAW file for inspection.

• Any entrant in breach of these terms will be disqualified and prizes will be forfeited.

15. CODE OF ETHICS

• Photos may not involve the harassment of animals, or damage to the environment.

• Photos may not involve harming or endangering any individual or animal, or baiting any animal.

• Photos of captive wildlife will only be considered where these skilfully highlight conservation threats.

16. COPYRIGHT / USE OF PHOTOS

• The copyright of all entered photos will remain with the copyright holder.

• Each entrant grants the Sunday Times and Times Media Group a non-exclusive, irrevocable licence to reproduce, publish and communicate their entered photos to the public by any means in connection to the competition, and exhibit entered photos and copies thereof in all media throughout the world.

• The Sunday Times, Times Media Group and organisers regret that they cannot accept liability for the misuse of photos and/or failure of any third party to credit photos.

• As an entrant you agree to participate in related publicity and agree to the use of your name and likeness for the purposes of publicity, promotion and advertising of the competition throughout the world without compensation.

• The Sunday Times and Times Media Group reserve the right to publish any photos and any names of entrants in Sunday Times Travel; on Times Live, the Sunday Times and Sunday Times Travel’s social media pages; on online sponsor platforms and other online and traditional platforms associated with the Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year and previous years’ nature-photography competitions.

• The Sunday Times and Times Media Group reserve the right to publish any entered photos at public exhibitions.

• No remuneration will be offered.

• The Sunday Times and Times Media Group reserve the right to change the competition rules and deadlines at any time and without prior notice.

Main photo: A brown hyena emerges from the veld. By Willem Kruger