Earth Photo 2025 invites submissions from still and moving image makers of all ages, from anywhere in the world, who have a compelling story to share about our planet.
Established in 2018 by Forestry England, the Royal Geographical Society and Parker Harris, Earth Photo is an internationally acclaimed, world-leading programme dedicated to engaging with filmmakers and photographers. Its main objective is to encourage conversations about our world, its peoples, environments, and the changing climate through visual storytelling.
The category for submissions is open. Creators of all ages, working in any genre, are encouraged to submit their most powerful works that align with the focus of Earth Photo
OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES
Photography and film are among the most powerful mediums of our time, capable of transcending the barriers of geographical space and human language to connect people. Today, they are more crucial than ever in shaping how we perceive, interpret, and understand the world around us.
Each year, Earth Photo launches an open call, culminating in an awards ceremony, exhibitions, and a series of engaging events.
Earth Photo invites submissions that challenge perspectives and inspire new ways of thinking about the world. We seek works that explore themes such as nature, people, places, forests, land and seascapes, as well as the diverse effects of, and responses to, climate change.
Individuals and collectives are encouraged to submit up to 10 images, as singles or a series. Projects must have been created within the last five years. In addition to photography, Earth Photo welcomes short films between five seconds and five minutes long.
Entry is by online submission, and the deadline is Monday 3rd March 2025, 5PM (GMT). An entry fee of £15 will be charged to each entrant for up to 10 images or films.
Applicants will be required to provide a CV (500 words) and a short statement about themselves (250 words) and each of their submitted images/films (100 words). If selected for exhibition, the organisers will ask for a more detailed description for the catalogue and publicity purposes, as relevant.
A longlist will be created by the Earth Photo team featuring the strongest submissions for the jury panel of industry experts to review and shortlist.
All entries that make the final Earth Photo 2025 Shortlist will be considered for the Earth Photo exhibitions, and a chance to receive one of the awards.
All participants selected for the final Earth Photo 2025 Shortlist will:
Feature in the Earth Photo 2025 website gallery at www.earthphoto.world.
Have an opportunity for their work to appear in New Scientist’s weekly double-page photo spread, Aperture.
Have an opportunity for their work to be included in the Earth Photo exhibitions.
JURY
The entries will be considered by a jury made up of experts from the fields of photography, film, geography, and ecology, including distinguished artists, environmentalists, writers and curators, and chaired by Louise Fedotov-Clements Director of Photoworks, Earth Photo Producer, Forestry England.
The judging panel will include:
Tim Boddy, Picture Editor at New Scientist Vron Harris, Filmmaker and Lecturer in Film Production; and David Wolf Kaye Future Potential Award Judge and Mentor (moving image category) Skinder Hundal, Cultural leader, consultant, curator, and speaker Jae-hyun SEOK, Director of ArtSpace LUMOS. President of ONBIT Documentary in Korea. Director of Busan International Photo Festival João Kulcsár, Director and founder of Foto Festival Paranapiacaba (Sao Paulo/Brazil) Anne Nwakalor, The Founding Editor of No! Wahala Magazine, one of Africa’s first contemporary photography magazines dedicated to showcasing authentic visual stories told by African creatives
Wang Peiquan, Director of Lishui Photography Festival & Director of China Photographers Association, China Arianna Rinaldo, Independent curator, photo consultant and freelance photo editor Dagmar Seeland, UK correspondent of Stern magazine, editorial and photography consultant Marissa Roth FRGS, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and David Wolf Kaye Future Potential Award Judge and Mentor (stills category) Steven V-L Lee Founder/Director of the Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards (KLPA) / Co-founder of Exposure Plus Photo Festival in Malaysia Fiona Shields, Head of Photography at the Guardian David Stock FRGS, Head of editorial video at New Scientist Wang Xueke Isabella, Director of International Department of Lishui Photography Festival and Director of Collection Department of Lishui Photography Museum, China
Chaired by Louise Fedotov-Clements, Director of Photoworks, UK. Co-Founder and Patron of FORMAT International Photography Festival. Earth Photo Producer, Forestry England
EXHIBITIONS
A selection of works from the shortlist will be featured in the Earth Photo 2025 exhibitions:
At the Royal Geographical Society, London from 16th June to 20th August 2025,
On a national tour to Forestry England forests, In historic properties and gardens across the UK.
AWARDS
Photographers and filmmakers will also have the chance to win a wide range of awards:
Earth Photo Award: £1,000 for an outstanding photography project that tells a compelling story about life on our planet.
The Royal Geographic Society – Climate of Change Award: £500 for a submission that explores the impacts of climate change upon people, environments, and wildlife or showing resilience and innovative adaptations resulting in positive actions.
Forestry England – Forest Ecosystem Award: £500 for an extraordinary submission relating to trees, forest ecosystems, ecologies, workers, inhabitants, guardians of the forest, forest biodiversity, resilience, climate impacts and communities.
Earth Photo Moving Image Award: £500 for the strongest moving image work that tells a compelling story about life on our planet.
Sidney Nolan Trust Residency Prize: Founded by the famous Australian modernist Sir Sidney Nolan, the Sidney Nolan Trust is delighted to offer a two-week residency to a UK based practitioner at Nolan’s former home, The Rodd.
David Wolf Kaye Future Potential Awards: Awarded to two practitioners under the age of 25 – one for stills photography and one for moving image. The winners will each receive a cash prize of £250 towards the cost of their next project, as well as mentoring by a leading photographer or filmmaker.
New Scientist Editors Award: Mentoring for a photographer or filmmaker with the potential of an image spread in the Aperture section of the magazine or an online video article.
Photoworks Digital Residency: One Earth Photo participant will be selected to work with this prestigious organisation to present their work in a variety of ways online, and receive £400.
Earth Photo 2025: artopps.co.uk/earth-photo25
Photographers & filmmakers are encouraged to take part in Earth Photo 2025 by entering online before 3rd March 2025, 5PM (GMT)
Earth Photo are excited to partner with Travelsphere, the group touring experts who have been operating extraordinary global travel itineraries since 1962. Passionate about making a positive impact on local communities, their tours are carefully crafted to offer the most authentic experiences through their deep local knowledge and expertise.
