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Jenneponto, Indonesia: a group of boys play football around a wind power plant, their house is nearby.
One of Taiwan's biggest cities, Kaohsiung is crowded and polluted. One solution is this huge hangar, covering and catching the coal dust generated during transportation from the boats to the power plant.
Typhoon season is vitally important in Tainan, Taiwan. It brings life-giving fresh water for the rainy season. In dry winters, salt water from the coast permeates underground and into fishing pools to create these stunning patterns.
Nowadays artificial snow is the only way to start the winter season, winters in the Austrian alps are getting shorter and shorter.
Al Madam Ghost Town, UAE. 85% of the world’s population lives on the driest half of the planet. Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, caused primarily by human activity and climatic variations.
Traditional bushfires are commonplace in West Africa. Here, a Togolese woman in Tami, Togo, manages an “early bushfire” designed to burn old grasses, let new grasses grow and preempt a wildfire in the dry season.
A child sleeps inside his house destroyed by coastal erosion. Sea levels along more than 8,000km of the seacoast of 13 West African countries continue to rise, swallowing everything in their path.
A boy is trying to fight against the fire that broke out near his home. Forest fires are a common phenomenon and can be caused by negligence.
In 2021 Bangladesh experienced unusually low rainfall and suffered a severe drought. This flock of sheep in Noakhali uses their initiative to seek out grass in between the cracks of parched soil around their shepherd.
In Tarash, in the Sirajganj district of Bangladesh, locals net fish and air dry them on vibrant raised trellises to preserve their catch and provide a steady income. Refrigeration isn’t widely available, so drying fish in the open air is common practice.
Harvested rice is dried over several days in paddy fields in the village of Kachikata, Natore, Bangladesh. Using traditional methods, the rice is regularly raked and turned to dry out thoroughly in the sun. The process creates these distinctive patterns.
Sontola Bridge, Sirajganj in Bangladesh, attracts an abundance of fish tempted by the extensive algae that accumulates in the river. This draws brightly coloured boatmen, from far and wide, to cast and fill their nets and provide for their families.
Workers sit surrounded by thousands of richly coloured and scented incense sticks in Quang Phu Cau, a village in Hanoi, Vietnam. Incense has played an important spiritual role in their lives for hundreds of years and is used in all forms of worship.
Morning rush hour on a busy waterway in Bangladesh. Bustling with boats and passengers jostling to make their commute, millions of people compete to cross the river to get to their workplace in Dhaka.
In Pirojpur, Bangladesh, gardens rise and fall as waters swell in nearby rivers. This makes land a precious commodity for residents wishing to grow crops. Timing is crucial and experience is everything.
I met this California sea lion pup with a hook embedded in his mouth at the beginning of the dive. For the duration of the dive he stayed near me.
This completely self-sustainable project aims to make underwater farming a viable eco-friendly solution to counteract the increasing climate change pressures on our future.
Researchers weigh an anaesthetised polar bear during an expedition by the Russian Geographical Society. They monitored the polar bear population, assessing impacts of climate change.
Tuyen Lam Lake, near Da Lat city, Vietnam. A balance between the nuances of nature and the daily work of man.
Tuyen Lam National Biosphere Reserve contains rich and diverse ecosystems, animals and plants. The old fisherman chooses a solitary life, catching fish in exchange for food.
This gorge has been buried under the flood waters of the Lake Powell reservoir (USA) since 1963. It has become accessible again due to extreme drought. 9 vertical images were merged to create this image.
Juan de Fuca Straight, Canada. The smoke from devastating forest fires was burning our eyes and lungs. "Dad, I wonder what's out there. Maybe the smoke will blow away and we can see what's here if we stay a while." "I'm sorry son, the tide is coming in around us. We best be heading back in before you get trapped out there."
A boy takes in air from a plant, with a sand storm brewing in the background. Trees are a nature-based solution to climate change, so deforestation brings us closer to our last breaths.
People are collecting rubbish for resale at the Matuail sanitary landfill in Dhaka, Bangladesh. According to a UNFA report, Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Bangladesh currently generates 22.4 million tons of waste per year.
Castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa) in a logging process in Sena Madureira, Acre (Brazil). This iconic tree species of the Amazon rainforest reaches 30 to 50 meters in height. It is one of the most vulnerable species (endangered) despite its cutting and use being prohibited by law.
An empty lifeboat sails away from a forest fire by the sea.
Flooding is a very real danger in the Po Valley in Nonantola, Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. Michele Lapini captured this striking image of a house submerged by the River Panaro, which burst its banks in extreme weather conditions.
In a barrack in the interior of Minas Gerais, Brazil, recyclable material collectors transform garbage into a means of survival, saving the environment and generating income for their families.
The descendants of a man who died 50 years ago are preparing to move his remains as they are forced to abandon their ancestral home of Hasankeyf, Turkey. The construction of the Ilısu Dam will bury historic and cultural heritage.
This house located in the middle of the swamp is run by an elderly Vietnamese couple. They raise buffaloes and ducks around the house, using small boats to move around.
Man encroaches on nature. On the right is a coconut and mangrove forest. On the left are human-made shrimp ponds.
Aquaculture from ponds near the beach discharge directly into the sea, causing serious pollution to the marine environment.
The ADun commune in Chu Se, Vietnam is a place with a harsh climate featuring dry season, lack of water, and burning sunshine.
Dam Vua salt fields in Vietnam. The salt particles crystallise after the seawater evaporates. A work day for salt farmers begins when the sun is not too high, everyone quickly rakes salt into high piles.
Whatever is left of the primary forest in Brazil, it is mostly due to indigenous people fighting for their land and their way of life.
Phoenicoparrus jamesi (most commonly known as James’s Flamingo) is one of the three species found in the south of Bolivia. Since it has been discover that salt lakes are full of lithium, these habitats are in danger.
Volcanic mud pools like this one on the Crimean Peninsula are disappearing as a result of climate change, exacerbated by human activity. Hindu god “Surya” is considered the creator and eye of the universe.
Wind energy is one of the cleanest and most sustainable sources of energy on the planet. The Serra de São Macário mountains in Portugal have perfect conditions for the generation of clean energy.
Munira Begum (37) left her house to attend her workstation, leaving her 7 years old child in her house which burned down in hours.
Working Mother works to bring food and other basic necessities to her family. She cares for her child during work. Here the child is hanging in a net while the Mother is working in a fish drying zone filled with the toxic air of rotten and dry fish.
A narrow road divides the green and fresh waters (note the trees growing) from the ochre and toxic waters of a nearby mine reservoir.
A good management of forests is fundamental to contain climate change. This is a chestnut forest managed by wood owners in a sustainable way. They cut trees in polygonal areas and in the middle of them they left smaller zones whit trees that help the natural reforestation of the wood.
Subal Maity's bedroom was destroyed in 5 minutes by super cyclone Amphan. Forest and mangrove demolition is a major cause of disasters like Amphan.
Heavy pollution, irregular monsoon seasons, and drought cause algal bloom on the river Damodar, India. The bloom prevents oxygen from entering the water, killing fish and damaging human hygiene and habitats.
Jute is a bio degradable crop grown mainly in the Ganges delta. It is an important natural fiber in terms of cultivation and usage. The Indian government is encouraging farmers to cultivate more jute.
Dr. Ulgen Aytan of the Marine Biology department at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University positioned shredded plastic collected from the sea. The PLASTON research group investigates the interaction of plastics with animals.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, medical waste equivalent to 33,880 plastic bottles was being released into the Mediterranean every minute. Turkish world record-holding free-diver Sahika Ercumen collects rubbish on the Ortakoy coastline.
Wells and pipes in Krafla, Iceland. Carbon emissions from this geothermal station are reduced by reusing or reinjecting into the wells. The gases react with basaltic subsurface for safe, long-term storage.
A photobioreactor at the Algalif facilities in Iceland. This plant uses geothermal energy to grow micro-algae producing astaxanthin. Carbon dioxide is re-used, sustainably turning waste into value.
Kutubdia Island in Bangladesh, the day after Cyclone Yaas (2021). The embankment broke the entire area was flooded. This fish farming project was destroyed due to the intrusion of saline & polluted water.
Women collect water from a ditch in Bangladesh. The ground water is too saline. In the rainy season people collect and save rainwater to drink for the year. A family drinks only 4-5 liters each day.
Hang Phan Market is a small market more than 100 years old in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Due to the hot weather, traders spread umbrellas to protect against the intense sunshine.
A farmer burns dried lotus after harvesting in Ha Nam province, Vietnam. Smoke impacts on her health.
A farmer works in a vegetable field in Dong Anh district, Hanoi, Vietnam. These vegetable plots are covered by thin nylon to keep moisture in, prevent frost, and prevent cold. This is a farming practice commonly used in winter and spring by farmers in Vietnam.
People play and swim near a flooded road in Quoc Oai, Hanoi, Vietnam. This photo was taken in the middle of the historic flood in 2018, which isolated this community for more than three weeks.
Standard size football field hidden inside the massive Meshchersky park on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia.
Pink salt lakes, Ukraine. Aerial photo from 120m altitude. Horse portrait created by Mother Nature from water and salt.
Since 2020, humanity has been forced to live in new conditions under the motto #StayHome. Civilization is creating a new normal, and nature silently observes.
As a result of unplanned urbanization, the ground floor of the Chittagong Maternal and Child Hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh is submerged in heavy rains every year.
In pursuit of livelihood, he collects plastic items from different parts of the city and takes them to the factory for sale (Chittagong City, Bangladesh).
People are frustrated with the water scarcity due to droughts in Bangladesh.
All photos were selected and approved in line with the 2021 competition’s rules and selection criteria.
Before entering, please read the Rules and Guidelines and Digital Specifications & Digital Adjustment Guidelines carefully as all entrants have to acknowledge acceptance of them during the online registration process.
1. Entries must be received by 11.59 BST on 14 August 2021 (‘the Closing Date’).
2. Each entrant may enter up to ten (10) still photographs.
3. All photographs entered must have been completed since 01 January 2018.
4. Entries must be submitted as digital files only. For initial entry, all still photography images must be submitted as JPEGs, saved at a high quality level, with a maximum file size of 199MB. SEE DIGITAL SPECIFICATIONS SECTION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
5. If shortlisted, entrants must be able to supply images as RAW files or original JPEGs. SEE DIGITAL SPECIFICATIONS BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
6. Entrants must be the sole author and owner of the copyright for all the entries they submit, or they must have obtained permission from the copyright holder to submit the entries on their behalf. A copy of any such written permission must be supplied to the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) on request.
7. The photographer retains the copyright to all their entries into the Environmental Photographer of the Year. The photographer will be credited. The photographer agrees that CIWEM will not be liable to the photographer in the event of inadvertent omission of the credit.
8. Do not add a signature to any entry as judging is done anonymously and entries with overlay signatures will be rejected.
9. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that all the necessary permissions are obtained from people featured in the entry.
10. All entries, should be a faithful representation of the original scene and localised adjustments should be used appropriately. Some digital adjustment or editing is allowed, but entrants should understand that the objective is to remain faithful to the original experience, and to never deceive the viewer or misrepresent reality. SEE DIGITAL ADJUSTMENT GUIDELINES SECTION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
11. Each entrant agrees to participate in related publicity and to the use of their name and entry for the purposes of advertising, promotion, exhibition,
transmission and publicity of the competition and exhibition and CIWEM without additional compensation.
12. By entering the Competition, you grant CIWEM a non-exclusive sub-licensable licence to reproduce, publish, exhibit and communicate your entry to the public by exhibiting your entry through all media throughout the world for 10 (ten) years in relation to the Environmental Photographer of the Year competition and CIWEM’s charitable activities. This includes but is not limited to: the competition judging process; an exhibition and tour (including virtual); inclusion in an Environmental Photographer of the Year Exhibition catalogue or book; online galleries; private viewings, websites and microsites, corporate communications, on sponsor’s network platforms and apps, reports, promotional, press, PR and marketing activities including digital and social media (paid and organic) and press and marketing materials, educational support and brand ambassadors, all of which are associated with the Environmental Photographer of the Year and CIWEM’s charitable activities and public benefit remit; and associated merchandising. CIWEM is allowed to pass on any entry to online and print publications and to its sponsors including WaterBear, to be used either for editorial or image based promotion and exploitation only by CIWEM and its sponsors in relation to the Environmental Photographer of the Year, with full credit given to the photographer. CIWEM’s use of the photographs may further include third party licensing (including further licensing opportunities to sponsors) to generate revenue, however, in the event that CIWEM’s use is for ancillary purposes, it shall consult in good faith with the entrant about an appropriate share of revenue.
13. By entering the competition you accept that your entry may be exhibited by CIWEM or other exhibitions organised or attended by CIWEM and by the sponsors as part of the Environmental Photographer of the Year. CIWEM reserve the right to reproduce any entry for exhibition purposes.
14. CIWEM cannot accept liability for the misuse of entries and or failure of any third party to comply with the Environmental Photographer of the Year’s credit guidelines.
15. By entering the Competition you are granting CIWEM permission to sub-license its rights to Sponsors of the Competition under the same terms and conditions contained herein.
16. CIWEM may grant to its Sponsors of the Environmental Photographer of the Year competition (detailed on this website ) the right (including but not limited to) reproduce any entry from the exhibition in their own marketing, publications, use in exhibitions (including virtual), on websites, microsites,
corporate communications, transmission on the WaterBear platform and its apps, reports, promotions, digital media, social media (paid and organic), private viewings, online galleries, press and PR, brand ambassadors, marketing, education support and the Sponsors promotion of their sponsorship of the Environmental Photographer of the Year.
17. Judges appointed by CIWEM will choose the exhibition and winners. The judges’ decision on all matters relating to the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into. During judging the judges reserve the right to move entries from one category to another where appropriate and not award any entry within a category.
18. CIWEM reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage.
19. CIWEM reserves the right to amend, remove or introduce additional judging categories, including prizes and conditions, at any stage during the competition.
20. The competition is open to all international photographers, both amateur and professional, and of all ages.
21. It is the responsibility of each entrant into the competition to ensure they have read and abide by the General Rules. By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the General Rules, that their entry complies with the General Rules, and that they will be liable to the Owners and their licensees in respect of any damages or losses incurred as a breach of the General Rules by the entrant.
22. Any entrant found to not comply with the General Rules at any stage of the competition will be disqualified and any prizes will be forfeited.
23. The decision of CIWEM on all matters relating to the Competition is final and binding.
1. Anyone born on or after 31st July 2000 can enter this category. Only photographs taken by photographers within this age range can enter this category.
2. Proof of date of birth may be required upon request.
3. For entrants under 18 parental written permission must be received from the parent or guardian of the photographer upon request from CIWEM.
1. The prize will be a Nikon Z 7II Camera and 3 Nikon lenses (detailed below)
2. The Organiser reserves the right to change or otherwise amend the prize on grounds of reasonableness and fairness.
3. The prizes are as stated, are not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered.
4. Nikon reserves the right to substitute the prize to an equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary.
5. Please allow 28 days for delivery of the prize subject to availability and sale start dates.
Prize
The following guidelines explain the required specifications for each category at the different stages of the competition. Please ensure that your entries adhere to these guidelines.
1. Initial entry: all still photographs must be submitted as JPEGs, saved at a high quality level with a maximum file size of 199MB. Each image file must be named with your surname, first name and brief title e.g. SmithJohn_Title.jpeg. Whilst image titles may be too long to be used as image names, a section of your title would be adequate.
2. Proof of authenticity: original digital camera RAW files will be required if your image is shortlisted. Digital images captured as JPEG are allowed, providing the original un-retouched JPEG is available for inspection. Any work created from more than one original (e.g. stitched images), must be declared as such, and the original captured images should be available for inspection when requested.
3. Printing: for printing in all media and for inclusion in an exhibition, a high-resolution image (preferably TIFF) will be requested if your image is selected.
The following digital adjustments are allowed:
· removal of sensor dust spots and chromatic aberration
· levels (in moderation)
· curves (in moderation)
· colour (in moderation)
· saturation (in moderation)
· contrast work (in moderation)
· shadow and highlights (in moderation)
· sharpening (including selective sharpening) in moderation
· cropping in moderation and as long as a suitable high-res TIFF file can be supplied for printing a large exhibition display
· dodging, burning and toning (in moderation)
· neutral density gradients (in moderation)
· removing lens vignetting
· panoramas i.e. panoramas created from several images that have been taken from the same location and at the same time, and then combined or stitched using digital techniques, and resulting in a wider view than can be achieved with most wide-angle lenses. (NB: stitched panoramas must be declared in caption information.)
· multiple exposures are only allowed if this is a feature of the camera and the result is one single file. Entrants must state in the caption if their image is a multiple exposure
The following digital adjustments are not allowed:
· adding or removing animals, parts of animals, plants, distractions, people etc.
· composites and sandwich shots that add elements.
· images that have been digitally manipulated outside of the allowed adjustments.
· The personal data of entrants will be managed by CIWEM in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.
· CIWEM will collect personal data about entrants (and when applicable, parents/guardians) at the time of entry, and as otherwise provided in order to administer the competition and its associated activities only. View CIWEM’s privacy policy at https://www.ciwem.org/privacy-policy.
