The National Wildlife Federation

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About

Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest

Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest logo

Thank you to those who entered the 2022 Garden For Wildlife Photo Contest! Our fifth annual photo contest attracted more than 7,200 photos submitted in five categories from some 1,000 photographers sharing their love of nature—from city patios to rural meadows. “We appreciate all these photographers for the quality and abundance of photos that highlight spaces where wildlife and people thrive,” says Mary Phillips, Head of Garden for Wildlife™. We hope you’ll enjoy this year's memorable winners.










 

About the Contest

The Garden for Wildlife™ Photo Contest seeks to illustrate the faces of Garden for Wildlife through striking, colorful images showcasing the impact of habitat gardens on wildlife and people–in urban, suburban, and rural settings, and on land, in the air, and in water.

Photographs may be submitted in one of the following five categories:

People in the Wildlife Garden

rabbit eating a desert plant

Close-Up Native Plants and Their Wildlife Visitors

a monarch butterfly pupa on a metal fence

Wildlife Observations Where People Live, Work, Play, Learn, and Worship

flowers in front of bird bath and Certified Wildlife Habitat sign

Certified Wildlife Habitat Landscapes

American goldfinch on flowers in a meadow

Young Habitat Photographers


Photo Contest Winners

Grand Prize (one winner): $1,000 cash prize
Runner-Up (one winner): $500 cash prize
Category Winners: One winner from each category will receive a 12-pack Garden for Wildlife Native Plant Collection  ($118 value)
Category Runner Up Winners: One winner from each category will receive a 6-pack Garden for Wildlife Native Plant Collection ($68 value)
Honorable Mentions: Each will receive a National Wildlife Calendar

Garden Photography Tips

  • Try not to use a flash. Natural light is best! 
  • Use shade to your advantage, especially when the sun is high, to help diffuse bright spots and glare.
  • Overcast weather is best to help reduce shadows.
  • Use a tripod for close-up shots to help avoid the blur caused by camera shake.

Want more? Check out 10 tips to improve your wildlife photography.


Supporters

Many thanks to our promotional partners and supporters, dedicated to helping more Americans plant with a purpose by promoting the Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest!

Botanical Interests logo

Promotional Partners


American Horticultural Society

American Public Gardens Association

Botanical Interests

Garden Media Group

National Garden Association

National Garden Bureau

National Garden Clubs

Plants Map


Image Credits: Children in Garden (Teri Brennan, Wild NYC); Adults in Garden (Palm Beach County, Florida); Monarch Pupa (Avalon Bristow); Rabbit (Sam Wharton); Garden Landscape (Mary Phillips); American Goldfinch (Nathan Rees)