Por el Planeta International Conservation Photography Competition Launches with Mission to Promote Conservation through Art of Photography

Por el Planeta, the first international conservation photography competition, is now open for submissions via its online portal at porelplanetaphoto.com. The inaugural competition, which runs through March 27, 2015, will award more than USD $300,000 in 22 prizes, including $100,000 for the best picture overall. Participation in Por el Planeta directly translates into resources to support conservation efforts.

Por el Planeta: Wildlife, Nature & Conservation Photo Competition

Por el Planeta is not just a photography contest, it’s a movement seeking to transform our relationship with the planet and its wildlife. The competition was born out of a desire to reaffirm narrative photography as a powerful tool that encourages nature conservation and generates an appreciation for biodiversity.

“We believe photography is more than just light, beautiful pictures or perfect proportions,” said award-winning photographer Cristina Mittermeier, director of Por el Planeta. “It is also a vehicle for real change.”

Por el Planeta will award more resources than any other photography contest to recognize the dedication, skill and talent of photographers who strive to create images that infuse society with an understanding of and care for our shared natural heritage. At the same time, Por el Planeta wishes to encourage the development of new photography and conservation projects, mobilize audiences and raise awareness of the daily threats faced by our biodiversity.

Call for Entries

Por el Planeta is open for submissions from photographers around the world through March 27, 2015. Entries may only be submitted online via www.porelplanetaphoto.com. Entries are divided into age groups: Adults (18 years or older at close of competition); and Under 18, divided in two age groups: 10-13 and 14-17.

Categories and Awards

There are 10 categories divided into three themes: Biodiversity (Animal Portraits, Animal Behavior, Animals in Their Environment, Wild Habitat, Underwater and Micro Nature); Conservation (Our Changing Planet and Conservation Photographer of the Year); and Storytelling (Six Frames for Change and Short Video).

Prize money of USD $300,000 will be divided between 22 prizes, including $100,000 for the best picture in the entire contest; $15,000 for the best image captured in Mexico; and $10,000 for the People’s Choice Award. The winner of the Conservation Photographer of the Year category will receive $15,000; the winner of Six Frames for Change category will receive $12,500, plus an additional $50,000 to finance a photography project in a Mexican biome; and the winner of the Short Video category will receive $10,000. The first-place winner in each of the other categories will be awarded $10,000, and the second-place category winners will receive $2,500. The best photograph from each of the Under 18 age groups will win a trip with paid expenses to Mexico City for the minor and an adult.

National Geographic: Media Partner

As Por el Planeta’s media partner, National Geographic, through its global reach to photographers and conservationists, will help amplify the competition’s objectives and conservation message of inspiring more people to care about our planet and supporting a wide range of ecosystems throughout the world.

All of the proceeds from the registration process will be donated to conservation initiatives. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to an initiative closely related to the photograph that wins the People’s Choice Award. The other 50 percent will go to National Geographic’s conservation and awareness initiatives and the International Photography Contest for Kids.

Selection and Jury

A team of renowned photography professionals will judge the proposals. Por el Planeta’s jury comprises National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen (chair of the jury, Canada); photographer Graciela Iturbide (Mexico); National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry (USA); National Geographic’s senior photo editor for natural history, Kathy Moran (USA); and photographer Sophie Stafford (UK). Cristina Mittermeier (Mexico) will act as technical secretary.

Por el Planeta is organized by Televisa, with National Geographic as its media partner and with the support of Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) and National Council for Culture and Arts (Conaculta).

Follow Por el Planeta on social media at Facebook @ElPlanetaPhoto; Instagram @ElPlanetaPhoto; Twitter @ElPlanetaPhoto; and Pinterest @ElPlanetaPhoto. For more information, visit www.porelplanetaphoto.com or email info@porelplanetaphoto.com.