Photo by one of this year's competition judges Tessa Barlin
National Geographic has put out a call for amateur and professional photographers who want to get their snappy hands on cold, hard cash.
They've launched the 2022 edition of their photography competition, which now offers prize money instead of cellphones, which were the prizes last year.
The competition
There are two categories this year: one for amateur photographers and one for professionals, and each category will have first, second and third place winners, with these prizes:
1st Place: R25,000
2nd Place: R15,000
3rd Place: R5,000
The top 10 images in each category will be published on
TimesLIVE on 4 September and the winning shots will showcased in the Sunday Times, on TimesLIVE and on the Nat Geo Africa social media platforms on 11 September.
The photograph
This year's theme is embodied in the hashtag: #ExploreNaturalAreas.
It aims to celebrate South Africa’s natural spaces and highlights the need for their protection.
Entry photographs need to showcase any recognized protected area or area that deserves protection.
It's a noble theme but it's also limiting unfortunately, specifically for people who live in urban areas and can't get to natural spaces.
If this applies to you, we suggest you find ways of intepreting this theme as creatively as possible e.g. find and photograph any nature in urban areas because this needs to be protected.
How to enter
Upload your original photograph to Instagram.
Tag @NatGeo_Africa and use the hashtag #ExploreNaturalAreas.
You need to be following @NatGeo_Africa when you do this. Be sure that your account isn't set to private so your content can be viewed by everyone.
Closing date
19h00 on Sunday 21 August 2022
Who can enter? The must-knows
- You need to be over the age of 16,
- The competition is only open to South African residents,
- Photos must be unedited, except for colour grading (no CG techniques, super-imposing, etc.),
You'll find the full Ts & Cs here:
Competition Rules
2021 Winners
These are the photos that won last year, which had the theme: Find the epic in every day.
Entries needed to capture unique and remarkable moments, experiences or aspects of everyday life.
First prize
Living on the Edge by Lara Roussouw from Bloemfontein
It was taken while Lara was on holiday in the Kgalagadi National Park in the Northern Cape.
Lara: “I loved the look of the lizard, as if it were appreciating the view of the Augrabies Falls from the viewing deck.”
Second prize
Sharing a Moment by Cynthia Mokgoebo from Polokwane
Cynthia captured these two grasshoppers during a walk to a nearby lake.
Third prize
The Power of Touch by Karishma Rajcomar
Karishma: I vow to sacrifice whatever I can, to make sure that I will be able to repay her for everything she has done for our huge family and I, especially now when she needs me the most. 6Children, 16Grandchildren, 20Great-grandchildren & 1Great- Great-grandchild later and at 91years young my Gran is still EPIC in every way!