Once limited to landowners in select counties, the 2025 Wildlife in Focus photo contest is now expanding statewide — offering the chance to feature a greater range of landowners and photographers, and a full collection of flora and fauna throughout the Lone Star State.
The contest is also adding a videography category this year. Photography has proven to be a powerful and effective tool for engaging the general public and promoting wildlife and habitat conservation. Since 2000, the nonprofit organization Wildlife in Focus (WIF) has hosted a biennial nature photography contest that accomplishes the goal of using artistic expression and photography to bring public awareness to the natural resources of Texas while also encouraging cooperation between private landowners, photographers and businesses.

Nature photography tourism is growing as a sustainable income stream for rural landowners with natural resources. Texas is primarily privately owned, and private landowners play a critical role in managing land for wildlife.
Since its inception, the WIF contest creates opportunities for collaboration between photographers and landowners to capture the beauty and hidden natural treasures of Texas, including myriad Texas species and the diverse places they inhabit.
“There is no other photo contest like this one!” says Miles Phillips, WIF vice president and photo contest director. “Landowners and photographers both benefit. I have never enjoyed photography more than while participating in this event.”
Participating landowners are matched with a registered photographer (WIF can put photographers and landowners in contact with each other). Each landowner-photographer team can submit images in 50 photo categories. Registration deadline is Feb. 1. All photos must be taken during the designated 100-day contest period (Feb. 21 to May 31, 2025) on the participating private land.

Prize money for winnings ($40,000 in prize money is available) will be split equally between the landowner and the photographer.
The contest challenges photographers to extend their knowledge and sometimes go beyond their comfort zones — whether it is learning a new technique like astro- or macrophotography or finding a new artistic angle for a diamondback rattlesnake in its natural environment. Images are selected by a panel of judges, and the winners will have the chance to see their work featured in a quality coffee-table book, magazines and in gallery exhibits displayed by major sponsors.
For more information pertaining to contest rules, equipment specifications, categories and more, visit www.wildlifeinfocus.org.