NANPA News Center

Keeping up with fast-changing events around the world can be a full-time job in itself! Our News Center will help you keep track of news and events affecting photographers and environmental concerns.

In addition, you can find news for specific topics on the following pages:

"Ocean Views" Photo Awards
Jan 31, 2010: Nature's Best Photography and Divers Alert Network (DAN) announce their alliance to host this year's competition, open to all levels of photographers from around the world. Entry deadline is March 1, 2010. Click headline for deatils and entry.
2010 Windland Smith Rice International Awards
Jan 30, 2010: The editors of Nature's Best Photography magazine invite all photographers to enter the 14th Annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition for 2010. Entry deadline is April 5, 2010. For details and entry, see http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/contest2/entry_1.php?cid=118
Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum International Photo Competition
Jan 25, 2010: The Fort Dearborn-Chicago Photo Forum is celebrating its 115th anniversary in 2010. In honor of the occasion, they are hosting an international competition with five categories including "Nature". Entry deadline is April 15, 2010. Click the headline for details and entry.
EPSON International Pano Awards
Jan 25, 2010: Epson announces the inaugural 2010 EPSON International Pano Awards, dedicated to the art of panoramic photography. The Pano Awards aims to showcase the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and be the largest and most important competition for panoramic photography. The competition is now open for all professional and amateur photographers with a combined prize pool of over US$13,000 in cash and prizes! Entry deadline is April 30, 2010. For details and entries see www.thepanoawards.com
Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition 2010
Jan 21, 2010: The 46th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is now open and once again seeking the very best innovative and inspiring wildlife images. Entries are being accepted now through March 5, 2010. Click the headline for details and online entry.
2010 Environmental Photographer of the Year Competition
Jan 21, 2010: CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) has opened the Environmental Photographer of the Year competition for 2010. This competition seeks to celebrate photographers who use their ability to raise awareness of environmental and social issues. It is open to all professional and amateur international photographers of any age and encourages entries that are contemporary, creative, experimental, resonant, original and beautiful. Entry deadline is July 31, 2010, click the headline for details and submission.
2010 Philip Hyde Grant Recipient - Paul Colangelo
Dec 22, 2009: The NANPA Foundation has announced that Paul Colangelo of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is the recipient of the 2010 Philip Hyde Grant for his work in British Columbia. This $5,000 peer-reviewed grant is awarded annually to an individual member of the North American Nature Photography Association who is actively pursuing completion of an environmental project. The award will be presented at the 16th Annual Nature Photography Summit presented by NANPA, February 16-21, 2010 in Reno, Nevada.
Full details and PDF Press Release
Zion Artist-in-Residence Program Extended
Oct 29, 2009: Zion National Park has extended the application deadline for the 2010 Artist-in-Residence program. All application materials must be posted marked by November 7, 2009. Work submitted should be of professional quality and no student work will be eligible. For more information, visit our website at: http://www.nps.gov/zion/supportyourpark/artist-in-residence.htm, email zion_artist_in_residence@nps.gov, or call 435-772-0159.
NANPA Board of Directors Election
Oct 15, 2009: Elections to fill 3 upcoming vacancies on NANPA's Board of Directors are now open to members. Voting deadline is Nov. 15, 2009.
Board Candidate Profiles
Online Election Ballot
2010 RMNP Artist-in-Residence Program
Oct 10, 2009: The National Park Service is accepting applications for its summer 2010 Artist-in-Residence Program from October 1, 2009, through December 1, 2009, at Rocky Mountain National Park. Selected artists are provided with a creative, contemplative environment in which to generate artistic works and share their works with the public and will receive a two-week residency at the William Allen White cabin from June through September. For more information or to apply visit - http://www.nps.gov/romo/supportyourpark/artist_in_residence.htm
Application deadline Dec. 1, 2009.
Danita Delimont Wins ASPP Award
Sep 30, 2009: NANPA member Danita Delimont was chosen the American Society of Picture Professionals' (ASPP) 2009 Picture Professional of the Year. The award will be presented at an ASPP event in New York City in December. Congratulations Danita!
Environmental Photography Exhibition
Aug 26, 2009: The Environmental Photography Exhibition is calling for entries for it's 2009 event that will be held in conjunction with the Colorado Environmental Film Festival at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado, November 25, 2009. All photographers, from all regions and working in all styles and processes are encouraged to enter. Entry deadline is Sep. 26, 2009. For details see http://www.mountainmagazine.com/Photo-last-promo/photo-promolst.html
2nd Annual Picture Sustainability Photo Contest
Aug 26, 2009: The Rainforest Alliance is holding its 2nd annual Picture Sustainability Photo Contest. Grand Prize is a trip for two to Costa Rica and a Fujifilm Finepix S100 FS digital camera. Submission deadline Nov. 1, 2009. Details at http://www.raphotocontest.org/.
NANPA Board Minutes Available
Aug 6, 2009: Meeting minutes from the NANPA Board of Directors meeting held in Denver in July are now available for review. Click the headline to view the PDF document.
2010 NANPA Members Showcase Competition
Aug 3, 2009: Submissions are now open for the 2010 NANPA Members Showcase Competition. Open to NANPA members only, this annual photo competition selects winners in three tiers, with cash prizes and publication in NANPA's annual printed journal, Expressions. For rules and further details, click the headline. Entry deadline is September 14, 2009.
NPN's 1st Annual Nature Appreciation Day Announced
Oct. 4, 2009: NaturePhotographers.net (NPN) announces its first annual Nature Appreciation Day on Sunday, October 4, 2009. Photos made by NPN members on that day will be posted in a special gallery on their website. This year's theme "What Nature Photography Means to Me" encourages "nine-to-fivers" to take some time out and enjoy the peace and solitude of nature. For details and participation, see their press release at http://www.naturephotographers.net/NAD2009.pdf
Philip Hyde Grant Applications due August 31, 2009: This $5,000 grant, provided by Fine Print Imaging through its Art for Conservation program and the NANPA Environment Committee, is awarded annually to an individual NANPA member who is actively pursuing completion of a peer-reviewed environment or conservation project that is consistent with the missions of NANPA and the NANPA Foundation. The application deadline for the 2009 grant is August 31, 2009. The grant criteria and the downloadable application form are available on the NANPA Foundation web site at http://www.nanpafoundation.org/hyde_grant.html.
NANPA Discussion Forums Launched
Jul 1, 2009: Just released with brand new software and features, the NANPA Discussion Forums offer topic areas for both NANPA members and all nature photographers. Find your niche and show us your photos at www.nanpa.org/forums
2010 NANPA High School Student Scholarships Open
Jun 25, 2009: Applications are now being accepted from high school students for the 2010 Summit in Reno, Nevada. Application deadline is Oct. 19, 2009. Click the headline to go to the application page for full details and online submissions.
2010 NANPA Summit College Photography Scholarships Open
Jun 9, 2009: Applications are now being accepted from college students for the 2010 Summit in Reno, Nevada. Application deadline is Nov. 9, 2009. Click the headline to go to the application page for full details and online submissions.
WILD SPEAK - We have something to say!
Nov 6-13, 2009: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

The International League of Conservation Photogaphers (ILCP) is celebrating its four year anniversary by convening a conservation communications symposium during WILD9, the 9th World Wilderness Congress. Come join the world's leading conservation thinkers and doers -- scientists, photographers, filmmakers, journalists and academics -- for four days of discussions, insight and inspiration.
Rick Zuegel Succumbs to ALS
May 12, 2009: Rick Zuegel, one of NANPA's founding members and our first Treasurer, has succumbed to ALS. For details, please see his Tributes page.
Pat Wadecki Dies in Illinois
May 6, 2009: NANPA sadly announces the death of long-time member Pat Wadecki. For details, please see her Tributes page.
Daniel Beltrá Wins Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) Award
May 1, 2009: Daniel Beltrá, a NANPA member and presenter at the Outreach Event at the 2009 Summit, has been awarded the Prince's Rainforests Project (PRP) Award at this year's Sony World Photography Awards Gala ceremony in Cannes, France. Daniel won €15,000 (euros) in prize money plus a fully-funded assignment to document three rainforest regions of the world. On behalf of The Prince's Rainforests Project and Sony Eco, he will travel through the rainforest nations over the course of three months.

See the links below for more information about this prestigious award: http://www.princesrainforestsproject.org/daniel-beltra-wins-prp-award
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CDfXEGn2QQ
http://www.worldphotographyawards.org/
LandScope Seeks Submissions
Jan 15, 2009: National Geographic and NatureServe would like to invite you to join the LandScope photo community by submitting photography for inclusion in the LandScope map viewer collection. Submission is free and photographers will, of course, retain their own copyright and photos will be prominently credited. A PDF brochure is available by clicking the headline. Read more about the LandScope project at http://www.landscope.org
Workshop Instructors Needed
Jan 6, 2009: Horizon Photography Workshops is seeking nature/wildlife and travel photographers as workshop instructors. Must be outstanding, well-established professional photographer with enthusiasm, dedication,
prior workshop experience and excellent communication skills. We run workshops at our headquarters in northeast Maryland and throughout the United States. See: http://www.horizonworkshops.com. If interested, email Steve Gottlieb, Director, Horizon Photography Workshops, atinfo@horizonworkshops.com
2009 NANPA Road Shows
Oct 20, 2008: Four more of NANPA's popular Road Shows are scheduled during 2009. Look for one coming to a city near you - http://www.nanpa.org/road_shows.php
PACA Copyright Education
Oct 20, 2008: The Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) has developed a program to educate image professionals on copyrights and the legal issues surrounding rights of image creators. Named the "Jane Kinne Copyright Education Program," this free one-hour program can be viewed online or ordered on DVD. See the PACA website for details.
ASPP Releases "Best Practices" Guidelines
Aug 14, 2008: The American Society of Picture Professionals has released guidelines entitled "ASPP's Best Practices for Locating Copyright Owners of Photographic and Visual Art." This guide is intended to be a "living document" and will be continually updated as new registries and technologies become available. The guide can be found at the ASPP website at
http://www.aspp.com/pages/257/189/0/
Health Insurance Now Available for NANPA Members
Apr 5, 2008: NANPA has just joined the cadre of professional organizations able to offer its members health insurance -- a significant benefit that will add even more value to your membership. To learn more about the NANPA Health Insurance plan see the Health Insurance page.
NANPA Clarifies Proposed Regulations for Photographing on Federal Land
Mar 10, 2008: NANPA has been following the progress of proposed Interior Department regulations under Public Law 106-206 following the House Natural Resources Committee hearing held on the issue in December. NANPA's Past-President, Kathy Adams Clark, had an email exchange with Lee Dickinson, Special Parks Uses Program Manager for the National Parks Service. For details of that Q&A session, please see http://www.nanpa.org/news/NANPA_Clarifies_PL106-206.pdf
NANPA Participates in Imaging Coalition
Nov 8, 2006: For the first time ever, leadership from a group of organizations (including NANPA) representing more than 100,000 photographers, stock archives, graphic designers, illustrators and educators, met to discuss pressing business topics.

Discussions centered on emerging industry tools that affect the memberships of all the groups and included metadata technical standards, image registry and on the robust protection of artist's rights via copyright education.
View full press release
Update on NPS Fee Proposal
May 19, 2006: On April 14, 2006, the National Park Service issued a press release announcing the implementation of legislation relating to fees for commercial filming and still photography. Unfortunately, the press release was vague and caused an uproar among nature photographers who did not understand the implications.

We have spoken to a knowledgeable official of the National Park Service and are pleased to report the following:

*THE RULES ARE NOT BEING CHANGED CONCERNING STILL PHOTOGRAPHY.*

Federal legislation (Public Law 106-206), which has been on the books for several years, provides that the Park Service cannot require a permit or assess a fee for still photography if the photography takes place where members of the public are generally allowed and the photography does not involve models or props which are not a part of the site's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities.

The Park Service is not proposing to require permits for this kind of still photography and, indeed, the Park Service could not legally do so because it would be in violation of the federal statute.

The reason that this is all coming up now is that Public Law 106-206 does provide for permits and fees for motion picture and video photography and the Park Service is now implementing those permits and fees.

So go out to the National Parks and shoot. So long as you are shooting the landscape and the local wildlife at times at which and from places where members of the public are generally allowed, fees and permits cannot be imposed.
NANPA Responds to 'Orphan Works' Legislation
Mar 10, 2006: NANPA president Al Sieg submitted a comment letter to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees that are considering changes to the Copyright Act. The letter states NANPA's concerns for the rights of photographers in regard to the "orphan works" language being proposed. Click the headline to view the letter. For more information on how this could affect photographers, please review http://www.asmp.org/news/spec2006/orphan_APAstatement.pdf
Proposed Copyright Law Changes Affect Photographers
Mar 1, 2006: Copyright law changes being considered in the U.S. Congress right now could have important, long-term, negative effects on photographers' published works. The central issue concerns the status of artwork as "orphaned" and how publishers determine that status.

Comments from interested parties are now being collected and the comment period deadline is March 25, 2006. NANPA members are urged to review the material published by ASMP and submit their responses to this important piece of copyright legislation.

For background and more details, visit ASMP's web page on the subject.

The preceding information is provided to you as an information service from NANPA in maintaining its responsibility to keep you informed about issues and events related to nature photography, the environment, and the Association. It is not NANPA's responsibility or intent tell you how to vote, what to think, where to go, or what you should do. And to that end NANPA does not endorse or promote such issues or events. This information is provided for informational purposes only. If NANPA takes a specific stand on any issue, it will be stated. If you would like more information on any issue, contact the NANPA office.