Wildlife Photographer of the Year Shane Gross to judge national nature photo contest
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2025-08-13Canada’s wildest photo contest returns - with a world-class guest judge and a spotlight on the nation’s most important places for nature.
KBA Canada is proud to launch its third annual photo contest, inviting photographers across the country to explore and capture the rich biodiversity found within Canada’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). This year’s contest features a major highlight: Shane Gross, internationally renowned conservation photojournalist and Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024, joins as a guest judge.
Gross - known for his powerful underwater imagery and commitment to environmental storytelling - brings his unique perspective to a contest that aims to celebrate not just nature’s beauty, but the urgency to protect it.
“Images have the power to move people, and that’s exactly what this contest is about,” said Shane. “Key Biodiversity Areas are some of the most important places in Canada for biodiversity, and I’m honoured to help shine a light on the species and ecosystems that depend on them.”
Open to photographers of all experience levels, the contest runs through October 10th, 2025, with winners announced October 30th. Photos must be taken in a designated or Candidate KBA, or feature species or ecosystems that are in the process of being recognized through the KBA program.
Visit our Map Viewer to find a KBA near you or explore Candidate KBAs and species under consideration through our online tools.
What are KBAs?
Key Biodiversity Areas are globally significant places for nature - sites that help ensure the survival of species, ecosystems, and ecological processes. Whether forests, wetlands, grasslands, coastlines or oceans, these areas support the persistence of life at a time when global biodiversity is under increasing pressure.
Canada has identified over 300 KBAs to date, with hundreds more in development. The KBA Canada program is led by WCS Canada, Birds Canada, and NatureServe Canada, in partnership with organizations across the country.
Contest Categories:
- Fauna: From elusive predators to tiny pollinators - share your most compelling wildlife portraits.
- Flora and Fungi: Showcase the textures, colours, and shapes of Canada’s oft-overlooked plant and fungal diversity.
- Landscapes and Ecosystems: Celebrate the character and vastness of Canada’s KBAs - from alpine ridges to coastal marshes.
- People and Conservation: Capture people connecting with nature or working to protect these vital places.
