Annual Photographic Competition Entry Requirements

Table of Contents

Eligible students

The competition will be open to students studying in Year 3 to Year 12 at Australian schools or colleges, or undertaking home study in Australia.

We will welcome entries coordinated by schools and colleges. Entries from individual students will also be accepted.

Entry categories

Each student is allowed one entry per category (up to 3 entries in total for secondary students and 2 entries for primary students).

 Primary schools
 Years 3—6		Monochrome Colour
 Secondary schools  & colleges
 Years 7—12		Monochrome Colour Altered Reality for images that have been manipulated digitally or through dark room processes.

Format

Photographs must be in jpg format, with a maximum size of 10MB. They should have sufficient resolution (number of pixels) to present well to the judges and to allow entries to be printed and exhibited at A3 size. Either the shortest dimension must exceed 1755 pixels or the longest dimension must exceed 2480 pixels, or both.

Cropping, straightening, exposure adjustment and minor technical adjustments are permitted in all categories.

The judges will make no concessions for poor quality files.

Opening and closing dates

Entries will open on Wednesday 1 July 2026, and a link to the online entry form will be available from this website then. 

The competition closes at 5pm AEST on Friday 28 August 2026.

The organisers accept no responsibility for late, lost or misdirected entries, or entries not received by the organisers for any reason whatsoever.

How to enter

Entries must be lodged using the online entry form, which is available only during the competition period. Photographs entered must be uploaded as digital image files via the online form.

If more than one entry form is received for a student, only the most-recently-submitted photograph in each category will be considered by the judges. We strongly prefer that entrants submit a single form that includes all photographs to be entered into the different categories.

Entrants experiencing difficulties with the online form should contact the organisers at schoolphoto@friendsanbg.org.au.

Entrants must provide the following information:

  • Their name
  • Their year in school or college
  • An email address (see under ‘Privacy’ below)
  • The name of their school or college, their teacher’s name, and the school’s email address and phone number
  • A brief title for each photograph entered
  • The scientific name of the plant, animal or fungi featured (if relevant).

Entrants must declare that they accept the following conditions:

  • The original photographs must have been taken by the student entering the competition at the ANBG in Canberra in the 12 months up to the competition closing date.
  • The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • The Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Friends of the ANBG will have the right to use any submitted photographs in their newsletters, online material, display and/or promotional material. All published images will be credited.
  • The restrictions of the Australian National Botanic Gardens as set out in the Visitor Code were respected.
  • There are no recognisable people in the photos entered.

Prizes and awards

Cash prizes will be awarded for places in each category:

  Award to student Award to school or college
 First Prize $250 $250 and a native plant for the school or college’s garden
 Second Prize $150 
 Third Prize $100 

 Certificates will also be presented for entries commended by the competition judges.

Awards presentation and exhibition

Prizes will be presented to prize-winning and commended entries at an awards event in September.

Winning entries will be on display at the ANBG in the month following the presentation event.

Privacy

An email address is required so the competition organisers can contact entrants about their entry if necessary. The email address can belong to a parent, carer or other responsible person.

The entrants’ school and contact details, including email addresses, will not be used for any other purpose, will be kept confidential, and will not be passed on to anyone who is not involved in running the competition.

More information

If you have questions please email schoolphoto@friendsanbg.org.au.

Download the 2026 Student Photo Competition poster (PDF, 1.8 MB) to print, distribute and display.

Download ‘Tips and tricks for great nature photos’ (PDF, 135 KB), which younger or less experienced photographers may find helpful.

Group excursions to the ANBG can be arranged; no charges apply. Bookings are essential and are made using this link: For schools | Australian National Botanic Gardens

If you are looking for places to walk in the Gardens, try the following for some ideas:

Please ensure that all students understand and adhere to the following Visitor Code:

  • Keep to the paths
  • Take rubbish home with you
  • Do not pick living material
  • Do not feed wildlife
  • Do not climb rocks, trees or walls
  • No ball games, frisbees or kites