Do you see nature blooming in unlikely corners of your city? Does your camera capture the quiet stories of sustainability, biodiversity, or human harmony in urban life? The EEA Photo Competition 2025, hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA), invites you to frame your vision of greener, healthier, and more hopeful city environments. This annual contest is an exciting, fully online international competition with cash prizes, global exposure, and a mission that matters—raising awareness about the environment in our everyday spaces.

Under the 2025 theme “Environment&Me,” the EEA challenges amateur and professional photographers alike to visually explore how we coexist with nature in urban settings. Whether you’re capturing local wildlife, community gardens, or sustainable architecture, your image could be featured across Europe as part of the EEA’s educational and policy-focused publications.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase your creativity while contributing to the global dialogue on climate action, urban sustainability, and biodiversity preservation.

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Program Details

Host Country: Denmark
Host Organization: European Environment Agency (EEA)
Program Mode: Fully Online
Submission Period: Open Now
Application Deadline: 30 May 2025, 23:59 (CEST)

Program Themes or Focus Areas:

• Wildlife in the City – Capture animals, birds, or insects thriving in the urban ecosystem.

• Charming Neighborhoods – Highlight unique, cozy, or eco-friendly corners of your town or city.

• Green at Heart – Showcase sustainable living, green initiatives, or environmental activism.

Participants may enter up to five photos, each within any of the three categories above. The images should reflect the harmony (or contrast) between people and their environment, serving as visual narratives that connect viewers to the changing landscape of modern urban life.

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Benefits

The EEA Photo Competition 2025 offers more than a prestigious photography title. Winners will receive financial rewards, media exposure, and the chance to become part of Europe’s sustainability story.

• €1,000 cash prize for winners in each of the three main categories

• €500 youth prize for entrants aged 18–24

• €500 public choice award selected through online voting

• Global exposure through EEA channels, publications, exhibitions, and media

• No application fee or hidden charges

• Entirely virtual—no travel required

This competition is not just about visual excellence—it’s about impactful storytelling. Each submission is a voice for biodiversity, climate resilience, and human responsibility.

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Eligibility Criteria

The EEA welcomes entries from a broad range of European countries and regions. If you are passionate about photography and environmental justice, and you meet the following criteria, you’re eligible to apply:

• Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry

• Must be a citizen or legal resident of one of the eligible countries (see below)

• Must submit original photos taken in one of the eligible countries

• Youth category is open to participants aged 18–24

• Each entrant can submit up to five entries, each with a separate application form

Eligible Countries Include:

EU 27 Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Türkiye, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Photo Format Requirements:

• File types: .jpeg, .png, or .tiff

• Minimum resolution: 2000 pixels on the long side

• No AI-generated images or commercial/promo content

• Only submit photos for which you hold full copyright

Ineligible Participants:

• Employees of the EEA

• Relatives of EEA staff

• Anyone not from the eligible countries listed above

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How to Apply

Submitting your work to the EEA Photo Competition 2025 is straightforward. Follow these steps carefully to ensure that your entry qualifies:

Step-by-Step Application Process:

1. Capture Your Image: Use your camera or phone to take an original photo that fits one of the three competition categories.

2. Edit and Prepare Your File: Make sure your image meets technical requirements:

   • File format: .jpeg, .png, or .tiff

   • Minimum resolution: 2000 pixels on the long side

   • Make sure it’s clear, high quality, and not AI-generated

3. Visit the Official Competition Website: Access the application portal on the EEA website, where you’ll find the official entry forms and detailed instructions.

4. Fill Out the Entry Form: For each photo submission (up to five), you’ll need to complete a separate online form. This includes:

   • Photo title

   • Description (in English)

   • Your contact details

   • Confirmation of copyright ownership

5. Submit Before the Deadline: All entries must be uploaded before 30 May 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

Participants are encouraged to take their time selecting meaningful subjects and writing compelling captions—both contribute to how the jury evaluates submissions.

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Judging Criteria

All eligible entries will be evaluated by a professional jury selected by the European Environment Agency. The jury will assess images based on the following:

• Relevance to the category theme

• Emotional and environmental impact

• Technical excellence

• Originality and creativity

• Clarity of the accompanying description

The Youth Prize and Public Choice Award offer two additional avenues for recognition. While the youth award will be jury-selected, the public award is determined through online voting from the general public.

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Application Deadline

🗓 Deadline: 30 May 2025, 23:59 CEST

Submissions will not be accepted after this deadline. Entrants are advised to submit their photos well in advance to avoid last-minute errors or upload issues.

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Why You Should Apply

Urban landscapes are changing rapidly—and so are the challenges facing biodiversity, climate, and human wellness. By participating in the EEA Photo Competition 2025, you become part of a growing visual movement to tell Europe’s environmental story in a more personal, hopeful, and empowering way.

This competition is not just for professional photographers. If you’re a student, urban gardener, wildlife spotter, architect, or activist with a smartphone, you can take part. What matters is your ability to capture a moment that speaks volumes about how we live with nature today—and how we can live better with it tomorrow.

Whether you win a prize or not, your contribution will have purpose. Many of the submitted images are featured on EEA platforms, educational campaigns, and public exhibitions—reaching thousands of policymakers, researchers, and citizens across Europe.

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Who Should Apply?

This competition is perfect for:

• Young adults aged 18–24 aiming for the Youth Prize

• Freelance or professional photographers

• Students in urban studies, ecology, or design

• Environmental activists and NGO volunteers

• Urban planners, architects, and city enthusiasts

• Everyday citizens with a camera and a cause

You don’t need fancy equipment or professional training—what you need is perspective. A strong, emotive photo that tells the story of sustainability, community, or coexistence in your city could be all it takes.