Entry is easy! This competition is open to residents who live in the Macarthur region (Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Local Government Areas).

1. Please carefully read all the competition rules

2. Review the ethical photography guidelines

3. Take some photos that relate to the competition categories within the Camden, Campbelltown or Wollondilly Local Government Areas

4. Submit your entries (maximum 3) here 

Entries close 5:00pm on Tuesday 22 April 2025.

For inspiration, check out the Macarthur Nature Photography Competition Gallery of the 2023 entries.

The three categories for the Macarthur Nature Photography Competition are:

Caring for Country

People helping the environment, cultural connection, life, waterways.

Photographs of the positive impacts, actions and behaviours of people helping the Macarthur environment. This can include litter removal, nest boxes, wildlife rescue, backyard habitat gardens, tree planting, water monitoring, frog ponds, community actions, volunteering with Bushcare and weeding.

Threatened Species

Our rare, endangered and vulnerable native plants, animals and pollinators.

Photographs of native plants and animal species under threat in the Macarthur Region (i.e. birds, mammals, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians).

Connect to a list of local threatened species here.

Australian Native Plants, Animals and Pollinators

Lifecycles, macro-invertebrates, new growth, seasonal changes. 

Photographs of native Australian plants, animals and pollinators that are found in the Macarthur region. This may include the leaves, branches, flowers, seeds, lichen, bark and fungi that make up the Australian plant community; Australian animals and pollinators includes the furry, scaly, slippery, feathery, and crawly critters that make up our uniquely Australian wildlife.

Always ensure all requirements for your personal safety are observed including maintaining safe distances from wildlife that is known to be dangerous (i.e. some snakes and spiders) and staying aware of your environment including weather conditions and maintaining secure footing.

Primary school aged (5 to 12 years)

• $100 prepaid gift card + $100 Narellan Town Centre voucher for first place in each theme.
• $75 prepaid gift card for second place in each theme.

High school aged (13 to 18 years)

• $150 prepaid gift card + $100 Narellan Town Centre voucher for first place in each theme.
• $100 prepaid gift card for second place in each theme.

Open section (18+ years)

• $250 prepaid gift card + $100 Narellan Town Centre voucher for first place in each theme.
• $150 prepaid gift card for second place in each theme.

Professional

• Professional prize package from Macarthur Camera House for first place from any theme

School prize package 

• A tray of 50 native plants suited to the local plant community and a school visit from Council's Biodiversity Officer

The People’s Choice Award is back again this year and is open with an amazing prize for the most popular amateur photo in the competition, voted by the community through our exhibition hosted at Narellan Town Centre during May.

When students fill out their entry form, all they need to do is specify their age and parent’s contact details to go in the running to win a prize for themselves in one of the three main categories.

When students enter their school's details, their entry will also be included in the tally for the school prize package.

Cameras come in all shapes and forms these days, encourage students to snap a shot on a smart phone, iPad or camera.

The competition is a great way to engage students in a range of syllabus content. You can use our Primary School Teacher’s Resource Booklet or High School Teacher’s Resource to help deliver this to students.

• A panel of local experts will be judging the competition. Shortlisted images from the amateur categories will be entered into the People’s Choice Award.
• Shortlisted professional photographs will also be exhibited.
• The winners of all categories will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 5 June 2025 and shared online via social media.
• All entries will be available to view via Council’s website through Flickr

A substantial proportion of wildlife photography is undertaken in national parks and reserves. Commonwealth, State and Territory, and local government rules apply.

Native animal and plant species are protected by law throughout Australia regardless of whether they occur in national parks, reserves, or Local government administered areas or private land, unless otherwise stated by Commonwealth, State or Territory fauna/flora agencies.

It is the responsibility of the photographer to ensure that they are aware of the laws and regulations which apply to the regions in which they undertake nature photography.

The kinds of activities often engaged in by nature photographers, which are currently prohibited in some or all government reserves and parks in Australia include:

• Taking ('take' often defined to include 'interfering') or harassing (call playback is a form of harassment) native wildlife;

• Use a radio, tape recorder or other sound or amplifier system in a way that may cause unreasonable disturbance to an animal (e.g. call playback);

• Disturbing or interfering with nests, hollows and habitat;

• Walking or driving off designated tracks or roads;

• Altering native vegetation (e.g. to get a clearer photo of bird);

• Erecting structures (e.g. permanent bird hides), and feeding wildlife (e.g. using food to attract wildlife);

• Flash photography on nocturnal species; and

• Interfering with plants that damage or harm the species.

Photos submitted to the Macarthur Nature Photography Competition must be taken in accordance with ethical guidelines. Any images submitted that do not follow ethical photography guidelines will not be judged and residents will be contacted about animal welfare / ethics.