JLR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Celebrating Karnataka’s Wild Heritage
For decades, Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) has been synonymous with wildlife travel and photography in Karnataka. Our safaris and lodges have given countless visitors the opportunity to experience the rich biodiversity of the state, while also inspiring photographers — both seasoned and amateur — to capture its wild beauty. The JLR Wildlife Photography Contest is a celebration of this shared passion. It provides a platform to showcase the very best images from Karnataka’s forests — moments of wonder, drama, and intimacy from the wild. Through this contest, we aim not only to recognise outstanding talent behind the lens but also to highlight the magic of Karnataka’s wilderness and the importance of preserving it for generations to come.
- All photographs must have been taken during a stay at a Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) property.
- Each entry must include details of the JLR property where the image was captured, along with the date of travel.
- Only photographs shot in the year 2025 are eligible for submission.
Sudhir Shivaram
One of India’s most acclaimed wildlife photographers, Sudhir Shivaram is a Sony India brand ambassador and recipient of Sanctuary Asia’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2012) and the National Geographic Yellow Border Award (2013). Ranked the world’s No. 1 wildlife photographer (2017–2019, Web Popularity Index), his work is celebrated for its creativity and ethics. Through the Sudhir Shivaram Photography Academy, he mentors thousands of learners via courses, videos, and global tours. An educator and conservation advocate, Sudhir also collaborates with tourism boards and trains guides to promote sustainable wildlife tourism.
Swarna Venkataraman
Swarna Venkataraman is the Managing Trustee of Native Jungle, which runs Conservation India. The platform has led landmark campaigns, from protecting Amur Falcons in Nagaland and Great Indian Bustards in Rajasthan to safeguarding Bannerghatta’s Eco-Sensitive Zone. With a Master’s in Communication, Swarna is also an early learning educator and has worked with Jungle Lodges & Resorts to promote ecotourism. She volunteers with Bangalore Birds, leading weekend bird walks, and is now exploring her growing interest in insects.
Shreeram MV
A professional photographer, mentor, and naturalist, Shreeram MV has photographed wildlife across India and in remote regions like Antarctica, Svalbard, Madagascar, and Patagonia. He is the CEO and co-founder of Darter Photography, leading tours that mentor photographers worldwide. Shreeram has also worked on a long-term assignment with TVS Motor Company, documenting wildlife in their facilities. His work has appeared in National Geographic Traveller, Sanctuary Asia, and Saevus. As a naturalist, he has trained guides with Jungle Lodges & Resorts and helped describe two new gecko species from Karnataka.
Each category will have four prizes:
- Winner – 1
- Runner-up – 1
- Special Mention – 2
Prizes per category:
Winner
- ₹50,000 cash prize
- One night’s stay for two at River Tern Lodge, Lakkavalli
Runner-up
- ₹25,000 cash prize
- One night’s stay for two at K Gudi Wilderness Camp, BR Hills
Special Mention
- One night’s stay for two at Galibore Nature Camp
1. Registration & Submission
- Submissions are open from Thursday, September 11, 2025, until Sunday, October 5, 2025, closing at 11:59 PM IST (UTC +05:30).
- Entries can be submitted only through the contest website: junglelodges.com/contest
- For queries, write to contest@junglelodges.com. Please review the guidelines before reaching out.
- Participants may submit photographs under four categories:
- Birds – Images of birds that highlight their behaviour, portraits, or habitats
- Mammals – Images of mammals that highlight their behaviour, portraits, or habitats
- Earthscapes – Wide or close-up views that capture the essence of natural landscapes, whether featuring wildlife or as pure landscapes
- The Unseen Majority – Images of non-bird, non-mammal species including reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, fungi, flora and other life forms
- Each participant may upload up to 3 photographs per category.
- The organisers may use submitted photographs to promote Jungle Lodges & Resorts across various media formats, with attribution. Selected entries may be shared on social media channels with credit. For any other usage, prior permission will be sought.
- Prize money is non-transferable and will be disbursed after tax deductions, if any.
- Complimentary stay is valid only on weekdays and excludes weekends, public holidays, and peak holiday seasons.
- In the event of a tie in any category, the cash prize will be divided equally.
- Any disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of Bangalore, India.
2. Technical Specifications
- Photographs must have been shot in 2025 at a Jungle Lodges & Resorts property or on a JLR safari.
- Participants must specify the location and dates of travel for each image.
- Each image must have a title and a detailed caption/description.
- Black and white images are permitted in all categories.
- Only digital JPEG images in RGB mode will be accepted, with a maximum size of 1920 pixels on the longer side (e.g., 1920×1280 px or 1280×1920 px).
- Each file must be under 1MB. A resolution of 72–100 DPI is recommended.
- Photographs with borders, frames, watermarks, signatures, or visible participant names (in file name, caption, or image) will be disqualified.
- Images generated, altered, or created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools or software will be disqualified.
- Cropping is allowed as long as it does not alter the content of the photograph significantly.
- Panoramas created through stitching are permitted but must be declared in the caption.
- Basic retouching (brightness, saturation, sharpening, contrast, white balance) is acceptable, provided the image remains true to its original form. Over-processed images will be disqualified.
- Shortlisted participants will be asked to submit the RAW file or, if unavailable, the original unprocessed JPEG. Post-processing details must be shared on request.
- The jury may request a series of RAW files (images shot immediately before and after) to confirm authenticity. Failure to provide these may result in disqualification.
3. Ethical Standards
- Participants must ensure that their images are captured ethically and responsibly, without causing harm, stress, or disturbance to wildlife or habitats.
- Images of farm animals, pets, animal models, captive animals, or nesting birds will not be accepted.
- Images that involve baiting, attraction, or disturbance of wildlife will not be accepted.
- Photographs showing behaviour caused by photographer interference (e.g., stressed reptiles, charging elephants, or drones flown too close to animals) may be disqualified at the jury’s discretion.
- Participants must not attempt to misrepresent or manipulate reality.
- Captions and location details must be complete, true, and accurate.
- Any submission suspected of involving cruel or unethical practices will be disqualified.
- Members of the organising team, sponsors, or partners are not eligible to participate.
- Breach of these ethical standards will be treated as a breach of contest rules.
4. Judging
- The jury will consist of renowned professionals in wildlife photography and conservation.
- Images will be evaluated on:
- Creativity
- Originality
- Composition
- Technical, Ethical, and Artistic Considerations
- The jury reserves the right to:
- Declare ties
- Withhold awards in a category
- Adjust the number of prizes awarded
- Participants are strictly prohibited from approaching or lobbying jury members during the judging process. Attempts to influence outcomes will result in disqualification.
- After submissions close, participants will only be contacted by the organisers if their image(s) are shortlisted.