Biodiversity Photo Contest
Purpose
To engage individuals and communities in documenting biodiversity through photography, fostering awareness, creativity, and advocacy. This method celebrates diverse relationships with nature and can generate powerful visual material for exhibitions, campaigns and community-building.
Key Features
Participants:
- Open to all: hobbyists, gardeners, students, conservationists
- Suitable for individuals or groups; inclusive of children and non-verbal participants
- Can be run locally or online
Estimated Timeframe:
- Flexible: from a few hours to several months (e.g. in PLANET4B the photo contest ran for 3 months)
- Additional time needed for judging and exhibition planning
Budget Level:
- Low to Medium
- Costs may include prizes, promotion, exhibition materials, and facilitator time
Materials Needed:
- Camera or smartphone
- Submission platform (online or physical)
- Institutionally approved ethical information and consent forms (if collecting data)
- Clear judging criteria and anonymised entry system
- Optional: prizes (e.g. seed kits, vouchers), exhibition space, tools library
Skills Required:
- Project coordination and promotion
- Ethical oversight and accessibility planning
- Photography and storytelling support
- Judging and exhibition curation
- Community engagement and outreach
Case Study
Method in Practice
Context of Use
Used in the PLANET4B Hungarian case study to highlight agrobiodiversity. Participants submitted photos across five categories, showcasing gardens, seeds and farming practices. Winners received seed-related prizes and the contest helped build visibility and community around biodiversity.
How It Worked
Organisers defined themes, promoted the contest, and managed submissions. Judges selected winners based on creativity, relevance and storytelling. Photos were displayed online and in exhibitions, sparking dialogue and further engagement.
Engagement & Participation
Participants reflected on their relationship with nature through photography. The method supported multilingual and non-verbal expression, making it accessible and inclusive. Public voting and exhibitions extended participation beyond contributors.
Outcomes & Insights:
- Increased awareness and appreciation of biodiversity
- Strengthened local identity and pride
- Fostered community connections and knowledge exchange
- Generated visual content for advocacy and education
- Inspired follow-up initiatives and storytelling
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths:
- Accessible and engaging for all skill levels
- Encourages creative expression and reflection
- Builds community and visibility around biodiversity
- Flexible and scalable across contexts
- Can be adapted to include storytelling or audio elements
Considerations:
- Requires clear ethical guidance on safety and consent
- Judging must avoid bias toward high-tech equipment
- Impact depends on thoughtful dissemination and follow-up
- Accessibility and inclusion must be actively supported
- Not all participants may be confident with photography; training helps
