For the 15th time the

Society of German Nature Photographers

invites professional and non-professional photographers from all over Europe to join this year's competition.

The competition aims to illustrate the high quality and specific style of

European wildlife photography

through excellent pictures from Europe and all over the world. It also seeks to promote awareness for nature conservation through the means of photography.

There are nine categories:

• K1 –

Birds

• K2 –

Mammals

• K3 –

Other Animals

• K4 –

Plants and Fungi

• K5 –

Landscapes

• K6 –

The Underwater World

• K7 –

Man and Nature

• K8 –

Nature's Studio

• K9 –

Young Photographers

(age groups: up to 14 years and 15-17 years)

A maximum of 20 photographs can be entered in categories K1 - K8; these can be distributed freely across the different categories. Up to 5 photographs can be entered in category K9 - Young Photographers.

Entry fee for categories K1 - K8 is 30 EUR.

There is no entry fee

for category K9 - Young Photographers.

Eligibility

The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers resident in

Europe

.

Prize

The

overall winner

will receive a prize money of

3,000 EUR

. The overall winner will also be invited to the award ceremony (

travel expenses, costs for the buffet and accommodation

).

The winners of the categories K1 - K8 will receive

800 EUR

and the runners-up

500 EUR

. The winners of both ages groups in category nine will receive

200 EUR

and an invitation to the award ceremony (

travel expenses and accommodation; costs include an accompanying adult

), and the runners-up will receive

100 EUR

.

All successful participants (

winners, runners-up, highly commendeds

) will receive a free ticket for the

International Nature Photography Festival 2015

in Lünen, Germany.