Now in its 5th year, the Nactus Award Competition is an international showcase for the very best reptile and amphibian photography. Both professionals and amateurs are welcome to enter as achieving the perfect picture is down to a mixture of skill, vision, originality, knowledge of nature and luck. Each year thousands of entries are received and judged by a specially selected expert panel. The nominees are announced on the Exo Terra website where public voting will determine the overall winner and the winner in each of the 7 categories.
The prize
The winner of the Exo Terra Nactus Award will get to join the next Exo Terra Expedition as the expedition's official photographer. The prize has a $5,000.00 USD value and is not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash.
The competition
The Nactus Award is an annual herpetological photography competition. Its purpose is to discover the best reptile and amphibian pictures taken by photographers worldwide and to inspire their visionary and expressive interpretations of nature. The competition is open to anyone, amateur or professional, of any legal age and of any nationality. As only digital images are accepted in the competition, the judges will place emphasis on ensuring that the images faithfully represent nature.
There are 7 categories in the competition: Amphibians in their environment / Reptiles in their environment / Amphibian portraits / Reptile portraits / Animal behaviour / Scientific record / Endangered species
The award
The Nactus Award gets its name from the gecko genus 'Nactus', which inhabit islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans; as well as Papua, New Guinea and Australia. It is a 1,5 kg statue made of solid brass and marble.
Nactus 2009-2010 Contest Start Date: October 1, 2009
Contest Entry Closing Date: April 30, 2010
Public Voting Start Date: May 12, 2010
