THE ICF PRO-TOUR
OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

The ICF Pro-Tour of Nature Photography is the Conservation Event of the 21st Century. This world-class championship competition brings together the world’s best nature photographers, the landowners of great wildlife habitat, and the business community to produce a truly dynamic event.

Our Goal is to galvanize the nation’s 28,000,000 nature photographers into a viable economic force for the future of habitat conservation. Millions of nature photographers will pay to enjoy private lands with good wildlife habitat. Landowners who lease professional quality photographic areas can generate significant income and conserve wildlife. The elements are there, and the ICF Pro-Tour will bring them all together.

The Series of Pro-Tour Competitions will begin in 2006. Each competition will focus on a different geographic region of North America, to showcase its greatest private lands through the artistic mastery of the world’s best nature photographers. The 2006 Pro-Tour is the exciting start of an enduring championship event, like the first PGA Masters’ Classic, the Indy 500, or the Olympic Games.

The Texas Hill Country will host the 2006 Pro-Tour, produced in partnership with The Nature Conservancy of Texas. This attractive region, stretching from San Antonio to Austin and westward, combines extraordinary wildlife diversity with beautiful landscapes, making it an ideal setting for unforgettable images. Promoting this area with images of nature can boost tourism and bring significant revenue to all local businesses. As a leading sector of the substantial nature tourism industry, nature photography can mean substantial profits for popular destinations. Future Pro-Tour events are planned for Florida and northeastern Mexico.

Professional Nature Photographers: The first twenty photographers who meet the Pro-Tour’s standards. Contact ICF for details.

Private Landowners: The top twenty private landowners as selected by The Nature Conservancy of Texas. Contact ICF for details.

Twenty Photographer-Landowner Teams will be matched at random for the one-month competition. Each Team will submit a final 75-image portfolio for judging.

Five Divisions will exhibit each region’s diversity: Birds, Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians, Insects & Arachnids, and Plants & Landscapes

Judges for the Pro-Tour are selected for their expertise in the field of nature photography. They will anonymously evaluate the images and award points. The overall highest-scoring portfolios will win prize money.

Up to $200,000 in Prize Money will be awarded.*
Prize money will be shared equally by the Photographer and Landowner of each winning Team, rewarding achievements in excellence for both photography and land stewardship for wildlife.

* NOTE: Since this is the first Pro-Tour event, it has no sponsorship history, and there is a possibility that the full $200,000 in prize money may not be raised. If that occurs, ICF will pay out the prize money raised as of April 30, 2006, according to the percentages listed under “%” in this table.

Place % Award *
1 40.0 $80,000
2 20.0 $40,000
3 10.0 $20,000
4 5.0 $10,000
5 4.5 $9,000
6 4.0 $8,000
7 3.5 $7,000
Place % Award *
8 3.0 $6,000
9 2.5 $5,000
10 2.0 $4,000
11 1.5 $3,000
12 1.5 $3,000
13 1.5 $3,000
14 1.0 $2,000

By Developing Partnerships among nature photographers, private landowners, the business community, government agencies and non-profit conservation groups, the ICF Pro-Tour creates a dynamic force for wildlife conservation. Compelling photography, comprehensive publicity and powerful economics will combine to: promote the concept of nature photography on private lands, develop a network of nature photographers and local photo contests, and create a visual voice for wildlife.

Sponsorship Opportunities are great for individuals, local businesses and corporate America. Ask about our benefits packages.

Individual Sponsors receive recognition, prints of great wildlife photography and the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to preserve the beauty and quality of life of the Hill Country.

Local Businesses that market to the community can use their support of the Pro-Tour to sell more products. By having your name associated with an event that directly benefits quality of life, you earn the community’s respect, and their business. Sponsors receive prominent promotional recognition in Pro-Tour materials.

Corporate America will benefit from positive customer association and branding. Special promotional programs give your company national recognition as a founding sponsor of this dynamic event.

Teamwork is at the heart of the ICF Pro-Tour. Through the collaboration of enthusiastic people and organizations, the Pro-Tour will make great strides in wildlife conservation. Benefits and recognition are bountiful for sponsors and affiliate organizations. For more information on how you or your organization can get involved, contact us.

JOIN US!

We are seeking Sponsors, Members, Volunteers and Partners.

Support the conservation of wildlife through the ICF Pro-Tour, the
Awards Ceremony Gala and the Coffee Table Photo Book.

Sponsors and Partners will be featured in our upcoming full-color brochure.

For information, contact ICF today!

Images for Conservation Fund (ICF) is a non-profit organization committed to fostering wildlife conservation, economic development, natural history, art and education through the power of photography. To accomplish these goals, ICF has created the Pro-Tour, for which ICF serves as the competition authority, manager and prime fundraiser.

The Nature Conservancy of Texas (TNC) is ICF’s Conservation Partner for the 2006 Pro-Tour. As the Texas chapter of the world’s largest 501(c)(3) organization for habitat preservation, The Nature Conservancy of Texas has a long record of supporting private landowners. ICF is proud to announce that TNC and ICF will select and work with participating landowners for the 2006 Pro-Tour.

For Photographer and Landowner application forms, or to become a Sponsor, Volunteer or Partner, contact ICF at:

Images for Conservation Fund

2112 W. University Dr. #801
Edinburg, TX 78539

Phone (956) 381-1264
Fax (956) 381-8422

[email protected]
www.imagesforconservation.org

John F. Martin, Chairman
Sam Mason, Executive Director