THE ICF PRO-TOUR OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Art, Conservation, Economics, Education... All in one event!

Meet our Professional Nature Photographers
Click on the photographer's name to learn more about them and view a sample of their work.

The ICF Pro-Tour is the world's first and only professional championship of nature photography. Produced by the Images for Conservation Fund (ICF) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Pro-Tour is a dynamic approach to building nature photography into a substantial economic and social force for conservation.

The Pro-Tour will elevate the profile of professional nature photographers, galvanize the nature photographic industry, foster a spirit of conservation among private landowners, and improve the public's awareness, attention and attitude toward nature.

Conservation's future requires nature photography. If we never see something beautiful and compelling, it is easy to ignore it, even to lose it. Conversely, that which we do see becomes much more important to us. This is true of all people, no matter their age, education or status. Especially in our increasingly urban culture, nature photography becomes an increasingly efficient and essential tool for sharing the value of nature.
 

Applications will be accepted January 1, 2004 through May 1, 2004. The Pro-Tour is open to the first 20 photographers (and five alternates) that meet the photographer qualifications. Qualifications are based on achievements that are likely to be part of an accomplished professional photographer's life work. To apply for the 2006 Pro-Tour, please call ICF at (956) 381-1264. Download Application and Official Rules.

ICF will date-stamp each application upon receipt, and will review each application to determine if a photographer is qualified to compete in the Pro-Tour. Please read and follow carefully the official list of qualifications for the Pro-Tour.

Pro-Tour photographers will be an elite group representing some of the most accomplished professionals in the world. Pro-Tour landowners will provide some of the best habitat in the event's geographic area. The Pro-Tour is competition designed to challenge photographers' abilities, stimulate their creativity and inspire outstanding portfolios of images. Moreover, the Pro-Tour will demonstrate the diversity and splendor of nature, and reveal the importance of conservation on private land, which comprises 80% of the Western Hemisphere.

Two weeks prior to the start of the competition, ICF will hold a random drawing through which each photographer will be paired with a landowner teammate. At this point, the photographer and landowner may meet to strategize, construct photo areas, etc. Each photographer may have one assistant who may consult with and support the photographer but may not create photographs for the competition.

The Pro-Tour will take place April 1-30, 2006. Each landowner will provide lodging for their photographer teammate and one assistant for the entire duration of the preparation period and competition period.

During the competition period, each photographer must photograph exclusively on the land of his or her landowner teammate. All images and copyrights remain the property of their respective photographers. ICF reserves some usage rights for the promotion of ICF and the Pro-Tour.

At the close of the competition, each photographer will have a few weeks to select images for submission. Each photographer may submit up to 75 images, with up to 15 images in each of five divisions: Birds, Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians, Insects & Arachnids, and Plants & Landscapes. However, each photographer may submit no more than two images of any particular species of plant or animal.

The Pro-Tour judges will evaluate the submitted images and award points based on: originality of execution, aesthetic appeal and interest value. These points are added, and the portfolios that accumulate the most total points will earn substantial cash awards. Each award will be shared equally by the winning photographer and landowner teammate.

The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony gala. ICF will produce a beautiful commemorative coffee table book to celebrate outstanding images from the 2006 Pro-Tour.

For more information, please read the Official Definitions and Rules. If you have any questions, please call Sam Mason at (956) 381-1264 or send an email to: [email protected].

Seize this rare opportunity. Apply today!

Map: 2006 Pro-Tour Landowners and Alternates