New Delhi, February 14, 2024: Nikon India Private Ltd. is thrilled to announce the launch of the first season of its ‘Wonders of the Wild’ photography and videography contest in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature - India (WWF-India). The contest aims to recognise and reward the acumen of Wildlife photographers and videographers in India who are passionate about capturing some of the breathtaking moments of flora & fauna through their lenses. The ongoing one-and-a-half-month-long contest is open to wildlife photographers and videographers across India till March 03, 2024.

The contest has been introduced with the primary objective of inspiring both videographers and photographers dedicated to wildlife and nature to unleash their creativity and visual storytelling prowess and capture the vibrance of Indian Wildlife. 

Speaking at the commencement of the contest, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director, Nikon India Pvt. Ltd., said, “India is recognised as a natural sanctuary for an array of wildlife, offering photographers and videographers an ideal canvas to showcase their talent on a global scale. Our newest endeavour, the 'Wonders of the Wild', exemplifies our steadfast dedication, bolstered by our extensive array of top-tier lenses and Mirrorless cameras designed for wildlife photographers & videographers. We are confident that this contest will not only serve as a platform for budding shutterbugs to exhibit their expertise and enthusiasm in capturing the splendour of India's wildlife but at the same time will serve as a reminder for the conservation of this planet’s exquisite flora and fauna.”

Commenting on the association, Ms. Kaveri Jain, Director Marketing and Communications, WWF-India, said, “Capturing moments in the wild is an art that requires unparalleled passion, discipline and talent. It also plays a significant role in raising public awareness about India’s rich biodiversity and inspiring its conservation. We applaud Nikon India’s initiative of rewarding wildlife photographers and videographers who have perfected this art. We are proud to partner with their ‘Wonders of the Wild’ contest and award the winners some of our best conservation products from the WWF-India Nature Store. We look forward to seeing some fantastic photos and videos, which is always an inspiration.”

The top entries of this contest will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of renowned wildlife videographers and photographers such as “Mr. Shaaz Jung - a big cat specialist, Nikon  Z Ambassador, Director of Photography for the National Geographic feature film titled "The Real Black Panther”.

Second on the Jury panel is the ‘The Tiger Princess of India’ – a title bestowed to a renowned Wildlife photographer, Wildlife conservationist, and Nikon Creator, Ms. Latika Nath. 

We are excited to announce the third jury member of the contest, Mr. Kallol Mukherjee, a distinguished Nikon creator and acclaimed wildlife photographer with multiple awards to his credit.

The contest shall remain open for entries from till 3rd March, 2024. Participants regardless of age or gender, are encouraged to participate in the contest. 

Participants can enter the contest through the Nikon India website at https://capturewithnikon.in/wonders-of-the-wild. The participants need to fill out a form, upload a link to their photo and/or video, and specify the Nikon camera and lens model used to capture the entry. Additionally, all participants need to provide a 100-word caption describing why their entry should be shortlisted. For the video entries, the total duration should not exceed one minute. 

Alternatively, participants can also participate via Instagram by uploading their photo and/or video via their personal Instagram handle. The accompanying caption must highlight the Nikon camera and lens used, include a 100-word description about why their entry should be selected, and add following hashtag #wowseason1, and tag @NikonIndiaOfficial to validate their entry. 

Winners not only stand a chance to win exciting prizes worth INR 8 lakhs but they also have the opportunity to receive nationwide recognition and fame within the Wildlife community. The winner will receive a powerful and versatile mirrorless camera, Nikon Z 8 worth INR 3,43,995 as a grand prize. The first runner-up will receive the NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S lens worth INR 2,93,995. and the second runner-up will take home the NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens worth INR 1,69, 995.00. 

The top 10 entries will also receive WWF-India Nature Store Merchandise.

Nikon India highly encourages India’s wildlife photographers and videographers to come forth and participate in this exhilarating contest and showcase their skills and be recognised for their untapped talent but also get a chan. Nikon India is excited to see how these talented individuals will bring their unique perspectives and exceptional stories through their submissions.