Eye For The Wild 2026 marks the 8th annual Calgary Wildlife photography contest in which amateur photographers like you are encouraged to submit your best photos of Alberta wildlife in their natural habitat. With over 500 species of wildlife that call Alberta home, natural habitats can include yards, parks and other city spaces!   

Thank you to our 2026 “Eye for the Wild” Gold Sponsor: The Camera Store and Cotton Carrier, and our Silver Sponsor: Vistek Calgary.

Prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd, 3rd places as well as a public choice award. 

New this year is the introduction of a Youth Category! (Must be submitted by a guardian)

Winning photographs will be featured in our newsletter, on our website and social media, and appear in our 2027 calendar.

Entries can be uploaded from March 3rd to April 14th 2026 for a small donation of $15 per entry. All proceeds go towards helping injured and orphaned wildlife.

The subject in the photograph must be Alberta wildlife in their natural habitat (including mammals, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, etc.). Natural habitats can include city landscapes. We request that there is no human contact with the animal. Photographs of domestic animals (cats, dogs, pets etc.) and zoo animals are not eligible. 

***Due to the possible negative affects on owls and their nests, we will NOT be accepting photos of owlets this year.***

Photographers MUST follow ethical photography best practices, while there is no concrete set of rules, National Geographic photographers encourage you to follow these guidelines:

1. Do no harm

• Do not destroy or alter habitat for a better view or scene.
• Let animals go about their business. Do not seek their attention or interaction.
• Take special care at breeding season.
• Know the signs of stress of your subject species.

2. Keep it wild

• Do not feed the wildlife.
• Avoid habituating wild animals to humans’ presence.

3. Follow the laws

• Laws vary by location and species.
• Laws vary depending on the purpose and method of photography.

4. Caption with honesty

• Be transparent about how a photograph was made.

5. Reputation is everything

• Word travels fast in the wildlife photography community, and fakery or harmful field practices can be readily exposed. These days, it’s not just editors and other photographers that are on the lookout; increasingly, viewers on social media are too, speaking up when things appear suspect.

Also, see information pertaining to ethical bird photography here: https://www.audubon.org/photography/awards/audubons-guide-ethical-bird-photography-and-videography

Please fill out the form below and be patient as uploads can take several minutes.

Please name your entry as follows: lastname_firstname_imagetitle

You may submit up to 3 images.

After you have uploaded your photos you will be prompted to pay for your entry through the Calgary Wildlife donation page. Payment must be made in order for your entry to be complete.