Tiger Trail 2025 – Journeys

Tiger Trail 2025 Photography Contest & Exhibition is an annual event organized on the occasion of International Tiger Day. The objective of the Contest & Exhibition is to bring together wildlife enthusiasts, celebrate their artwork, create awareness about tigers in India, promote tiger conservation & support organizations working towards Tiger Welfare in India.

The 2 days exhibition in July will showcase selected Artwork from our contest, have screenings, interactions with experts and a lot more!

Click Here to Register

To participate in the contest read below:

Contest Categories for Adults:

Tiger Portraits
Tiger In Habitat
Tiger In Action

Junior Category (Under 18 years old):

Any tiger image from the wild

Video Category:

1-3 minutes unedited Tiger Videos

Winners:

2 winners in each category will be celebrated.

Important Contest Dates:

Contest Goes Live: 18th May 2025
Last Date of Submission: 16th July 2025
Judging Starts: 17th July 2025
Submission of RAW Files by Finalist: 17th July 2025
Exhibition and Award Ceremony: 19th-20th July 2025

Terms & Conditions:

The contest is open to everyone. The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, appointed by Pheonix Mall of the Millenium and Journeys Explore, whose decision will be final.
The entrant must be the sole author and owner of the copyright for all photos entered. By entering the contest, the entrant certifies that the entries do not infringe on the copyright, trademark or intellectual property rights of any other person or organization.
A maximum of 5 images may be submitted per category by one participant.
The last date for submission of all entries is midnight, July 16, 2025, Indian Standard time.
Please submit photographs preferably in digital (jpeg/raw) format only.
Submit your entries through our website www.journeysexplore.com clearly mentioning your name, postal & email address and telephone number.
Image file names should include the photographer’s name_caption_location”. For example “Sushil Chikane_Eye of the Tiger_Ranthambhore.jpg”. Description to each image is important and can be sent in the same mail with a caption or a word file along with images.
Images for submission should be 12 by 18 inches to a maximum file size of 10 MB.
The animal should be in natural form, behavior or phenomenon must be maintained. Images may be cropped with minimum digital manipulation such as cleaning, sharpening, adjusting levels, curves, colour and contrast is permissible when applied to the image as a whole. Adding or removing elements is absolutely not permitted, nor is the combination of two different images allowed.
Only images from the wild will be eligible.
Prints will not be returned after the exhibition.
While every care will be taken of submissions, the organizers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage.
Videos have to be 1-3 minutes. Longer videos won’t be accepted.
Videos should be shot in the wild.
Videos have to be unedited.
Videos can be shot using a Phone, Action Camera, Bridge Camera, DSLR Camera or Video Camera.
Do not add any music to the videos.
Content received will also be uploaded on Westend Mall & Journeys Explore Social Media Handles with Caption, Description & Owners details for viewers choice award, picture with most number of likes shall receive this award.
Copyright, even over winning images, will remain with the photographer.
Journeys Explore will have the right to share images on social media handles with due credit to the photographer.
For the Young Photographer Category, artists 18 years and below are eligible.

Reasons for Refusal:

The artwork does not meet the technical requirements specified in the contest specifications.
Judges and the organizers have a reason to believe that the picture was taken by cruel and unethical methods.
Inappropriate caption and description.
The frame is a compilation of several frames (no stacking or multiple exposures).
Animals were shot in captivity or animals were handled
Baiting to attract animals.

Exhibition and Event:

We will be celebrating the contest entries in a 2 days exhibition in Pune, India. The exhibition will be from 19th to 20th July 2025. Chosen entries will be displayed at the event. The winners will be celebrated on the evening of 20th July 2025.

Prizes:

First Prize:

2 nights stay at Greetoe Resorts worth INR 25,000, gift from Himmaleh, The Mahua Store apparel, merchandise from Wild Ink Inc., Nagpur Camera Rental Vouchers, Gifts from other sponsors.

Second Prize:

2 nights stay at Pangolakha Wilderness Homestay, gift from Himmaleh, The Mahua Store apparel, merchandise from Wild Ink Inc., Nagpur Camera Rental Vouchers, Gifts from other sponsors.

Judges:

Dr. Sanjay Shukla

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Shukla is a retired IFS officer of 1992 batch of Madhya Pradesh cadre. He served as the Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority, MoEF&CC, Govt. of India and as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Madhya Pradesh. He commands an extremely wide range of experience in different branches of forestry, including wildlife conservation. He also served as Field Director of Kanha Tiger Reserve.

He is a renowned conservation photographer, with images in many national and international publications. He has received more than 350 awards & honours in national and international photography salons & circuits. He has also got many national and international photography distinctions including AFIAP, EFIP, PPSA, GPU CR-3, GPU VIP-3, FRPA.GNG, Hon. PESGSPC, GPA- PESGSPC, Hon. VNPC and Hon. WPAI. He also secured a spot among the top 10 Indian Exhibitors of 2022, recognized by the Federation of Indian Photography.

Ajay & Vijay Bedi

Ajay & Vijay Bedi are wildlife filmmakers & photographers for almost 2 decades. They have won four National Awards in 2019 & 2021 awarded by the President of India for first natural history film devoted to Amphibians of India and endangered Adjutant Stork. They are the youngest Asians to have won the Green Oscar for their film. They are also the only Indians to have won a nomination at the television highest awards at Emmy® Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for their natural history film Cherub of the Mist on the highly endangered red panda. Ajay & Vijay Bedi recently used their footage to contribute a scientific paper in collaboration with the scientists has helped push their mission forward for these little creatures that are often overlooked in conservation policy. Based in New Delhi they are keen on visual storytelling that celebrates the lesser known species of India.

Rahul Sachdev

With a deep-rooted passion for the wild and a keen artistic vision, Rahul has been engrossed in wildlife photography since 2004. Over the span of almost two decades, he has crafted a portfolio celebrated for its imaginative use of light and unparalleled creative insight. More than merely photographing wildlife, Rahul utilizes his lens to depict a distinctive view of his surroundings. His artistic acumen has garnered global praise, notably the Nature’s Best Photography Award for Wildlife in 2017 and The Monovision Awards for Nature & Wildlife in 2023. Augmenting his visual narrative, he contributes to platforms such as VisualWilderness, Digital-Photography-School, and WildlifePhotographicMag, sharing insights and distinct viewpoints on wildlife photography. After adopting Canon equipment in 2006, Rahul became a part of the Canon India Masters Panel in 2019.

Shivang Mehta

Shivang is an avid traveller and a globally known nature photographer. Over the years, Shivang has conducted more than 200 field wildlife photography workshops and is currently an official trainer for Sony Alpha. His affinity for writing and storytelling had him freelance as a journalist in addition to contributing notes and columns on travel and conservation to numerous national and international publications. Shivang is the managing director of Nature Wanderers, India’s premier photo tour company specializing in Indian wildlife including capturing rare species and camera trap photography. Shivang is also a Carl Zeiss Nature Influencer. We are sure that his involvement in the event will help bring forward the best tiger images and artists.

Ratish Nair

Ratish Nair is a Nikon Creator and one of India’s foremost wildlife photographers, known for his evocative imagery and powerful storytelling from the wild. His work has been widely recognized across leading photography and conservation platforms, earning him a place among the top voices in Indian wildlife photography. With years of field experience and a deep commitment to education, he has mentored hundreds of aspiring photographers through immersive workshops, masterclasses, and guided expeditions. His ability to blend technical mastery with narrative depth makes him a respected figure in the photography community—well-suited to evaluate and celebrate emerging talent through platforms like this competition.

Sushil Chikane

Sushil is an avid traveller and a photo artist based out of Pune. He has traversed India extensively and there’s nothing he loves doing more. His passion for what he does translates into every one of his travels, ensuring every client experiences and makes the most out of their travel with him. With a cumulative experience of 18 years in the field in association with an array of organisations, In the course of his travels and having masters in biodiversity, he has had the privilege to observe some very fascinating and rare creatures that inhabit the wildernesses. He is the Founder of Journeys Explore and represents Zeiss Nature India as an Influencer.

Sushil’s pictures have been published in some leading magazines like Heritage India, Saevus and Sanctuary Asia and in books such as the Reptiles and Amphibians of Maharashtra and Reptiles of India. Sushil garners a deep love for India and a talent to be able to tell stories through his photographs.