Rangelands and grasslands are among the world’s most expansive yet overlooked ecosystems. Stretching across continents, they support biodiversity, pastoral livelihoods, food systems, and climate resilience. Despite their importance, many of these landscapes face degradation, invisibility, and misrepresentation.
This edition of the Greenstorm Photography Festival invites photographers to look closely at rangelands and grasslands—not just as spaces, but as living systems shaped by nature, people, and time. The theme seeks images that reveal their beauty, complexity, and relevance to our shared future. test
Our jury comprises renowned experts and celebrated artists from around the world.
We welcome photographers of all levels to participate. Please read the following guidelines carefully.
Opening Date: 1st February 2026
Closing Date: 28th February 2026, 11:59 PM (IST)
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Simple three-step process to enter the competition
Create an account on the Greenstorm website using your email address. Registration is quick and required to submit your photographs.
Submit your photographs under the theme Beautiful Rangelands & Grasslands. You may upload a maximum of three (3) photographs. All submissions must comply with the specified technical and editing guidelines.
Add a short caption (up to 100 words) describing the photograph, its location, and how it relates to rangelands or grasslands. Captions help the jury understand the context behind your image.
Insights and reflections from Greenstorm Community
"Greenstorm has celebrated the beauty of our planet"
"Let's protect nature so that these poetic scenes can last forever."
"Photography is a powerful tool in awakening consciousness"
"This platform has sparked awareness, dialogue, and action."
"Greenstorm Festival creates magic through photography."
Enhance your skills with our curated learning materials
An introduction to rangelands and grasslands—vast, living ecosystems that support biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate resilience, yet remain widely misunderstood.
Learn more
Why rangelands are missing from environmental storytelling—and how photography helps restore attention to land, people, and place.
Learn more
Exploring the growing global focus on rangelands, restoration, and people-centred land stewardship
Learn moreFind answers to common questions about the festival
The festival is organised by Greenstorm Foundation, in collaboration with the G20 Global Land Initiative Coordination Office at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The festival includes a global photography contest, an online exhibition of shortlisted finalist images, and an award ceremony aligned with UNCCD COP-related events.
Beautiful Rangelands & Grasslands This theme focuses on landscapes, ecosystems, and communities shaped by rangelands and grasslands across the world.
Submissions Open: 1 February 2026 Submissions Close: 28 February 2026 Online Exhibition: April–May 2026 Winners Announcement: 17 June 2026 Award Ceremony: August 2026 (tentative)
No. Participation in the photography contest is free of charge.
Each participant may submit up to three (3) photographs.
The contest is open to photographers of all nationalities, aged 16 years or older. Employees, associates, and immediate family members of Greenstorm Foundation, Organic BPS, UNCCD, and jury members are not eligible to participate.
Entries can be submitted between 1 February and 28 February 2026, up to 11:59 PM IST on the closing date.
Photographs captured using any device are accepted, including professional cameras, smartphones, drones, or other imaging equipment.
Photographs must be uploaded via www.greenstorm.green along with: A caption of up to 100 words Location (place, month, and year of capture) Images must be: Captured between 1 January 2020 and 28 February 2026 Submitted in JPEG format Below 10 MB in size
Yes. Minimal digital editing (colour, contrast, exposure, cropping) is permitted. Excessive manipulation, composites, or AI-generated images are not allowed. If shortlisted, participants must provide the original camera file (RAW/JPEG) for verification.
Global Winner USD 10,000 Regional Winners (6) USD 1,300 each, across the following regions: Africa Asia Latin America & the Caribbean Northern Mediterranean Central & Eastern Europe Other Regions Total prize money: USD 18,000
Prize money will be transferred via international wire transfer after due verification and applicable withholding tax (31.2%), in accordance with Indian tax laws. Participants from financially sanctioned countries are not eligible to receive prize money due to international banking compliance.
Yes. Shortlisted finalist photographs will be showcased in an online exhibition, where the public can like and vote for their favourite images. Public voting contributes to audience engagement and does not influence the jury’s final decisions unless explicitly stated.
Participants retain copyright of their images. By entering the contest, participants grant Greenstorm Foundation and UNCCD the non-exclusive right to use submitted images for non-commercial purposes, including exhibitions, publications, websites, and promotional material, with full credit to the photographer.
All updates will be shared on: www.greenstorm.green Greenstorm Foundation’s official social media channels Shortlisted participants will also be notified via email.
The complete Terms & Conditions are available on the festival website. Participants are strongly advised to read them before submitting their entries.