Concurso Internacional de Fotografía de Naturaleza

VI Nature Photography Contest Naturcyl 2023

Photography has been and is a fundamental tool in the work of publicizing the environmental values of a territory, as well as a basic awareness-raising element in the world of natural environment conservation.

NATURCYL hosts in its VI edition a photographic contest aimed at professional and amateur photographers from all over the world. The contest will reward the technical, artistic and environmental excellence of the works presented, divided into several thematic categories: landscape, flora, fauna, etc.

A series of brands and entities sponsor the prizes of this contest, as well as the traveling exhibition that will tour different venues in the autonomous community of Castilla y León.

meet the jury

Mario Céa

Born in Salamanca (Spain) in October 1970, from a very young age a great passion for nature and especially for fauna awoke in him. At the same time that his interest in nature grew, he felt the need to somehow capture all those moments that he observed through the binoculars and thus be able to remember and relive them. With that intention, he entered the precious and complicated world of nature photography that gives him so much satisfaction just by placing himself behind the viewfinder of his camera...

In recent times since the digital photography revolution, much of his dedication to nature photography is directed towards experimenting with complex and creative techniques, such as high speed flashes, combinations of techniques in a single frame such as long exposures and high speed or double approaches, always including animals in complete freedom in the image.

Many of his images have been published in different national and international media, such as National Geographic, Planet Earth, Handbook of the birds of the world, Nature's Best Photography, Montphoto, El Pais, SuperFoto, Aves y Naturaleza, etc...

A good part of his time is dedicated to training, having carried out more than one hundred photographic workshops, as well as presentations and talks at prestigious festivals and events such as Fotogenio, Pallantia Photo, Exodos, Casanova Fotoweek, INight, Delta Birding Fest or FotoFio.

In the month of April 2021 he published his first book "Creative Wildlife Photography”, a self-published book that aims to show the reader all the secrets to be able to obtain photographs with a high visual impact, taken and finished in the camera itself.

“I like to show that special moment, that moment that although it is everyday for the model, many people have never seen. If someone learns to respect and conserve nature with my images, I would be satisfied.”

Awarded more than 90 times in different international nature contests, among which stand out:

Awards

 First prize in International Competition Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2016 “People's Choice”
 Absolute prize in International Competition PhotoNoja 2017
 First prize International Competition FotoNoja 2017 “Birds”
 First prize in International Competition PhotoBirds 2017
 First prize in International Competition Memorial Maria Luisa 2018
 Absolute Prize in International Competition Fonat Photo 2018
 First prize in International Competition oasis 2018
 Absolute prize in International Competition AMBID 2018

 Absolute Prize International Competition AMBID 2019
 First prize International Competition AMBID 2019 “Flying fauna”
 First prize International Competition FIIN 2019 "Other fauna"
 First prize International Competition FIIN 2019 “Birds”
 Absolute Prize International Competition FIIN 2021
 First prize public vote Photomontier 2021
 First prize in International Competition OASIS 2013 in the “Birds” section
 First prize in International Competition Memorial María Luisa 2013 "Animal world"
 First prize in International Competition Fotoaves 2010 in the section "Birds of Spain"
 First prize in International Competition Fotoaves 2013 in the section "Birds of Spain"
 First prize in International Competition Montphoto 2013 in the section "Animal world"
 First prize in International Competition AEFONA 2013 in the section "Animal world"
 First prize in International Competition EDC NATURA 2016 in the section "Art and Nature"
 First prize ANC 2011
 First prize ANC 2012
 First prize ANC 2014
 First prize ANC 2015
 First prize FIO 2015 in the section "Birds of Spain"
 First prize Alejo Loyal 2015
 1st Honorable Mention in International Competition Cadiz PhotoNature 2018
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Memorial María Luisa 2012 "Animal world"
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Memorial María Luisa 2015 "Animal world"
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Memorial María Luisa 2015 "Art and Nature"
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Montphoto 2018
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Cadiz PhotoNature 2018
 Honorable Mention in International Competition oasis 2018
 Honorable Mention in International Competition PhotoBirds 2018
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Montphoto 2019
 Honorable Mention in International Competition Memorial Maria Luisa 2022

 5 Honorable Mentions International Competition oasis 2012
 Second prize in International Competition Digiscoper of the Year 2010
 Second prize in International Competition Digiscoper of the Year 2011
 Second prize in International Competition Digiscoper of the Year 2012
 Third prize IOF 2011
 Third prize IOF 2012
 Finalist in International Competition Montphoto 2010 in the section "General Nature"
 Finalist in International Competition Montphoto 2011 in the "Macro" section
 Finalist in International Competition Montphoto 2012 in the section "Mammals"
 Finalist in International Competition Montphoto 2014 in the "Macro" section
 Finalist in International Competition Alejo Leal 2014
International Competition Finalist 35AWARDS
 Highly Honored in International Competition Nature's Best Photography 2013
 Highly Honored in International Competition Nature's Best Photography 2014
 Finalist in International Competition Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2016 “Urban Wildlife”
 Highly Commended in International Competition GDT 2016 “Birds”
 Highly Commended in International Competition Aspheric 2018
 High Commended International Competition GDT 2019

Mario Rubio

Mario Rubio is a photographer specialized in night photography, landscapes and long exposure. Since 2007, he has led the "Night Photographer" website, which is a reference in all Spanish-speaking countries as far as night photography is concerned. Hundreds of articles, tutorials, product reviews and interviews have been published over the last ten years. But "Night Photographer" is not Mario Rubio alone, but a multidisciplinary team that is responsible for the dissemination of photographic art in many different forms of expression. This is mainly due to the dissemination work that is carried out every day. The magazine "Night Photographer" has been the first digital magazine on night photography, long exposure and light painting...

Likewise, the podcast network «Night Photographer» is the first exclusive photography podcast network, having been several times number one on iTunes worldwide in Spanish.

Mario Rubio founded AFONOCTE, the Association of Night Photographers of Spain, a place to share knowledge and have a quality archive available to all those who wish to join.

In the same way, School Night Photographer It is a reality and teamwork. The school has already given training in several countries such as Chile, Cuba, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Iceland...

Likewise, Mario Rubio and his team «Night Photographer» They are the creators of the largest International Night Photography Congress in Spain,»iNight», which this year has held its seventh edition.

He is the author of the bookThe photographer at night”, technical book on night photography in various disciplines.

But "Night Photographer» is an active presence on social networks, its YouTube channel with more than 1,000,000 views and constant interaction with followers make this profession a magnificent activity on a day-to-day basis.

Finally, "Night Photographer» consolidates itself as a certified drone operator by the State Aviation Safety Agency with which we add a new creative point of view to develop.

Jesus M. Garcia Flores

Jesús Manuel García Flores is a professional photographer specialized in landscape photography, architecture and astrophotography. For several years, Jesús has traveled the world in search of unique images, captured in the right place and at the right time. This obsession with the quality of his images has been rewarded with more than a hundred National and International awards. Additionally, Jesus alternates his travels with his other passion: training. During the last 9 years Jesús has traveled the Spanish geography, showing his workflow applied to XXI century photography and color. Currently, Jesús works as a professor of Photography at the "Francisco de Vitoria" University of Madrid...

In addition to his work at the University, Jesús regularly collaborates with different media or events related to photography:

Podcast (Digital Reel, Academy of Photographers, SocialArte).
Webinar (Mario Rubio, Runben Guo, Rubén Gabelli, Photopills).
Workshops and Congresses (Mario Cea, Antonio Garci, Abel Castro, Pablo Gil).
Publications (Xataka Foto, dZoom, Photolari, FIAP News, etc.).
Master at the Photopills Camp 2022.
Master at the Canarian Photoweek 2023.

Jesus is the author of the bookTheory of color. Practical application in photography” (4th edition, with more than 4,000 copies sold in the first year) and the book “Composition and Color”. Practical application in photography.

Member of the body of Juries of the CEF.

National Photographic Distinctions: CEF Artist (ACEF), CEF Excellence (ECEF) and CEF Master (MCEF).

International Photographic Distinctions: AFIAP, EFIAP and EFIAP/b.
FIAP Official Link to the Spanish Photography Confederation (CEF).
Founder and president of AFOTO.
President of the Castilian Manchega Federation of Photography.
Director FIAP Exhibition Center of Torrijos – Toledo (Spain).

Awards

Absolute Winner “The Epson International Pano Awards”. First Spaniard to win this award at the OPEN category.
Photographer of the year 2017.
Absolute Winner “Khayyam International Exhibition of Photography 2018”. FIAP Best Author (Blue Pin).
Candidate for National Award Photography (CEF). Best photographer 2019.
First place. V Spanish Photography League 2020. Architecture Category.
World runner-up in the 29th. FIAP Biennial – France 2021.
Absolute winner in “3th PAMIR international Salon of Photography 2022”. FIAP Best Author (Blue Pin).
Absolute winner of the "X ILLA DE MENORCA Photographic Salon Biosphere Reserve 2022". FIAP Best Author (Blue Pin).
Color theory book. Practical application in photography. Honorable Mention in the National Photography Awards (CEF).

Carlos Sanchez Alonso

Nature photographer, editor and entrepreneur in the ecotourism sector. His dedication to nature photography over the last 30 years has allowed him to accumulate one of the most complete archives on Spanish fauna and flora. He has a long professional career, with numerous publications in books and national and international magazines dedicated to the natural world. Some titles of his authorship are...

«Guide to the Birds of the Lagunas de Villafáfila», «Guide to the Vertebrate Fauna of the Arribes del Duero», «Land of Bustards», «Atlas of the Bats of Castilla y León», «Guide to the vertebrate fauna of Castilla and León", "Guide to the Birds of Castilla y León", "Guide to the wild plants of the Arribes del Duero", "Protected Natural Areas of Castilla y León"... He has also worked for different Administrations, among others the Ministry of Defense, editing the books: «The Natural Spaces of the Ministry of Defence», «The Archipelago of Cabrera, a military enclave preserved for the future» and «The Natura 2000 Network in the Ministry of Defence».

He currently runs his company NÁYADE NATURE, is president of the Castilla y León Ecotourism Club TRINO and runs NATURCYL, the Castilla y León Ecotourism Fair.