One more country to reveal its top-10 pictures. Wiki Loves Earth 2016 in Thailand took place in June. 148 National parks in Thailand were eligible sites to upload their pictures on Wikimedia Commons. 422 new images we now have from these parks — isn’t that great? 🙂
Please, may your eyes rest on these wonderful pictures.
712 images were received for Wiki Loves Earth 2016 in Tunisia in total. 5% of them are already used in Wikipedia articles. You can help raise this percent by adding images into the articles yourself 🙂
47 authors uploaded their images for the contest — and 28 of them, it means more that a half, registered just to take part. Thank you all!
In the entire competition of Wiki Loves Earth 2016 in Nepal, 271 user participated and uploaded their images of the natural heritage sites of Nepal to Wikimedia Commons. Top uploader of the competition is user Indra Rai who donated 264 files, the second and third uploaders are users Bijay chaurasia and Nabin845 with 93 and 92 files respectively.
To felicitate the winners of the Wiki Loves Earth 2016 in Nepal, Maithili Wikimedians organized an event on 9th July, 2016. It was held in Masala Cottage, Kathmandu and was visited by 75 people. Winners received their prizes and were praised a lot for capturing such marvelous places of the country.
Ka Bo Kwong (1st winner) receiving her prize money. Photo by Bijay chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0Marija Gurjovska (2nd winner) receiving her prize money. Photo by Bijay chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0Pratap Baniya (3rd winner) speaking about the photo. Photo by Bijay chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0
The organizers thank to all the participants who took part in the contest. Thanks to you Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects have now more wonderful photos of wonderful country — Nepal.
On May 1, 2016 the Wikimedia community is starting an international photo contest with a natural heritage theme, Wiki Loves Earth 2016. Wiki Loves Earth is organized through numerous national contests, coordinated by local volunteers.
Panorama stitching of the pointe de Pen-Hir. Finalist of Wiki Loves Earth 2015 in France. Photo by Diwall, freely licenced under CC-BY-SA-3.0
Wiki Loves Earth belongs to the widest photo competitions, we are really happy that you like it. WLE becomes a movement, there are people who donate there time and photos into it year by year. Devoted participants — and also newcomers! — help decrease blind spots on map and highlight unknown places and sights in their countries.
This photo contest is not only a great opportunity to show the charms of nature, but also a chance to draw public attention to environmental problems. Together we can create word wide heritage base of natural objects. Together we will raise awareness about natural resources and zones and their protection.
Anyone can take part in the competition; however, registration on Wikimedia Commons is required. To enter the contest, find an item or place you are familiar with from the competition list, submit a picture you have taken (past or present), and upload it to Wikimedia Commons beginning May 1 through May 31, 2016.
If you would like to join international WLE with your local contest or have any other questions, please, write on wle-team@wikimedia.org.ua.
Our 2015 winner comes from Lower Kachura lake a popular tourist destination in Central Karakoram National Park, Skardu, Pakistan. Wiki Loves Earth 2015 winning picture. By Zaeemsiddiq, freely licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wiki Loves Earth, a competition where participants take photographs of protected natural areas and upload their photos to Wikimedia Commons, was held internationally for the second time in 2015 with 26 countries. The contest is over, and we are now able to present the international winners.
The goal of Wiki Loves Earth is two-fold. First, we aim to photograph as many natural monuments and protected areas as possible and release the imagery under a free license. Second, we contribute to environmental protection by raising public awareness.
The idea of Wiki Loves Earth began in Ukraine in 2013. In 2014, Wiki Loves Earth was joined by 15 other countries from four different continents—Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
During 2015, over 100,000 pictures were submitted by the participants.
Wiki Loves Earth was organised through numerous national contests, coordinated by local volunteers. The national juries then submitted up to 10 pictures to the international stage of the contest. With 26 participating countries, the international jury had to consider a total of 259 candidate pictures. The jury selected and ranked the photos in several stages by means of a dedicated web tool.
The international jury was composed of 9 photographers from different countries, all experienced in nature photography: Dmytro Balkhovitin (Ukraine), Matthew Buck (Great Britain), Dietmar Bartz (Germany), Walaa Abdel Manaem (Egypt), Alex Wang (USA), Katerina Zareva-Simeonova (Bulgaria), Zeynel Cebeci (Turkey), Susanne Plank (Austria) and Yathin Krishnappa (India).
After careful evaluation jury members have selected the following images, in addition to the winning image above.
Second place: a view of the Laurisilva (laurel forest) of Madeira, Portugal. Photo by Jnvalves, [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia CommonsThird place: the Alpine ibex(Capra ibex), or Steinbock, in National Park “Hohe Tauern“, Carinthia, Austria. Third place in Wiki Loves Earth 2015.Photo by Bernd Thaller [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons4. A spider (Misumena vatia) killed a bee. Picture taken in Bratental nature reserve, near Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. By Suhaknoke [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons5. European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia. Photo by Elgollimoh [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons6. Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine. By Vian [CC BY-SA 4.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons7. Nature reserve Wolayer See and surrounding area, Carinthia, Austria. By GeKo15 [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons8. Cormorants at dusk on the pond of Vaccarès, France. By Ddeveze [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons9. Limestone stalagmites inside the Anhumas abyss, Brasil. By Caio Vilela [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons10. High Tatras as seen from the Polish Spisz, Tatry Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland. By Łukasz Śmigasiewicz [CC BY-SA 3.0 pl license], via Wikimedia Commons11. Greater flamingo(Phoenicopterus roseus), Thyna, Tunisia. By Elgollimoh [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons12. Khlong Lan Waterfall, Khlong Lan National Park, Kamphaeng Phet Province, Thailand. By Khunkay [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons13. Malakatyn river at Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, part of Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve, Sakha, Russia. By Boris Solovyev [CC BY-SA 4.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons14. Morning in Tolkuse bog, Luitemaa Nature Conservation Area, Pärnu County, Estonia. By Märt Kose [CC BY-SA 3.0 ee license], via Wikimedia Commons15. Lines left after skiing on the snowy slopes of Baba Mountain below the peak Pelister, National park Pelister, Macedonia. By Ptahhotep [CC BY-SA 4.0 license], via Wikimedia CommonsSpecial nomination: Apis Mellifera drone—moment at birth, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil. This image received a high rating from the jurors, but as it was not taken in a protected area, it was not eligible for an award. Photo by Jonathan Wilkins [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons
The full report of the international jury, explaining the work of the jury, selection process and presenting the results together with comments of the jury, is available here.
Congratulations to the winners and thank you for everyone who worked on organisation of the contest this year!
WLE International team
All photographs in this post are published by their authors under CC BY-SA. Click the photos for details.
As almost all of the participating countries have already announced their national winners (you can look at the gallery of nominated photos), so now it’s time to introduce people who will select the winning photos — the international jury!
The international jury is composed of nine people this year representing different parts of the world and having different backgrounds. What they have in common is their passion for photography and enthusiasm to select the best photos of natural monuments. Meet our jurors:
Dmytro Balkhovitin, Ukraine (user:Balkhovitin)
Dmytro is a Wiki Loves Earth 2014 international winner, Wiki Loves Monuments in Ukraine 2013 winner, he contributes photos during the contests every year. He is a professional photographer and a winner of numerous awards in Ukraine and abroad.
Last year was also a jury member of Wiki Loves Monuments in Ukraine national photocontest. Native of Donetsk.
View of Carpathian National Park from Hoverla. Carpathian National Park, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. By Balkhovitin, freely licenced under CC-BY-SA-3.0. This is a featured picture and a Quality image on Wikimedia Commons, a finalist in Picture of the Year 2014.
Matthew Buck, Great Britain (user:Mattbuck)
An administrator of Wikimedia Commons and a photographer. “A Commons admin of ill repute, keen photographer and train nerd. I’ve been lucky enough to be selected for the Wikimedia Ukraine jury three times now, and each time it’s been fun, if hard work“, says Matt about himself. He also says: “I honestly don’t care what you took a photo of, so long as it’s good technically (exposure, sharpness, composition, etc)“. He would like the participants of Wikili Loves Earth to take part in Quality images project on Commons.
Sunset on the beach at Seahouses in Northumberland with Bamburgh Castle in the background. By mattbuck, freely licenced under CC BY-SA. Quality image, uploaded as part of Wiki Loves Monuments 2014.
As the photo contest goes by and most countries ended upload campaigns, time comes to organize images. Many things are to be arranged by local organizers — sorting out ineligible photos, adding categories / templates, correcting mistakes. These things may sound trivial at first glance but are really helpful afterwards.
Our dear contributors are encouraged to add meaningful descriptions to their files if they didn’t provided them while uploading and there is no autocomplete available. To do this, user only needs to find edit button at the top of the file page and write down a few words after “description”.
A crab spider (Thomisus onustus) on Anchusa azurea. Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Regional Natural Park, France. Quality image from Wiki Loves Earth 2015 (by Christian Ferrer under CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Pang Sida National Park © KOSIN SUKHUM, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Camping with stars in the night sky at Doi Samoe Dao, Si Nan National Park © Piith.hant, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park Prachuap Khiri Khan Thailand © KOSIN SUKHUM, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Chiang Dao National Park Chiang Mai © KOSIN SUKHUM, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The “lotus pond” in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park © BerryJ, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Hill Pine Camp, Huai Nam Dang National Park © Sirapa Atikomchakorn, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The lake of Ratchaprapha (Chiao Lan) Dam, Khao Sok National Park © KOSIN SUKHUM, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The evening reflection of a mountain in the “lotus pond”, Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park © Preecha.MJ, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Tarutao National Park © Toey19863, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Silhouettes of trees and people camping at Doi Samoe Dao, Si Nan National Park © Piith.hant, freely licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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![View of the Laurisilva (Laurel Forest), island of Madeira, Portugal. Second place in Wiki Loves Earth 2015. Photo by Jnvalves, [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:O_Fanal,_Ilha_da_Madeira,_Portugal.jpg)
![A Spider (Misumena vatia) killed a bee. Picture taken in Bratental nature reserve, near Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. By Suhaknoke [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spinne_Bratental_Ps.jpg)
![European bee-eater, Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia. Photo by Elgollimoh [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guepier_d'europe_au_parc_national_Ichkeul.jpg)
![Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine. By Vian [CC BY-SA 4.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/%D0%A7%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%96_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D1%96_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8.jpg/800px-%D0%A7%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%96_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D1%96_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8.jpg)
![Nature reserve Wolayer See and surrounding area, Carinthia, Austria. By GeKo15 [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WolayerSee.jpg)
![Cormorants at dusk on the pond of Vaccarès, France. By Ddeveze [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Camargue_%C3%89tang_de_Vaccar%C3%A8s.jpg/800px-Camargue_%C3%89tang_de_Vaccar%C3%A8s.jpg)
![Limestone stalagmites inside the Anhumas abyss, Bonito, Brasil. By Caio Vilela [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abismo_Anhumas,_Bonito,_MS_2.JPG)
![High Tatras as seen from the Polish Spisz, Tatry Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland. By Łukasz Śmigasiewicz [CC BY-SA 3.0 pl license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tatry_i_Spisz1.jpg)
![Greater flamingo, Thyna, Tunisia. By Elgollimoh [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flamant_rose_Salines_de_Thyna.jpg)
![Khlong Lan Waterfall, Khlong Lan National Park, Kamphaeng Phet Province, Thailand. By Khunkay [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Klonglan_waterfall_03.jpg)
![Malakatyn river at Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, part of Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve, Sakha, Russia. By Boris Solovyev [CC BY-SA 4.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lena_Delta_B.Lyakhovsky_Island_2010-09-28_Boris.jpg)
![Morning in Tolkuse bog, Luitemaa Nature Conservation Area, Pärnu County, Estonia. By Märt Kose [CC BY-SA 3.0 ee license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roosa_hommikuudu_Tolkuse_rabas.jpg)
![Lines left after skiing on the snowy slopes of Baba Mountain below the peak Pelister, National park Pelister, Macedonia. By Ptahhotep [CC BY-SA 4.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SkiLines.JPG)
![Special nomination: Apis Mellifera drone - moments at birth, Brasil. Photo by Jonathan Wilkins [CC BY-SA 3.0 license], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drone_Reconnoitering.jpg)
Matthew Buck, Great Britain (user:
