Author: Olesia Lukaniuk

The most awaited moment of the international annual photographic competition devoted to natural heritage has come. We are delighted and proud to present the top 20 best images of Wiki Loves Earth 2025, traditionally divided into two categories: macro and landscapes.

• This year, we had a record number of participating countries and territories, which reached 57.
• As a result, we received around 80 000 submissions from more than 5 200 participants worldwide.
• This year, we received a record number of submitted local winning images, which reached 618, and were evaluated on the international level.

Traditionally, each country/territory has chosen up to 15 local winners in two categories — not more than 10 from each of the two categories: landscapes (including individual trees if it’s a nature monument), and macro/close-up (animals, plants, fungi).

13 experienced photographers, visual experts, and Wikimedians from all around the world were part of the international jury and devoted their time and efforts to selecting the top 20 international winners.

You can read more about the jury team here.

We sincerely thank each juror for the time and dedication they devoted to reviewing contest images from around the world — especially this year, when we received a record number of local winning images.

• Celebrate this year’s winners with us during the Wiki Loves Earth 2025 Award Ceremony on 19th December, at 13:30 UTC on Zoom. Check the time with your local timezone here.
  
  If you want to participate, please register by filling out this short form, and we will send you an invitation link after.

After several rounds of voting and review, we are excited to finally announce the top 20 best images in two categories from 13 countries, showcasing the fascinating world of animal and plant species as well as stunning landscapes.

Macro/close-up

1st place

The category of macro images opens with a breathtaking close-up that depicts a posing green jararaca (Bothrops bilineatus) on the territory of Carrasco National Park in Bolivia.

Jury members were impressed by this image the most and shared:

“This photograph captures a strikingly dramatic moment, highlighting the snake’s elegant yet tense posture. The sharp focus on its textured scales contrasts beautifully with the dark, blurred background, emphasizing depth and mystery. The lighting adds an almost cinematic intensity. Altogether, the composition conveys both beauty and latent power, creating a sense of quiet suspense.” — Suzanna Tymochko.

“This shot is one of the best submitted to the competition, in my opinion. The snake’s pose, the curves of its body, its scales, its gaze — an unrivaled capture of the reptile’s beauty in a single frame. It seems as if in another moment the snake will strike its prey. Magnificent!” — Inessa Yurovskikh.

“The image is striking! The green snake with yellow accents is posed dramatically, coiled and looking upwards with its head raised. The lighting highlights the snake’s scales and creates a dynamic contrast against the dark background.” — Jhuma Datta.

“The superb color and lighting treatment, as well as the perspective chosen by the photographer — all of which are on point. The resolution is impressively high-quality, and the details are a chef’s kiss to me!” — Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez.

2nd place

The next macro image comes from England and illustrates the focus stack of a common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum), found beside a river in the Norfolk Broads National Park.

Juror Jophel Botero Ybiosa highlighted: “This stunning close-up shot displays vibrant colors, excellent exposure, and balanced composition”.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez commented: “One strength of a powerful macro shot is its clarity of detail, and this one more than meets that criterion. The frontal shot, efficiently framed by the photographer, is so on point that it draws viewers into an eye-to-eye, mano a mano interaction with the damselfly. Its high quality and clear depiction make it even more substantial for WLE”.

3rd place

This image captures the feeding process of an Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) pair in the Mittlere Elbe-Steckby protected landscape area in Germany.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez points out: “This is a clean shot. The quality is crisp, and the colors are well-balanced across the frame. Moreover, this shot captures the birds in dynamic poses (one appearing more dominant, the other more submissive), telling a different story from the mid-flight shots we saw last season”.

Inessa Yurovskikh added: “Of all the shots of udots submitted to the competition, this one resonates with me the most. Yes, the birds aren’t in flight. But the scene itself, the interaction between the birds, shows how different these birds are. Even the light falling through the foliage on one of the birds beautifully emphasized this”.

Jhuma Datta: “Love is in the air. Thought-provoking image”.

4th place

A well-timed moment of a common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) hunting on a pond was captured in Poodří Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic.

Jhuma Datta shared her thoughts about this image: “Composition and timing bring this fleeting instant to life, making it a compelling image. The splash of water adds dynamic energy, while the blurred background beautifully isolates the bird’s striking features”.

Inessa Yurovskikh commented: “A magnificent dynamic shot. The hunter is bright and fast, and so is his prey. The splashes of water, the light, the color of the image, the blurred background — everything is perfect and so appropriate”.

Jophel Botero Ybiosa added: “This captivating image is a result of the photographer´s patience and precision. Excellent timing, great composition and vibrant colors! Fantastic job!”.

5th place

On this image, a swirling ball of countless reef fish named yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis) forms a mesmerizing bait ball beneath the clear waters of Tawi-Tawi, Sibutu and Tumindao Islands, the Philippines, and was captured amid vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez described: “This is a strong entry. One of WLE’s missions is to unravel the many unseen wonders of our planet, and this one fits the bill. While it’s not the first time I’ve seen such a shot of the underwater environment, it’s still not an everyday scene. Its inclusion here is a breath of fresh air, especially considering the sameness of many other entries. This shot captures the dynamics of the natural world”.

Inessa Yurovskikh added: “A beautiful swirl of fish in the underwater world. Our planet is so diverse and delightful, but unfortunately, there were very few photographs from the underwater kingdom. Of the remaining shots, this one could be a wonderful addition to the winning images”.

Jhuma Datta: “Breathtaking image. The way the fish moves in unison, creating a swirling vortex, is truly captivating”.

6th place

This photograph was taken in the National Botanical Garden of Bangladesh. A black carpenter ant (Camponotus compressus) was tearing flesh from the carcass of a Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis). As the life of the monitor ends, the small ant struggles to survive by feeding on it. This is a remarkable example of nature’s food chain.

Juror Rakesh Baro shared: “Beautiful lighting and a compelling natural history moment. I love the perspective, the photographer skillfully went down to eye level to achieve excellent subject separation. The image tells a wonderful story”.

Jophel Botero Ybiosa highlighted: “Striking image with the use of contrasting subjects to tell a story!”.

7th place

The next macro shot depicts Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) in the Wittenberge-Rühstädter Elbniederung Nature Reserve in Germany.

Johan Jönsson draws attention to: “One of those photos which feel like they are made for an encyclopedia, or for a well-illustrated book on the topic”.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez: “This work is one of the best examples of how simplicity, when coupled with efficiency and clarity of purpose, can keep pace with, if not outshine, others. Even when you zoom into the frame, the details of the subjects remain crisp and clear, thanks to its high-quality dimensions”.

Suzanna Tymochko: “We can see every detail of a butterfly’s wings — the scales, the hairs, even the structure of its eyes. This photo is a great example of macro photography”.

Jophel Botero Ybiosa: “A stunning image with details and vibrant colors. The plain background effectively highlights the subject”.

8th place

This image shows us an illustration of weevil (Metapocyrtus reyesi) in Northern Negros Natural Park, the Philippines. As the author said, this unique coloration may indicate a potential case of natural variation or localized adaptation, and it adds new insight into the phenotypic diversity within the species.

Inessa Yurovskikh commented: “A stunning shot of a weevil! Everything about this frame is beautiful. This wonderful little creature is perfectly focused, allowing you to examine it in exquisite detail. Every hair on the insect is visible. The muted background and chocolate-colored tree bark perfectly complement the incredible color of the weevil’s back”.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez mentioned: “This is one of the very few macro shots of the small world this season that is exceptionally clean in framing (the consideration of negative space works for me) and remarkably clear in detail (no need to zoom further). The color treatment is on point and very contextual, as the photographer effectively contained the elements of the environment presented — particularly the colors of the weevil — in such an aesthetic approach that naturality is preserved. As a STEM teacher, this is one of those works that I could use as an effective instructional material. Another plus factor of this entry is its detailed description, which adds to its high potential for usability by Wiki users”.

9th place

The next image showcases a very rare moment when a Great Crested Hoopoe (Upupa epops) flew in with a caught lizard for a female that was sitting on eggs. Photographed in the Pálava Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic.

Suzanna Tymochko shares: “A wonderful contrast between the calmness of the pose and the dynamics of the moment”.

Ajeigbe Rukayat added: “The image captures the essence of life, and also the provision of food to the other animal”.

Jhuma Datta: “The composition of this frame effectively conveys an interesting story”.

10th place

The last image in еру macro category illustrates a Tawny Cat Snake (Boiga ochracea) peering through the dusk captured during the calm of evening in the lush greenery in Godawari National Botanical Garden of Nepal. As the author of the photo said, this image celebrates the quiet elegance of Nepal’s often-overlooked reptilian fauna.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez commented on this shot: “This portrait frame of a Tawny Cat Snake is beautifully captured. Its warm coppery-brown to orange hues remain intact even after the post-processing contrast adjustments. The water droplet clinging beneath its lower jaw adds an enticing touch of detail to the overall composition. In terms of reusability, the image maintains excellent quality in both dimensions and resolution. And that gaze from the snake… it’s almost a chef’s kiss shot for me”.

Jhuma Datta: The close up shot brings out the details of its coppery-brown scales and those piercing eyes. Good composition, sharp and overall very well done.

Ajeigbe Rukayat: The close-up image of the snake shows the intense gaze and its charisma, the contrast and the lighting complement each other.

Suzanna Tymochko: A good composition creates the effect of presence and a sense of tension.

Landscapes

1st place

The first place in the landscapes category goes to a beautiful image of a European beech (Fagus sylvatica) with autumn leaf color in the biosphere reserve Rhoen in Germany.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez shared: “This perspective on the subject works well, and I love how the vibrant orange contrasts with the dreamy white tones within the frame”.

Suzanna Tymochko: “This perspective creates an immersive effect. A very atmospheric photo”.

Rakesh Baro: “Beautifully composed. The photographer effectively uses the surrounding trees as leading lines to draw the viewer’s attention to the vibrant canopy of leaves”.

2nd place

This photograph documents the effects of climate change, shown by the rise in the Atlantic Ocean’s sea level, which increasingly floods areas of Ilha do Cardoso that were previously occupied by mangroves. It is located in the State Park of Ilha do Cardoso, Cananéia, São Paulo, Brazil.

Jhuma Datta highlighted: “High resolution and dimensions of this lone tree is high in usability . The image evokes a sense of environmental starkness. Such landscapes often highlight the impacts of climate change and about fragile ecosystems and the needs for sustainability”.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez added: “This is such an interestingly beautiful entry with an alarming backstory. The context that this frame carries is highly valuable, especially in raising awareness about the lasting effects of climate change and how this global concern could drastically transform many of the planet’s landscapes”.

3rd place

The next place goes to a magnificent aerial photography of Sulaibikhat Marine Protected Area in Kuwait.

Jhuma Datta described: “The aerial perspective adds an intriguing layer to the image. Usability level of this image is very high”.

Jophel Botero Ybiosa: “A stunning, paint-like image that exemplifies the grandeur of landscape”.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez: “The abstract treatment of this photo is effective without compromising its context as a framed landscape”.

4th place

The next place goes to another aerial image from the same author. This one is taken in Al-Khuwaisat (Al-Jahra) Natural Reserve in Kuwait.

Jhuma Datta highlights: “Beauty of contrasting landscapes, with the vibrant blue river water juxtaposed against arid earth tones, evoking a sense of serene isolation. Dimension and resolution of this entry have high usability”.

Jophel Botero Ybiosa added: “This landscape image has a painterly feel with striking earth tones. The river leads the viewer’s eyes across the image, enhancing the impact”.

5th place

A warm image taken near Federa lake in the Natural regional park of Dolomiti d’Ampezzo, Monte Pelmo – Mondeval – Formin protected area, Italy.

Jhuma Datta marks: “The contrast between the golden foliage and the evergreen trees adds depth to the image”.

6th place

The next place goes to a beautiful landscape of a Glaciated valley called High Cup Nick in the North Pennines, England.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez shared: “One of my favorite entries in the landscape category. I love how wide the scale covered within the frame is, and the color treatment effectively showcases the natural beauty of the terrain”.

Jhuma Datta added: “Beautiful landscape image. High resolution making it a great entry. Striking composition, contrast of green and yellow hues of the hills adding depth to the scene”.

Elena-Tatiana Chiș: “Beautiful landscape composition. The sky makes it a little bit dramatic but keeps the soft touch of the warm sun”.

Suzanna Tymochko: “Heavy, dark clouds, lighting, deep relief, and harsh nature create a dramatic atmosphere. The quality of the photo is also good. Probably one of my favourite landscape shots presented here”.

7th place

The next mysterious landscape image is taken in Čigota, Zlatibor protected area, located in Serbia.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez commented: “This photo proves that impressive landscapes are not only defined by bold and explosive colors. Many aspects of this frame, such as the way the earthy tones of the rolling hills complement the dramatic play of light and shadow, and how the lone cabin evokes a sense of nostalgia, paint a different picture of Serbia in my mind, replacing the snowy impression I’ve always associated with the region”. 

Inessa Yurovskikh: “A very cozy and peaceful landscape. The photograph conveys a sense of solitude and oneness with nature. The brown tones suggest completion, but there’s no sense of sadness, melancholy, or despondency. The light pouring onto the ground perfectly complements this”.

8th place

This image illustrates a cold morning — day break on Bessy Boot above Tarn at Leaves looking to High Raise in the south east, Lake district National Park, England.

Jhuma Datta draws attention to: “The serene winter landscape is breathtaking. The frozen lake and sunset hues add to the tranquil ambiance”.

9th place

This image depicts Sagres Lighthouse that is located in Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park in Portugal.

Lloyd Ericson Castro Rodriguez accents: “Another visually powerful photo of a protected area. I love the photographer’s decision in terms of framing and color treatment. Such places are also what I look for to further the goals and purposes of the WLE event”.

Jhuma Datta added: “Beautiful foreground, absolutely gorgeous landscape”.

10th place

And the top of landscape images closes with a photo of Garibaldi Lake at dawn on New Year’s Day, taken in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Canada.

Jhuma Datta highlighted: “The composition is well balanced creating a good layered image”.

Jophel Botero Ybiosa added: “Breathtaking scenery with a sense of serenity! Well done!”.

Congratulations to all the winners for their incredible contributions and dedication to capturing the beauty of our planet, while inspiring greater awareness of natural heritage sites around the world!

See more:

• Winners in the “Video” special category for Wiki Loves Earth 2025.
• Winners in the “Human Rights and Environment” special category for Wiki Loves Earth 2025.
• Past Wiki Loves Earth winners from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.

If you want to know more about this year’s winners and the detailed methodology of the international evaluation process, look for the full jury report, which will be published and available on Wikimedia Commons soon.

Follow our channels to keep up with updates:

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In 2025, Wiki Loves Earth International continued a special category “Video”.
Wikipedia articles can be illustrated not only with photos but also with videos, which allows uploaders to showcase natural heritage sites broadly from different perspectives.

In this special category, we recognize videos depicting natural monuments worldwide among the participating countries (it was optional for the local organizers).

Check more details about this special category.

This year, we received five videos from Serbia, Kuwait, and Ukraine, which were evaluated by the three jury members:

• Yılmaz Caner Özyayikci (Turkey) — graphic designer, Visual Communication Design graduate, Wikimedian of the Year 2024 (Media Contributor).
• Jan Ainali (Sweden) — wikimedian, co-founder of Wikimedians for Sustainable Development, helps organizations become better at working in the open at Open By Default.
• Saddam Husein (Indonesia) — professional documentary photographer and videographer focusing on environmental issues.

Check more information about the jurors for this category.

And we are happy to present the best videos of the natural heritage sites of Wiki Loves Earth 2025!

1st place

The first winning place goes to a video by Marko Dekic that gathered the highest marks in this category. It showcases the winter stunning bird’s-eye view of Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) in Serbia and was filmed on 20th January 2025.

The author of the video shares his experience: “It is a real pleasure to film from probably the only perspective that can faithfully convey the grandeur and beauty of Stara Planina, at a time when it is probably at its most beautiful, in winter. Stara Planina is my favorite part of my country, and it really deserves to be seen by others. The snow may make the scene monotonous in terms of colors, but it adds to the complete peace of the whole ambiance… and that is why I have been waiting for years to be able to make something like this. Finally, as a personal experience, I can say that I got quite cold while making these recordings, but I definitely enjoyed it”.

One of the jurors, Jan Ainali, commented on this video: “Calm and peaceful video that really gives a good overview of the area”.

Yılmaz Caner Özyayikci added: “I like the winter theme and the video flow — it describes the area quite well”.

2nd place

The video captures a moment of winter “foraging” by a Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) within the Chahari Kutkivetski nature area, Ternopil region, Ukraine. The footage was recorded on 19th January 2025.

The author of the video shares the story behind its creation:
“At that time, my goal was to film birds of prey. I spent hours sitting in a hide, waiting for them, but with no success. Then one moment, a little mouse ran past the trunk of a fallen tree. After that, I started bringing a handful of grain and scattering it in that spot. Eventually, this mouse would appear, happily nibbling on the grains and even carrying them back to its burrow. And that’s how this video was made — purely by chance.”

Juror Yılmaz Caner Özyayikci shared: “The flow and technical details are generally successful. Even the animal’s voice is quite detailed. I particularly liked that the sound was recorded this way”.

Another juror Jan Ainali commented: “Nice with the establishing shots and then the introduction of our main character along with its movement and behavior”.

3rd place

The third place was awarded to a video by Serhii Markov, filmed in June 2023. The footage captures a case of cannibalism in snakes: one smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) consuming another on a rocky shoreline of a water body in the Yatsevо area — a state-level forest reserve in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine.

The author shares:
“Since the start of the full-scale war, the closest wild forests I loved have been closed to visitors. I had to shift to observing wildlife in small steppe patches and cliffs near the Dnipro Rapids in the vicinity of the Yatsevo area — and I don’t regret it. Whenever possible, I travel there almost daily, sometimes even for just half an hour, to mentally reset. Mostly, I watch as various rare plant species bloom one after another from early spring until the winter cold, and I always visit the spots where smooth snakes, Sarmatian rat snakes, and green lizards — all protected species — gather. In a way, the scene in the video came as a surprise to me, but in another way, it’s the result of systematic observation.”

“An image that tells the story of how the world works. Some eat and some are eaten, so that the ecosystem remains balanced.” — highlighted one of the jurors Saddam Husein.

Yılmaz Caner Özyayikci added: “Although the composition and camera movement are a bit shaky, I think the content is good. Also, the fact that the video has different angles ensures that the subject is well displayed”.

Jan Ainali commented as well that this is a good closeups on an unusual situation.

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to everyone who has shown their interest in showcasing the natural heritage in such an interesting way. We are looking forward to seeing more beautiful videos next year!

Read more about the results of the previous year.

Celebrate this year’s winnings with us during the Wiki Loves Earth 2025 Award Ceremony on 19th December, at 13:30 UTC on Zoom.
Check the time with your local timezone here.

If you want to participate, please register by filling out this short form, and we will send you an invitation.

And wait for the final top 20 winners to be announced very soon!

Follow the contest on our channels to keep up with updates:

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• Website

Join us to celebrate the winners of Wiki Loves Earth 2025!

The final winners of the contest will be announced next week, so we are excited to invite you to the Wiki Loves Earth 2025 virtual Award Ceremony, taking place on 19 December at 13:30 UTC on Zoom.

This global event brings together photographers, volunteers, and nature lovers from all around the world to honor the stunning images and dedicated contributors who made this year’s competition possible. We will reveal the international winners, share highlights from the 2025 contest, and take a moment to appreciate the communities behind the contest.

Want to attend?

Please register by filling out a short form, and we will send the Zoom invitation directly to your email: https://forms.gle/SCntmSesfNEb5nze9

Use the link to check your local timezone of the event: https://zonestamp.toolforge.org/1766151000

Let’s celebrate the world’s natural heritage together!

Team of three people — Wikimedians, photographers, environmental specialists put their efforts into rating all the submitted images and choose the most illustrative ones.

• Ananya Mondal (India) — a veteran Wikimedian, hobbyist nature photographer and conservationist. Passionate about exploring the wild, she is also fond of forest surveys, rock climbing and Himalayan trekking. Her deep love for photographing butterflies inspired her to initiate and successfully lead Wiki Loves Butterfly. Widely recognized as the “Butterfly Wikimedian,” Ananya received the Wikimedian of the Year 2021 – Rich Media Award. She also serves as a member of the organizing teams for Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM) India and Bangla WikiMoitree.

• Juliana Almeida (Portugal) — integrates UNEP’s Law Division as an Environmental Law Specialist. She is currently working with matters related to human rights, the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, future generations, and building judicial capacity for the environment. She has previously worked in the European Parliament and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in environmental matters. She has a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws in International and European Law from the Nova University of Lisbon, as well as a post-grad in Environmental Law.

• Susanna Ånäs (Finland) — a coordinator by practice and an artist, photographer, and documentarist at heart. Having joined the Wikimedia movement in 2012, she now runs the AvoinGLAM group in Helsinki, Finland, promoting open access to cultural heritage. The group likes to interpret GLAM as Global Languages, Art, and Memory instead of the institutional Galleries, Libraries, and Museums. The focus of the work is on urgent and important issues and bringing people together from across domain boundaries to work and learn together on them in case studies, experiments, or events like the co-creation “hackathon” Hack4OpenGLAM. Susanna has organized Wiki Loves Monuments in Finland three times. She wishes to explore and promote ways in which open culture advocates can make a positive impact on vulnerable and threatened cultural heritage or secure environmental sustainability.

The final results of this category will be announced pretty soon!

A team of three professionals — videographers, graphic designers, photographers, and Wikimedians — devoted their time and expertise to judging the submitted videos this year.

• Saddam Husein (Indonesia) — professional documentary photographer/videographer focusing on environmental issues.

• Jan Ainali (Sweden) — started his Wikimedia journey on Wikimedia Commons in 2006. He has been the CEO of Wikimedia Sverige and is a co-founder of Wikimedians for Sustainable Development. In previous years, he has been on the jury for the Swedish Wiki Loves Earth and Wiki Loves Monuments, as well as the international Wiki Loves Monuments. In his day job, he helps organizations become better at working in the open at Open By Default.

• Yılmaz Caner Özyayıkçı (Turkey) — Graphic designer, Visual Communication Design graduate, Media Contributor of the Year 2024. Since 2014, he has been contributing to Wikimedia projects. He likes to share his experience and help Wikimedians in various Wiki events in Turkey, and helps many communities and users in the Wikimedia movement, especially the Wikimedia community and student clubs in Turkey, in various areas, especially in the field of graphic design. Caner is also interested in cultures and developing them as free knowledge through various designs. In terms of photography, he likes to take and analyze macro photographs the most. He also enjoys comparing the locations of historical photographs to their current state.

We are excited to announce the results of this nomination very soon. Stay tuned!

We are proud to introduce a remarkable team of 12 expert jurors — professional photographers, visual artists, Wikimedians, and communication specialists — who are carefully reviewing every photo to help us select the most outstanding images of nature from around the world in 2025.

Get to know our jurors behind the lens!

⚖️ Osama Silwadi (Palestine) is a photojournalist, visual storyteller, archivist, and folklorist. He started his professional career in 1991. During the first Palestinian Intifada, he faced difficulties and challenges and was in danger as he worked in the conflict areas. In October 2006, Osama was seriously injured by a stray bullet during a march in the center of Ramallah, which resulted in paralysis of the lower limbs. Silwadi has won titles inspired by his work in documenting the Palestinian heritage, including “The Eye of Palestine” and the “Palestinian Heritage Documenter”. Osama was the international jury member of the previous WLE editions (2020–2024).

⚖️Bijay Chaurasia (Nepal) is a travel photographer and long-time Wikimedia contributor passionate about visual storytelling. Active since 2014, he has captured Nepal’s rich natural and cultural heritage through his lens and shared it widely on Wikimedia Commons. Bijay has served as a jury member for international photo contests such as Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Loves Earth, and Wiki Loves Food, and as the Deputy General Secretary of the Maithili Wikimedians User Group, he continues to lead and document outreach programs that connect creativity with open knowledge. Bijay was the international jury member of the previous WLE editions (2023–2024).

⚖️Lloyd Ericson C. Rodriguez (Philippines) is a Biological Sciences major who has completed his academic requirements for a Master’s degree in Educational Management. He brings together his passions for education, photography, and writing. Since 2016, he has gained recognition in national and international competitions — his work has earned awards in peace-themed, environmental, documentary, and travel photography contests, and many of his photos have been published and exhibited worldwide. This year, one of his photographs was chosen from thousands of global entries as one of only 75 works featured in the third edition of the In Colors Project in Porto, Portugal. His essay on youth participation in democracy was also published by the ASEAN Youth Forum. Now a Secondary School Teacher III, Rodriguez mentors young writers and photojournalists while organizing writing and photography workshops and events. This marks his second time serving as a jury member for Wiki Loves Earth International.

⚖️Habib Mhenni (Tunisia) has been a Wikimedian since 2010, an Admin on Wikimedia Commons, and a jury member of many international Wiki Loves contests over the years. This marks his second time serving as a jury member for Wiki Loves Earth International.

⚖️Elena-Tatiana Chiș (Romania) is an architect working in restoration and interior design in France. Part-time freelance graphic designer, passionate about photography (landscape and architecture), monuments, and travel. She had some photos presented in different exhibitions, some of them published in architectural magazines and books, web articles (UNESCO), calendars (2013 KLM Social Calendar), etc. She discovered Wiki in 2016 through the Wiki Loves Monuments contest. That year, she was a winner in the top 10 nationally in the following countries: 1st and 5th place in Morocco, 3rd place in Peru, 3rd and 4th place in Tunisia. Also, one of the Wiki Loves Monuments coordinators in Romania (2018–2020). One of the members of the Wikimedians of Romania and Moldova User Group since 2018. Elena-Tatiana was the international jury member of the previous WLE editions in 2020 and 2024.

⚖️Ajeigbe Rukayat (Nigeria) is a certified trainer of Reading Wikipedia in the Classroom Program, an ambassador for movement charters in the Movement Charter Drafting Committee (MCDC), and a Kiwix ambassador, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) Community Support Fund Committee 2022/2023, among others. She has also participated in and co-facilities various Wikimedia projects such as the Wikimedia Awareness Program in Osun State, Wiki4HumanRight Campaign in Osun State 2023, Wiki Loves Earth 2023, Wiki Loves Africa 2023, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos (WPWP), Wikidata (media personalities in Nigeria), WikiGLAM Awareness for Libraries and Librarians in Kwara, Wikidata for Libraries and Librarians in Nigeria, and 1lib1ref in Kwara 2022. This marks her second time serving as a jury member for Wiki Loves Earth International.

⚖️Johan Jönsson (Sweden) began editing Wikimedia wikis in 2004 and has primarily been active on the Swedish Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. He has also spent significant time trying to educate the Swedish public about the wikis and how they work. His book Wikipedia inifrån contains a chapter on how photos used in Wikipedia relate to the neutral point of view. He’s a previous member of the Swedish Wiki Loves Monuments jury.

⚖️Rakesh Baro (India) is an award-winning photographer and former computer science engineer based in Canada. After leaving a successful IT career to follow his passion, he has made his mark in the world of photography. His work has earned global recognition, including the IPA Color Nature Award and OnePlus Photo of the Year (2022), and has been featured by National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian, eBird, Nature InFocus, Wild Karnataka, Times UK, The Telegraph, Canadian Geographic, and 500px.

⚖️Inessa Yurovskih (Kazakhstan) is a professional photographer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in portrait, family, and documentary photography in the lifestyle genre. She is a member of the Eurasian Photographers Association, the League of Professional Photographers, and ART Portrait. Inessa holds the V IAAP (Virtuoso) distinction from the International Association of Art Photographers and has received multiple FIAP and IAAP international awards. Her works have been exhibited and published in international magazines such as Moveux, Taurus, Turn-Off, Vida, and Photohouse. As a photographer, she focuses on capturing genuine human emotion and natural beauty through light and atmosphere.

⚖️Suzanna Tymochko (Ukraine) is a communications specialist at the NGO “Ukrainian Ecostations Network”, where she develops conservation projects and communication initiatives. In her free time, she travels and photographs, exploring the beauty and history of both well-known and hidden corners of Ukraine. She uses her photos for work purposes and to promote sustainable tourism, nature-based solutions, and biodiversity conservation. In 2020, she served on the Ukrainian jury of Wiki Loves Earth in the special category “Best Video”.

⚖️Jophel Botero Ybiosa (Philippines) is a world-class and multi-award-winning visual artist with more than 500 local and international honors. Some of his historic achievements are the following: First Filipino to win a 1st Prize in the Best Art Awards, First Filipino to win a Gold Award in New York Photo Fair, First Filipino Gold Medalist in World Art Camp Olympiad, First Filipino Gold Medalist in Southeast Asia Photo Circuit, First Filipino Grand Prize Winner in ASEAN-Korea Multimedia Competition and Two-time Best Photograph Winner in Global Festival Photography Competition. Ybiosa is an 11-time Ani ng Dangal Awardee for Visual Arts (National Commission for Culture and the Arts), Bagong Bayani Awardee for Culture and the Arts, Go Negosyo Inspiring Balik-bayan Creative Artist, an Outstanding Alumnus for Arts and Culture (Culiat High School), and Notable Alumni Awardee for Visual Arts (Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Communication). He is the Founder of an award-winning arts and advocacy group – the Team Juan Makasining (2017 Asia-Pacific Excellence Awardee for Outstanding Arts and Advocacy Organization), and works as a Master Photographer at Princess Cruise Lines, and has served as a Special Lecturer at Polytechnic University of the Philippines and as a Global Photo Show Program Host. He ́is the Captain of the World Photographic Cup Philippine Team and was recently appointed to the New York Photography Awards and Global Photography Awards Grand Jury. Other significant accomplishments are the following: Outstanding Achievement Award in International Color Awards 2025, Platinum Winner in London Photography Awards 2025, Gold Winner in European Photography Awards 2025, Most Creative Award and Bronze Winner in Singapore International Art Contest 2025, 2nd Place Winner in World Art Awards 2025, Global Photographic Union Gold Medalist in Greek Photographic Circuit 2025, etc. His artistic works have been exhibited and recognized in the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and across Asia.

⚖️Elisabeth Damaris Fingkreuw (Indonesia) actively works as a photographer and videographer for various campus and community events, and focuses on documentation, visual storytelling, and human-interest photography. She is an undergraduate Student at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (Institut Seni Indonesia – ISI), Major in Film and Television Production. She also served as a photography competition judge in Indonesia. Her achievements and recognitions: 1st Place, Film Competition for Teachers’ Day (PGRI) in West Java, Best Actress Award, Local Film Festival – 3rd Place, International Sustainable Film Festival, Film Nominee, Lift-Off Film Festival, United Kingdom. Elisabeth aims to contribute by appreciating the visual works of young creators and encouraging them to tell meaningful stories through photography that carry strong social messages.

⚖️Jhuma Datta (India) is an acclaimed professional photographer with experience of over a decade. Jhuma is a globe-trotting storyteller who weaves the essence of nature and humanity through her lens. As a dedicated contributor to Wikimedia and a Conservationist, she leverages her craft to inspire and educate. With exhibitions worldwide and a published coffee table book, Jhuma’s work embodies her passion for capturing the beauty and complexity of our world.

The evaluation phase is officially underway — and in just one month, we’ll be announcing this year’s winners. Stay tuned!

From September 26–28, the regional Wikimedia community gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece for the Central and Eastern European Meeting 2025!

The program included a session on the Wiki Loves Earth International, presented by Olesia Lukaniuk, the project’s manager of the contest.

The talk, titled “Deeper Storytelling Beyond Just Beauty”, explored how photographers capture not only stunning nature shots but also the stories and connections behind them.

The inspiring stories shared during the session that reminds us that behind every photo lies courage, patience, and a deep respect for our planet:

1. Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia – a challenging jungle journey ending in a misty, breathtaking view symbolizing nature’s resilience.
2. Northern Negros Natural Park,
the Philippines – a five-year search rewarded by a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with this elusive species.
3. Lac Radès Méliane, Tunisia – a reminder of the beauty and biodiversity found across North Africa’s protected landscapes.
4. Omoljica, Serbia – showcasing local photographers’ dedication to capturing the hidden gems of their natural heritage.
5. Lake Vänern Archipelago, Sweden – a single perfect millisecond captured — a moment of spiritual connection between photographer and wildlife.
6. Greto del torrente Scrivia, Italy – a humorous adventure of perseverance and clumsiness that ended with a perfect shot.
7. Havel, Germany – a fleeting instant of light and life, reminding us how beauty often goes unnoticed.
8. Isole Svalbard, Svalbard – a rare encounter in freezing silence, showing that even in harshest cold, life endures.
9. Puglia, Lecce, Italy – a story of ecological loss and hope as ancient olive trees show signs of resilience.
10. Lake Burdur, Turkey – a photo capturing a lake disappearing due to climate change — a warning to protect what remains.
11.  Azov–Syvash National Nature Park in Kherson oblast and Mangup Kale in Crimea, Ukraine – images from nature reserves under occupation, preserving memory and raising awareness amid war.

In the end the audience took part in the WLE quiz with a first place winner!

• Check out the presentation slides: https://w.wiki/FhVu
•  Check out the recording of the session: https://bit.ly/4nif6P0

As of today, 42 countries and territories have submitted their local winners — with just a few more to come.

The international jury team is almost complete — stay tuned for the announcement!

• Check out the page with the announced local winning images and videos, and enjoy the stunning views: https://w.wiki/Evr8

Who will make it to the final top 20? Share your guesses in the comments!

Feast your eyes on breathtaking landscapes and adorable macro shots from Uzbekistan, Nepal, the Czech Republic, Kyrgyzstan, and Benin — the very first local winners of Wiki Loves Earth 2025!

By September 1, we expect the full collection of winning images and videos from all 55 participating countries and territories.

Check them all on the page: https://w.wiki/EcWW

On 7 August, during the Wikimania 2025 conference in Nairobi, the Wiki Loves Earth community meetup took place!

Organizers from Germany, Malta, Ghana, Italy, and India, together with the international organizer, spent a valuable and inspiring time together.

We enjoyed a warm round of introductions, shared the latest contest updates, and exchanged useful tips on organizing the competition. Participants also picked up WLE postcards and stickers as a little keepsake.

A big thank-you to everyone who joined — we are already looking forward to the next time we connect!