A celebration of bird photography in service of children who need us most.
Every great photograph begins with someone who refused to look away.
So does Knowing Hope.
Wings of Hope is our first annual bird photography contest, a fundraiser that brings together two communities with something important in common: people who pay close attention to the world around them, and people who believe that attention should lead to action.
Photographers of all levels are invited to submit their finest bird images across four categories. Expert judges will select winners. Prizes will be awarded to the top photographer in each category and division. And every dollar raised will fund medical care for vulnerable children in Asia who would otherwise go without.
A personal note from Cindy:
Wings of Hope has a name for a reason.
Hope, the child whose survival in 2014 became the foundation of this organization, is now twelve years old, thriving, and, as it turns out, a budding bird photographer.
She didn’t get that from me. Though we now share moments in the field, cameras in hand, her gift was born from something different, a patience and a quiet attentiveness to the world around her. I’ve come to believe those same qualities, the ability to see what others overlook, and the courage to refuse to look away, are exactly what it takes to fight for the child no one else is fighting for.
When we decided to launch a bird photography contest as a fundraiser for the children Knowing Hope serves, naming it Wings of Hope wasn’t a branding decision. It was the only name that made sense.
Cindy Morrison, Founder
European robin, photographed by Hope Morrison November 2025
“the ability to see what others overlook”
Why It Matters:
“the courage to refuse to look away”
The children Knowing Hope serves are living with chronic and catastrophic illness in some of the most under-resourced communities in Asia. Some are orphans. Many come from families who love them but cannot afford to keep them alive.
Your entry fee funds their care directly.
- $50 helps provide a blood transfusion for a child
- $75 helps provide a transfusion and a month of chelation medicine
- $100 helps provide chemotherapy for a child
- $125 helps provide a dose of surfactant for a premature baby
A photograph. An entry fee. A child who gets care they would not otherwise receive.
You’ll be taken to our secure submission page to select your categories, pay your entry fee, and upload your photographs.
Entries start at $15.
The Categories:
Photographers of all levels are invited to submit across four categories, judged by recognized experts in bird and nature photography.
Birds in Flight Birds in motion, from takeoff to landing, soaring, hovering, or diving.
Perched & Portrait Birds at rest, emphasizing character, detail, plumage, or expression.
Behavior & Interaction Birds feeding, nesting, courting, bathing, or engaged in any natural behavior.
Juvenile & Nesting Chicks, fledglings, eggs, nest building – any image focused on young birds or early life.
Two divisions:
Anyone who loves photographing birds can enter.
A novice division is for photographers who haven’t sold prints, won photography awards, or worked professionally as a photographer.
An advanced division is for photographers with professional experience, as well as for those who have placed in other photography contests or sold their work.
Photographers should select the division that best reflects their experience at the time of entry.
Entry Fees:
$15 for 1 photo • $30 for 2 photos • $40 for 3 photos • $50 for 4 photos.
You may submit up to 4 photos per entry. Photos may be entered in any combination of categories. You do not need to enter all four categories.
Contest Guidelines:
Open to photographers 16 years and older
Up to 10 entries per photographer
Each entry may include 1–4 photographs
Photographs may be entered in any combination of categories, including multiple photographs in the same category
AI-generated images are not permitted
Basic photographic adjustments are allowed, but photographs may not have elements added, removed, or substantially altered
All photographs must be the entrant’s original work
Image Rights:
Photographers retain full copyright of their submitted images. By entering, participants grant Knowing Hope Inc. a non-exclusive, worldwide license to reproduce, display, and use submitted images for promotional and fundraising purposes, with photographer credit.
Prizes:
Eight category/division winners will receive prizes. Available prizes include a Cotton Carrier harness, Vortex binoculars, a Delkin CFexpress 128GB Type B memory card, a Wimberley Monogimbal Head, a Think Tank camera backpack, and a 1-year KelbyOne Pro Membership.
Our Judges:
Entries will be judged by our three talented judges: Duade Paton, Marina Scarr, and David Lindo.
Duade Paton is an Australian bird photographer, educator, and YouTube creator who is passionate about inspiring others to enjoy and photograph birds. He is a proud member of BirdLife Australia and contributes photography to the organization’s magazine.
Marina Scarr is an award-winning nature photographer, moderator on @best_birds_of_ig, and certified Florida Master Naturalist based in Sarasota, Florida. She is known for her striking avian photography, with images published in National Wildlife, Nature’s Best Photography, and Living Bird.
David Lindo is The Urban Birder – a British broadcaster, author, and speaker known for engaging city dwellers around the world with nature through birds. He is a judge for the Bird Photographer of the Year and The British Wildlife Photography Awards, and was recently named the 7th most influential person in wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Each photograph will be evaluated on a 1–5 scale in the following areas:
Technical Quality: Sharpness, exposure, focus, and post-processing quality
Composition & Artistic Merit: Framing, balance, and visual storytelling
Moment & Impact: Uniqueness of behavior and emotional or storytelling power
Overall Impression: Final holistic score of the image as a whole
We are incredibly grateful for Duade, Marina, and David’s willingness to share their expertise and serve as judges.
Key Dates:
| Entries opened | August 1, 2026 |
| Submission deadline | September 28, 2026 |
| Winners announced | November 1–14, 2026 |
How to Enter:
1. Prepare your photographs
Review the contest categories and have your photographs ready to upload as a JPEG or PNG. Maximum file size: 50MB per image.
2. Complete your entry on EntryThingy by clicking Enter the Wings of Hope Photography Contest button
Create a free EntryThingy account or log in, then follow the instructions to upload your photographs, select a category for each photograph, and complete the required information.
3. Review, submit & pay
Preview your entry to make sure everything is correct. Click Submit This Entry, then complete your entry fee payment. Your entry is complete once payment has been processed and your status shows “Submitted.”
You’ll be taken to our secure submission page to select your categories, pay your entry fee, and upload your photographs.
Our Prize Sponsors:
We are grateful to the generous organizations that have donated prizes to support Wings of Hope.
Be a Sponsor:
We’re looking for mission-aligned sponsors who want to make a meaningful impact. Sponsorship puts your brand alongside wildlife photography, children’s healthcare, and a founder story that people remember. Every sponsorship helps fund life-changing care for children in need.
We’d love to talk. Sponsorship packages can be tailored to your goals and budget.
Entries are now open!
Submit your best bird photograph by September 28, 2026 and make a difference in the life of a child.
Want to support the children Knowing Hope serves directly? Every gift makes a difference.
Knowing Hope Inc.
PO Box 72, Andover, MA 01810
Tax ID 47-3315850
info@knowinghope.org
Knowing Hope, one life at a time.
