Over 99% of all animal species are invertebrates (animals without a backbone). These comprise over 30 major animal groups and more than 5 million species!

To raise awareness of the wonderful world of invertebrates, the Australian Museum is holding the photographic competition, Up Close & Spineless. The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers and has four entry categories: Primary School, Secondary School, Open and Professional.

All you have to do is choose the category that's right for you, then start taking photos and submit them by the due date. Winners will each receive a voucher for $600 to spend on photographic supplies.

Before entering, please read the information provided and the terms and conditions of entry.

What are invertebrates?

Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. They include insects, crustaceans, spiders, coral, cockroaches, caterpillars. Inverterbrates are found in all aquatic and terrestrial environments and range in size from microscopic animals to giant squids.

If you have trouble identifying the animal(s) in your photos please contact the Australian Museum's Search & Discover online enquiry service.

How do I enter?

• Take a photo that includes an invertebrate.
• Think of a title for each photograph and write 50 words describing the subject and how the photo was taken.
• Go to the entry forms to submit your photograph online at a maximum file size of 5MB.
• Pay the relevant fee for your category ($10 for School categories, $15 for Open and Professional).

How will the photos be judged?

Judging criteria will be based upon:

• interesting animal behaviour
• aesthetics
• composition
• unusual or rare species
• high technical standards such as sharpness and correct exposure

Conditions of entry

• All entries must be supplied online with a maximum size of 5MB for each image.
• One photograph is allowed for each entry.
• The photograph must include at least one invertebrate (an animal without a backbone).
• Each photograph must be accompanied by a title and approximately 50 words describing the photograph and the moment in which it was taken. This text must be written by the photographer. The Museum may edit this as necessary for publication.
• A valid payment of $10 (Primary School and Secondary School categories) or $15 (Open and Professional categories) must be received for an entry to be accepted in the Up Close & Spineless Competition.
• The photograph must be taken by the person whose name appears on the registration form.
• The competition is open to anyone including staff of the Australian Museum.
• Entries must be received by close of business on the advertised closing date.
• Photographs that have been digitally manipulated or altered will not be accepted. Minor alterations such as cropping and adjusting brightness or contrast are the only exceptions to this rule. 
• A panel of judges selected by the Australian Museum will choose the winners and finalists. All decisions made on all matters relating to the competition will remain confidential and will be final. No correspondence will be entered into concerning the competition judging and organisation.
• There will be one winner in each of the four stipulated categories: Primary School, Secondary School, Open, and Professional. The winner of each category will win a photographic voucher to the value of $600. There will be one Highly Commended award in each of the four stipulated categories. The winners of the Highly Commended awards will each receive a one-year subscription to Explore magazine.
• Any photographer whose work is judged as Winner, Highly Commended or Finalist will be notified by mail. For these works, the images, names and related text will be published on the Museum's website and included in the Up Close & Spineless exhibition held at the Museum.
• Personal details collected on this form will only be used for the purposes of this competition and related promotion. Your private information will not be given to any individual or organisation other than the Australian Museum.
• The Australian Museum may use images (except those in the Professional category) for Museum publications. Images from any category may also be used in all media for promotional purposes associated with this and any future Up Close & Spineless competitions. Copyright and intellectual property of the images remains the property of the photographer.
• All finalists' images will be displayed on the Australian Museum website with full acknowledgements for each photographer.