Very soon, on March 31, the Russian Geographical Society will close the submissions for the XII Photo Contest «The Most Beautiful Country». The exciting moment of choosing the best pictures of this year is getting closer. But how do you take the most amazing shot that will bring victory? More than 126,000 viewers of online broadcasts and participants of the free educational program of the RGS photo contest in Russian cities learned the answer to this question.
Thanks to the RGS, everyone got the opportunity to get acquainted with the experience of successful photographers — this year, for the second time, an educational program was organized in the format of master classes and portfolio reviews. Three cities (St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Vladivostok), six photo experts, and a limitless space for inspiration and improvement of your skills!
The experience of the RGS photo contest proves that there are no impossible tasks for a photographer, the main thing is the desire for success. Even if it’s about capturing Russia’s rarest animal, the snow leopard.
«I like to set myself very difficult tasks in life and solve them. I always like to do things that no one has done before,» admitted Vyacheslav Zametnya, the author of one of the master classes in St. Petersburg, winner of the prize in the «Wild Animals» category and the People’s Choice of the 11th photo contest. The victory was brought to him by an amazing picture of a snow leopard named Akkai, taken on the Chikhachev Ridge. The visitors learned how this incredible shot was created and were inspired by the example of a photographer who is not afraid of difficulties and obstacles.
Of course, not everyone can travel to the far corners of the country to see all the richness of the pristine nature. Fortunately, there are such enthusiasts as Ilya Trukhanov, traveler and photographer, winner of the photo contest of the RGS. For the participants of the educational program, he’d become a guide to the incredible world of the Commander Islands.
The master class is being conducted by Vyacheslav Zametnya. Photo: RGS press service
But there are also things that are available to everyone today. For example, a smartphone with a camera that allows you to embody the creative idea of a photographer. Author of the master class in Yekaterinburg, editor-in-chief of Prophotos.ru, a member of the expert commission of «The Most Beautiful Country» Georgy Politsarnov, noted:
«You can shoot on anything. The main thing is to understand the capabilities of your equipment and adapt to it. Start shooting now with what you have.»
Sergei Semenov, a member of the expert commission of the contest, CEO and leading photographer of the world-famous AirPano project, wished the participants to travel, broaden their horizons, fill their lives with emotions, and remember that there is always room for a little adventure — even on a perfectly planned trip.
Landscape astrophotography can provide a new and interesting experience, the nuances of which were described by multiple finalist of «The Most Beautiful Country» Anton Komlev.
«At night, we can’t see well, our vision turns black and white, and we can’t distinguish between faint, dim objects. When we look at the starry sky, we see one picture, but when we take pictures, we get a completely different result,» said the author of the master class held in Vladivostok.
In this city, visitors to the events of the educational program also got acquainted with the art of «reading» and understanding the forest together with the winner of the photo contest of the RGS, wildlife photographer, photojournalist of the TASS news agency in the Far Eastern Federal District, Yuri Smityuk.
«Photographing nature is about the same as covering news. You can’t just come to the forest and take a picture of someone, because not every forest and not everywhere has animals. They need to be found, seen, identified, and generally understood by the biotope of the forest,» he stressed.
The master class is being conducted by Georgy Politsarnov. Photo: RGS press service
The positive feedback from the participants in the educational program events is a reason to develop this format in the future.
«I think this is a great experience and help for every beginner or already experienced photographer. Knowledge and competent assessment help you get better,» student Vsevolod Dobrotvorsky, a participant in the educational program, shared his impressions.
The master class is being conducted by Sergei Semenov. Photo: RGS press service
The submissions for the XII Photo Contest «The Most Beautiful Country» will close on March 31, 2026. After that, the process of selecting the finalists will begin, and then the jury will select the winners. The authors of the best pictures in the main categories will receive a prize of 250,000 rubles. Special prizes from the project’s partners and a unique gift for the finalists (a photo tour of Sailyugemsky National Park in August–September 2026) are also provided. The authors of the best works of the children’s contest will be awarded prizes in the amount of 100,000 rubles.
The works are accepted on the websites photo.rgo.ru and photo-children.rgo.ru .
The master class is being conducted by Yuri Smityuk. Photo: RGS press service