The deadline for the International Garden Photographer of the Year Competition is upcoming: January 31, 2009.
I love photo competitions and whenever I spot one, I’m considering and I’ll share the interesting ones here (even though I know that creates more competition ~ oh well.).
Let’s consider this nature photo contest.
Who can enter?
This competition is open to everyone, amateurs and professionals alike. Entries are welcome from any country in the world. There are no restrictions on the type of camera you use, or the techniques you use to produce your final image. There are many categories: Plant Portraits, Garden Views, Wildlife in the Garden, People in the Garden, The Edible Garden, Trees and World Botanic Gardens.
You can either send in individual photographs or photo portfolios.
Why entering?
Besides the obvious spur to take your art to the next level, entering this competition has a bunch of benefits which might be of interest.
Publicity: All of the finalist and winners’ photographs are will be displayed in a special exhibition in London’s Royal Botanical Gardens. That means sending your work to the UK. This might be a good practice run for when you get international clients. From experience, to become good at shipping artwork to trek around the globe is a huge learning curve, and it’s not cheap.
Beyond the Gallery: Prize Money, Critique, Workshops, Book & More
Don’t be discouraged as this is kind of an interesting competition. It’s emphasis is on its great cash and equipment prizes, but also on how you can use your competition entry to improve your photography.
The overall best image prize is £5000, the overall best portfolio prize is £3000 and there are tons of prizes of £500 and £250. And that’s just the money… You’ll have a chance to receive a personal critique of your own competition entry! ( ~ Very cool; I like this.)
If you happen to live in London, you’re double in luck, as everyone who enters the competition will receive free entry into London’s Royal Botanical Gardens (otherwise 13 pounds a head) on the day of exhibition party, where the judges will offer feedback on your artwork. So, bring your portfolio along if you want a detailed reviewed. Exact date of this ‘meet the jury’ date to be announced.
As well, for out of town-ers like myself, the jury will offer person feedback by email to 200 others competition contestants by their selection.
Last but not least, two of the world’s top professional garden photographers, Andrew Lawson and Clive Nichols, will invite up to 50 entrants – who are not winners, finalists or commended – to a free workshop day in England where they will get expert hands-on tuition. Andrew and Clive will choose those entrants whose photographs capture their interest because they are promising, interesting or quirky. This will take place in the summer of 2009. (~ I wanna go!)
Anyone from the 50 invited by Andrew and Clive who cannot attend the workshop can choose instead to receive a copy of the book ‘Better Plant and Garden Photography’ to be published Sept 2009. (~ That’s good too. I like it.)
‘Take Action’ – Information
Dates:
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2009
Meet the Jury-day: to be specified date in May or June 2009
Exhibition Date: May 2009.
Money:
Registration Fee: £10 (can pay in British Pounds, Euros, or US Dollars)
Overview of Photo Competition Prizes: https://www.igpoty.com/Prizes.asp?parent=competition
Registration:
igpoty.com
