Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
| Deadline: March 27th, 2009 |
The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is beginning its annual search for the best and most astonishing images from around the world, whether they come from the wildest places on Earth or urban gardens. With the bar being raised each year, the 2009 competition promises to be bigger and more inspiring than ever before.
‘This is the greatest and most prestigious competition for wildlife photographers anywhere in the world. It raises the profile of wildlife photography and provokes a wider awareness of wildlife conservation. It is not just professionals who are successful – amateurs of all ages have won awards in the competition many times. In recent years the judges have been particularly impressed by the standard of images being produced by many young people.’ Mark Carwardine (Chairman of the judges)
The winning photographer will be presented with £10,000 at an awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum, London, in October. Each category winner receives £500 and every runner-up £250. Special Award winners receive £1,000.
Info:
online entry fee: £20
postal entry fee: £27 (CDs only)
closing date for online entries: Friday 27 March 2009
Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year
If you are 17 years or younger, this is the competition for you. You can enter pictures of any wild animals, plants or landscapes. The judges will be looking for original, beautiful or striking shots rather than rare or exotic subjects. Creatures or places close to home that you know well or have easy access to may be your best subjects.
The three categories are: 10 years and under, 11–14 years, 15–17 years
The winning photographer will receive £500 and a day out with a well-known wildlife photographer. Category winners will receive £250 and runners up £100.
Adult categories
You can enter up to three digital images or scans of transparencies in each of the following categories.
1. Animals in Their Environment
Images in this category must show how the animal fits into its natural home and convey a sense of place. Remember, the environment is as important a part of the picture as the animal itself, allowing you to tell a story and reveal more about your subject.
2. Behaviour: Birds
3. Behaviour: Mammals
4. Behaviour: All Other Animals
Images must capture a memorable, unusual or interesting behaviour. It is crucial to show genuine behaviour (just looking or sitting isn’t enough). Judges will look for images with an aesthetic appeal, a unique interest value and dramatic action.
5. The Underwater World
Images must feature marine or freshwater life taken under water. A combination of interest value and aesthetic appeal is just as important underwater as on land. See a list of top ten tips (PDF 1.5MB) for underwater photographers from Project AWARE
6. Animal Portraits
Portraits should capture the unique character or spirit of the subject. Images should be imaginative and convey a sense of intimacy and immediacy.
7. In Praise of Plants
Pictures should capture the beauty, diversity and importance of plant life. The judges will be looking for artistic merit rather than a simple scientific record.
8. Urban and Garden Wildlife
Look for nature on your doorstep, and capture images that are unusual, poignant, beautiful or striking compositions of wild animals or plants in urban or suburban settings. Judges will be looking for uncommonly good images of common subjects.
9. Nature in Black and White
The judges will be looking for skilful use of the black and white medium, where pure graphic quality and a well composed image can often increase the intensity. Sepia tone images are allowed. The subject can be any wild landscape, animal, plant or other living organism.
10. Creative Visions of Nature
Photographs should reveal new ways of seeing natural subjects or scenes, conveying an imaginative, unique or abstract view of wildlife or wild places. Realism takes a back seat in this category – the judges will be looking for artistic vision and true originality. Let your imagination run wild.
11. Wild Places
Images should show scenes that are truly wild and awe-inspiring. But there is much more to it than a breathtaking landscape – the judges will be looking for beautiful light, a true feeling of wilderness and a sense of awe.
Special Awards
Eric Hosking Award
This award encourages and rewards the talents of young photographers aged 18–26. You must submit a portfolio of 10 images you think represents your very best work. Judges will choose five or more images for the winning portfolio.
Prize: £1,000
Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife
This highly important award raises our awareness of endangered species through photographic excellence. The images must be memorable and capture the unique character or spirit of the subject.
Species photographed must be categorised in the 2008 IUCN Red List as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened at an international or national level (if the latter, please supply details).
Prize: £1,000
One Earth Award
Photography plays a critical role in conservation, and this award seeks to highlight conservation issues or actions. Don’t rely on the shock value of your subject – the judges will be looking for genuine photographic merit. Remember to focus on positive messages as well as negative ones. Images can be graphic or symbolic, but must be thought provoking, memorable and encourage respect or concern for our natural world.
Prize: £1,000
Judges
Mark Carwardine (Chair) zoologist, writer and photographer
Jack Dykinga, landscape photographer
Laurent Geslin, photographer
Chris Gomersall, wildlife photographer
Orsolya Haarberg, nature photographer
Josef (Sepp) Hackhofer, nature photographer
Tim Harris, manager, nature and garden collections, Photoshot
Tony Heald, wildlife photographer
Rosamund Kidman Cox, editor and writer
Jan-Peter Lahall, photographer
Tor McIntosh, picture editor
Vincent Munier, nature photographer
Erik Sampers, photo director, Terre Sauvage
Brian Skerry, marine wildlife photojournalist
Sophie Stafford, editor, BBC Wildlife Magazine
