| Copyright | If your image is short-listed you will be contacted and invited to grant permission for your image to be used to promote the Competition and exhibition only. For avoidance of doubt, no free usage of any photograph is permitted by International Garden Photographer of the Year, or any of its partners or sponsors outside the scope of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition and exhibition. There is no plan envisaged by International Garden Photographer of the Year, or any of its partners or sponsors, to create a general commercial archive of photographs entered into this competition. |
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| Eligibility | open to everyone, amateurs and professionals alike. |
| Entry fee | £10 for single image and £20 for portfolio |
The competition is 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.
The categories of the Competition are:
(a) Plant Portraits;
(b) Wildlife in the Garden;
(c) Garden Views;
(d) People in the Garden;
(e) Trees;
(f) World Botanic Gardens;
(g) The Edible Garden;
The judges will select around 100 finalists whose photographs will be printed to exhibition standard and planned to be shown at a major exhibition at Kew Gardens, London in the summer of 2009, with substantial press coverage. All finalists will receive an invitation to the private view. Details of this will be announced later in the year.
One finalist will win the title ‘Garden Photographer of the Year’ and an under 16 finalist will win ‘Young Garden Photographer of the Year’.
Each category will have a winner and two runner-up prizes. An additional prize will be awarded for the best portfolio and there will be two portfolio runners-up prizes.
Prizes:
Best overall Single Image*: £5,000 cash and the title “Garden Photographer of the Year”
Best overall Portfolio: £3,000 cash, £2,000 Calumet Photographic Vouchers, plus more than £1,000 worth of vouchers from Manfrotto, Kata and Visible Dust
Best in Category (eg ‘Plant Portraits’): £700 cash, plus more than £700 in Kata, Manfrotto and Visible Dust vouchers
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The competition costs £10 to enter. You can pay in British Pounds, Euros, or US Dollars.
As at 26.03.08 – £10 = €13 approx
As at 26.03.08 – £10 = $20 approx
(Note that the exchange rate applied will be that defined by the banking system; we do not have any control over this.)
First, you must choose which category fits your image best.
For £10 you can enter up to 4 photographs in one of the categories. If you wish to enter another category, then this costs an additional £10 for up to 4 photographs . You can enter as many photographs in as many categories as you like.
So you can, for example, buy 4 entries for ‘Plant Portraits’. You can then, if you wish, buy 4 more entries for ‘Plant Portraits’, or 4 more entries for a different category- it is entirely your decision.
Or you may choose to enter a portfolio of 6 themed photographs . This costs £20 per category entered. You can enter as many portfolios as you like.
So you can, for example, buy a portfolio entry for ‘Plant Portraits’. You can then, if you wish, buy a second portfolio entry for ‘Plant Portraits’, or a portfolio entry for a different category- it is entirely your decision.
As at 26.03.08 – £20 = €26 approx
As at 26.03.08 – £20 = $40 approx
Note that portflio photographs will not be judged as single images. They will only be judged as one of six themed photographs.
Preparing your Images
We recommend that you make your final decision on which photographs you are going to enter before you upload them to the competition.
You must have taken the picture on a camera that will enable good prints to be made from them for
the exhibition at Kew .This means that if your photograph is shortlisted, you will need to supply high quality jpeg images of around 1 megabyte as a minimum. More advanced users should aim to supply image files in 8bit TIFF format, with a filesize between 20-50 mb – this size would enable us to make larger prints if desired.
You can still be a winner with a small camera – commended pictures will also be shown in a special online gallery during 2009.
Digital manipulation by software such as Photoshop is allowed.
More information is here:
www.igpoty.com/competition.asp?parent=competition
Frequently asked questions — Amateur photography contests
Who can enter amateur photography contests?
Most amateur contests welcome non-professional photographers worldwide—hobbyists, students, and emerging creators. Many explicitly exclude those who earn primary income from photography to ensure a level playing field. Always verify age requirements and amateur-status definitions on the official contest page.
Are amateur photography contests free to enter?
Many are free or low-cost: entry fees typically range from $0–$25 per submission, with student discounts or early-bird rates often available. Fee status and discount tiers are confirmed in the Quick Facts section at the top of each contest page on PhotoCompete.
What prizes do amateur photography contests offer?
Prizes emphasize growth and exposure: cash awards range $100–$2,500, while non-monetary rewards include mentorship feedback, online feature spots, workshop scholarships, or entry credits to advanced contests. Even without large cash prizes, these contests offer valuable confidence-building opportunities.
How do I choose which amateur contest to enter?
Prioritize contests that match your current skill level and genre interests. Look for opportunities offering constructive feedback or educational components, confirm that professional photographers are excluded (if that matters to you), and review rights clauses—even amateur contests may request usage rights for promotional purposes.
Frequently asked questions — Animal photography contests
Who can enter animal photography contests?
Most animal contests welcome photographers worldwide, from hobbyists to professionals. Many prioritize ethical shooting practices and authentic animal behavior—review guidelines to confirm if your work aligns with wildlife conservation, pet photography, or artistic animal portrait focuses.
Are animal photography contests free to enter?
Some are free; many charge $10–$45 per image, with early-bird discounts or multi-entry bundles often available. Entry fees and deadline tiers are listed in the Quick Facts section at the top of each contest page on PhotoCompete.
What prizes do animal photography contests offer?
Prizes range from cash awards ($200–$20,000) to publication in nature magazines, exhibition features, professional gear, or donations to animal conservation projects. Recognition from respected wildlife organizations can amplify your impact and credibility in the animal photography community.
How do I choose which animal contest to enter?
Match your strongest animal images to the contest's focus—wildlife behavior, domestic pets, macro details, or conservation storytelling. Review past winners for style cues, verify ethical guidelines (no baiting or staging), and confirm technical specs like resolution and metadata requirements.
Frequently asked questions — Nature photography contests
Who can enter nature photography contests?
Most nature contests welcome photographers worldwide, from hobbyists to professionals. Many prioritize ethical shooting practices and environmental storytelling—review guidelines to confirm if your work aligns with conservation-focused or artistic missions.
Are nature photography contests free to enter?
Some are free; many charge $10–$40 per image, with early-bird discounts or bundle rates often available. Entry fees and deadline tiers are listed in the Quick Facts section at the top of each contest page on PhotoCompete.
What prizes do nature photography contests offer?
Prizes range from cash awards ($500–$15,000) to publication in nature magazines, exhibition features, professional gear, or donations to conservation projects. Recognition from respected environmental organizations can amplify your impact and visibility.
How do I choose which nature contest to enter?
Align your work with the contest's environmental mission or aesthetic focus. Review past winners for style cues, verify technical specs (resolution, metadata), and confirm ethical guidelines—many nature contests prohibit baiting, staging, or disruptive wildlife practices.
Frequently asked questions — International photography contests
Who can enter international photography contests?
Most international contests welcome photographers worldwide, regardless of nationality or experience level. Always verify eligibility on the official contest page—some restrict by age (18+), amateur/professional status, or thematic focus.
Are international photography contests free to enter?
Some are free; many charge $10–$50 per image, with early-bird discounts often available. Entry fees and deadline tiers are listed in the Quick Facts section at the top of each contest page on PhotoCompete.
What prizes do international photography contests offer?
Prizes range from cash awards ($500–$25,000) to gallery exhibitions, publication features, professional gear, and artist residencies. Prestigious awards like the Sony World Photography Awards or IPA carry significant industry recognition.
How do I choose which international contest to enter?
Align your strongest work with the contest theme and review past winners to gauge aesthetic preferences. Confirm technical specs (resolution, file format), check rights clauses carefully, and prioritize contests whose mission matches your artistic goals.