Photo: Andrew Neal - Pattern & Texture
Photography Competition 2020
The Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020
The Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020 is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted images.
Photography is a truly special way of allowing people to connect with nature. It is at the heart of inspiring a county full of people to experience, care about and protect our wildlife and wild places for the future. With such a diverse county at our fingertips, there’s definitely no shortage of places and wildlife to amaze.
Photo: David Blackwell
A Wildlife Motion Picture
Nature is contantly on the go, from kestrels hovering above their unsuspecting prey to young fox cubs play fighting in spring. Send us your best shots capturing movement within the natural world.
Photo: Lily Chambers
Captivating Colours (NEW)
Rainbows have been a symbol of hope this year so we want to celebrate all of the wonderful colours in nature, whether it be the electric blue of a kingfisher wing or the impressive purple of blooming heather; portray Essex in all of its technicoloured glory.
Photo: Rosemary McKerrell
Gardener’s World
Many of us have been spending more time appreciating the greener spaces close to home this year. Did you have any unexpected visitors or interesting wildlife interactions? Share the images taken in your Essex garden this year.
Photo: Nigel Matthews
Pattern and Texture
Intricate feather pattens to the prickly spines on a teasel plant, nature is fascinating close-up. For this category, get creative and take a closer look at the patterns and textures of the natural world.
Photo: Luke Massey/2020VISION
Wilder Essex (NEW)
From wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands to wild urban landscapes, Essex is privileged to have a rich variety of habitats and wildlife. We need everyone to realise the value of our wild county, so this category is for images that portray the unique beauty and diversity of Essex, be it rural or urban.
Photo: Thomas Rumsby
Young Blood
Are you aged between 6-16 and have a passion for wildlife photography? Then this is the category for you! Here at Essex Wildlife Trust, we want to inspire a lifelong love of nature and appreciating the natural world through the lens of a camera is the perfect start!
Competition details
The Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020 is now closed.
How to enter
The Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020 is open for entries from the 1st September 2020. The closing date for entries is midnight on 30th November 2020. No images will be accepted after the closing date. Winners will be announced in December and a prize-giving event held in 2021.
Entry is free but any donation to help support our local wildlife would be greatly appreciated!
We will contact you by email or telephone should your image be chosen as a winner, runner up or highly commended in December 2020.
We are unable to accept postal entries or entries via email.
Please give your images the best chance to win by reading the competition terms and conditions below.
If you encounter difficulties submitting your photographs, please email them to us including the required information stated on the webform.
Terms and conditions
Each Individual entrant can submit a maximum of three entries, distributed among the categories as they wish. No single image may be entered into more than one category. All images must have been taken in Essex, in 2020. Please ensure each image is no more than 5MB in size.
Entrants are required to provide their full name, email address and phone number. We request this personal data for the purpose of the administration of the photography competition. This data will be processed and stored in a secure manner and will only be kept for the duration of the Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020. We will store the data of the winners in order to make contact and to facilitate the award of prizes.
Entrants under the age of 16 years need to have consent of a parent or guardian to enter.
All images submitted to the 2020 Photography Competition may be used by Essex Wildlife Trust on their social media accounts, associated local, regional, national or international press releases and media, as well as on their website, publications, exhibitions and future promotional materials to promote the Trust’s work, unless specifically stated by the entrant. Copyright will always remain with the photographer and Essex Wildlife Trust will make every reasonable effort to ensure that name credits of entrants are reproduced on images published in online and printed publications.
All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of the subject (where necessary) and do not infringe the copyright of any third party. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.
The welfare of the wildlife subject is more important than the photograph itself. If entries are found to have evidence of undue disturbance or stress inflicted on wildlife in the process of taking the photograph, the entrant will be disqualified. Please avoid damaging habitat or disturbing wildlife in search of the perfect shot.
Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the promoter and accordingly the promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion. The entrant must agree that no liability shall attach to the promoter as a result thereof.
All information detailing how to enter this competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the entrant agrees to abide by these rules. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If you have any problems uploading your images or you have any further questions about the Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020, please email us.
Competition judges
A panel of judges will choose one winner, one runner-up and four highly commended images from each category. The overall winner will then be decided by a public vote which will open shortly after judging in December.
All images will be anonymous when being judged by our panel.
Competition prizes
Each category winner will recieve a copy of the 2022 Essex Wildlife Trust calendar which will feature their winning image. The overall winner of the Essex Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2020 will win £200!
Wildlife Photography Best Practice
Careful with flash
Animals are very sensitive to light and can be scared or temporarily blinded by a strong flash. If the light conditions aren’t good, a night vision camera is your best bet.
Don’t get too close
Animals are likely to get stressed and panic if you get too close to their home. They may even feel forced to abandon their location. This can have fatal consequences particularly if there is young. A license is necessary to photograph animals in certain circumstances.
Careful where you tread
Stick to designated paths or tracks. This will mean you are less likely to damage habitat or disturb vulnerable wildlife. You may be on a protected site such as an SSSI where the fauna and flora should not be disturbed.
Protected species
Make sure you know the protected status of a species you are photographing and the laws that protect them. Photographing some species during the breeding season can be seen as a criminal offence.
Don't use tape lures
Playing calls to birds, particularly on a nest, can disrupt their natural behaviour and put chicks at risk.
Always put the welfare of the wildlife first.
2019 Image Gallery
Photo: Adrian Galley
Photo: Peter Hewitt
Photo: Matthew Chapman
Photo: Dave Watts
Photo: David Blackwell
Photo: Kerri Webb
Photo: Michael Swailes
Photo: Barrie Tumbridge
Photo: Lee Woodcraft
Photo: Alan Leeks
Photo: Peter Clayton
Photo: Jo Vere
Photo: Brody Bell
Competition sponsor
Thank you to Adult Community Learning (ACL), one of the largest providers of adult courses in Essex and a corporate member of Essex Wildlife Trust since 2016, for sponsoring the 2020 competition.