Big, varied and home to millions, be it people or wildlife: Essex is a fertile hunting ground for photographers seeking to capture that perfect picture. So, be inspired by our county's wonderful wildlife and wild places, and compete via the following six categories:

Smart Work

Most of us now have a classy camera in our pocket. Show us just how upwardly mobile you can be by submitting images of wildlife snapped on your smart phone. A call of nature with a difference!

Gardeners' world

Pictures must be taken in your Essex garden, be it big or small, rural or urban.

A wildlife motion picture

No, not a movie - we want your action shots! Anything that shows nature on the move or animated wildlife behaviour: flying birds, boxing hares, skulking foxes...

Nature's funny side

Our judging panel is always up for a laugh - see if your picture(s) of amusing wildlife antics, poses and plumage can be the joker picked out of the pack.

EWT to a Tee

Images must be taken at an Essex Wildlife Trust site - with 87 nature reserves, 2 nature parks and 11 visitor centres, there is plenty of scope. Wildlife, people or landscapes, it's up to you...

Young blood

Entry is for children, aged 6-14, only: images of any Essex wildlife or wild place.

Individual entrants 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. Images must have been taken in Essex, in 2018.

Please email your entries individually to photographycompetition@essexwt.org.uk, making it clear which category each image is entered for, and include your name and where you come from. Please ensure that each image is between 1-4 MB in size.

The competition will run until 30 November 2018, with prize-winners announced in 2019 and a prize-giving event held soon afterwards at an Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre.

A panel of judges will choose six category runners-up, and one overall winner. The overall winner will receive £200 and a trophy, with each category winner receiving a shield and each runner-up a certificate. 

The photography competition is kindly sponsored by ACL (Adult Community Learning), part of Essex County Council, the largest providers of adult learning courses in Essex.