Competition Categories
These are the categories for the 2012 competition.
Animal Portraits
We are looking for an image that captures the character or spirit of the subject in an imaginative way. We want to be able to get a sense of the animal’s “personality” from the photograph. All species will be considered.
Animal Behaviour
Entries can show unusual, interesting, amusing or remarkable behaviour being exhibited, or depict something familiar in a new light. Show the judges something they don’t know or haven’t seen before, or invite them to look again at what they thought they already knew. Sponsored by Sparsholt College, Hampshire.
Urban Wildlife
Wherever we live, wildlife can be found alongside us in our towns and cities. We are looking for an original image that shows wild animals or plants within an urban or predominantly man-made environment.
Hidden Britain
Reveal to us the secret universe that is life on a small scale – a life that is all around us but rarely seen. This category is for invertebrate species only. Category sponsored by Buglife.
Coast and Marine
We are looking for an imaginative photograph that reveals the nature or behaviour of marine wildlife, or creates a sense of place or occasion. Marine and maritime species near the sea, underwater, at the sea shore and coastal zone only will be considered. Category sponsored by WWF.
Wild Woods
The judges will be looking for a winning image that celebrates the beauty and importance or sheer splendour of our British woods. Photographs must be obviously taken of or within woodland. Entries could be portraits of woodland wildlife, breathtaking wooded landscapes, seasonal scenes, intricate details of plants or show the relationships between species and habitats that occur within our woods and forests.There are plenty of fantastic photographs of woodland wildlife and seasonal landscapes full of mood and atmosphere waiting to be made. To find woods near you visit VisitWoods.org.uk.
Wildlife in my Backyard
Gardens represent a vital habitat for some of our most threatened species. Whether it is common or rare, we want to see stunning photos of wildlife in your garden, back yard, balcony, or any space where you, your friends or family do something to encourage nature. Category sponsored by the Countryside Council for Wales.
Habitat
We are looking for an imaginative and original image that powerfully portrays the importance of the environment and ecosystems that sustain the wildlife within them. This includes animals, plants and the relationships between them; for example a butterfly feeding on nectar or rooks roosting in a tree. Category sponsored by Countryside Jobs Service.
Living Landscape: Connectivity
Category sponsored by The Wildlife Trusts.
Many of our wildlife rich places are isolated and people are becoming more disconnected from the nature around them. Addressing these 'connectivity' issues is at the heart of The Wildlife Trusts recovery plan for nature, A Living Landscape. This category aims to encourage imaginative responses to capture this sense of connectivity or lack of it. Positive images illustrating how habitats, species, communities and individuals interconnect within urban and rural setting are encouraged.
Some typical (and not exclusive) examples:
- Bee species pollinating crops directly links wildlife with the economy
- Salt marshes acting as a buffer between land and seas
- Hedgerows play a part in keeping the countryside ‘stitched’ together
- Estuaries are the connection for freshwater species with marine life
- Rivers connecting streams to the sea
- Sensory connections: the sights and sounds of everyday nature
- Children playing in a meadow, part of a bigger habitat restoration scheme
- Close up of a wall or pavement, showing the life these physical connections harbour eg lichens, invertebrates
- Practical conservation volunteers at work, the birth of a new habitat where people come to connect with nature
- Delight at witnessing a grandchild’s wonderment during their first wildlife encounter
- School parties connecting within their local community green spaces
- Symbolic images that epitomize our connection with nature and our landscape
British Seasons
For this category we are looking for a stunning portfolio of images. The portfolio needs to portray British wildlife at its very best in each of the four seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, or a portfolio of up to four from just one season. Each image needs to capture the essence of each season together with the wildlife subject, from any British location. The portfolio must work together as a set, themes are also encouraged. Each portfolio can either be four seasons or a single season.
Documentary Series
The documentary award can be a sequence of images of any British wildlife, conservation or environmental issue. The judges will be looking for innovation in story telling, within a portfolio of up to six images.
Wildlife in HD Video
The judges will be looking for the most inspirational and dynamic sequence (up to 90 seconds) which clearly illustrates the unique power of moving images as a medium for capturing British wildlife and our natural heritage. It can be from an HD DSLR Camera, HD Video Camera/Camcorder, or any other film device which captures HD (high definition) moving images. Judges will be assessing all the potential qualities including the sharpness of the images, vibrancy of the colours and superb sound. Any aspect of British wildlife will be considered. Here are some typical (and not exclusive) examples of short films:
- Creating a memorable portrait of a British wildlife species
- Highlighting a specific conservation issue related to British wildlife
- Showing unusual or remarkable behaviour
- About an individual animal such as a local fox who visits your garden or a special rescue case
- On a specific area or reserve that is special to you
Please note. The winning film will be featured on the BWPA winners page and in the forthcoming BWPA book. For use in the book please consider the following:
Along with the video submission we will require a still image (either taken directly from the video itself or a camera still image shot during the filming. Camera stills will be high resolution and are the preferred option if possible). The higher the resolution the better. Please save digitally as a Tiff or Jpeg file.
Category sponsor: Sky+HD
See the Sky+HD sponsor's page here.