If you think you’ve captured the beauty of Sheffield and Rotherham’s wildlife or wild places, or have taken an image that will inspire a love of the natural world, then complete our entry form and send us your photos!
We welcome photos of all wildlife, from the humble earthworm to fantastic fungi, badgers to buzzards, and everything in between. We want to celebrate the nature and wildlife that can be found all around us, in our towns and cities, on our nature reserves or green spaces, or even in your own garden!
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust Photography Competition 2023
Thirteen lucky photographers will win an A4 space in our 2024 calendar, appear in our Kingfisher magazine, and receive a copy of the calendar to proudly display. This year we also have a special Young Person’s Category for under 18s, so make sure to get the whole family involved!
Entries will be assessed by a judging panel including external guests to help us make those difficult decisions!
Photos can be taken at any time of the year, but must have been taken in Sheffield or Rotherham. If you need some inspiration on where to go, head over to our nature reserves pages or take a look at the gallery of last year’s shortlisted entries. You don’t need to be a professional photographer or have fancy equipment, just a keen eye for a great photo! As a quick tip though: all photos must be high resolution and taken in landscape orientation.
So whether you’re out and about on one of our nature reserves, in one of our towns, exploring the local countryside, or even in your own garden, keep your phone or camera handy to capture the action!
Closing date for entries: 31st July 2023
Full terms & conditions are available below.
Enter now!
Don’t forget…
- Do no harm – the welfare of the wildlife and the wild places always comes first
- Don’t get too close – let birds feed their young, move on if they’re agitated or calling ‘at you’
- Watch your feet – stay on paths (or within designated areas), don’t trample flowers to reach more flowers
- Know the law – familiarise yourself with protected species and the laws that protect them
- Know the lure – don’t use recordings to attract birds, they can disrupt the behaviour and risk the lives of chicks
Hints and Tips…
- Wildlife happens everywhere! From suburban gardens to dedicated nature reserves you can see plants, insects, birds, mammals and lots more virtually anywhere! Be ready to grab your phone or camera and take an opportunistic snap!
- Take lots of photos. There’s no limits to how many times you can enter, so the more the merrier! See how many different species you can capture, or take plenty of shots to get that perfect pose.
- Take your time. Often patience helps you get the perfect shot, so relax and enjoy the nature around you as you await your subject.
- Shoot often. You’d be amazed at what you can capture at different times of day, or different times of year! See what you can spot early in the morning or late in the evening as well as throughout the daytime.
- Know your equipment. Familiarising yourself with the settings on your camera or phone will really help you maximise your images. From correctly focusing on the subject to selecting a shutter speed that will help with that action shot, every bit of info will help your photos.
Most importantly though: Have Fun! Taking photographs of the natural world around you can be extremely rewarding, helping you connect with your local environment. Whether you’re a beginner with a camera phone or a semi-pro with a huge camera, the point of this competition is to help you enjoy nature!
2023 Calendar Winners!
Check out the full online exhibition of shortlisted entries!
Full Terms & Conditions: Photography Competition 2023
– All images must be high-resolution in landscape orientation.
– All photos must be taken in the Sheffield and Rotherham area.
– If you are under the age of 16 you must have permission to enter from your parent or guardian. By submitting an entry for the competition, your parent or guardian is deemed to have given such consent and to agree to the use of the entry as described in these terms and conditions.
– Photographs must not have won an award in any other photographic competition.
– By submitting an image to the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust Photography Competition you are consenting to us using your images in print and online with author credit including use in our magazine, website, social media channels and calendar.
– By submitting images to the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust Photography Competition, each entrant confirms and warrants that:
- they are the sole author of each entry and that it is their original work
- they own the copyright and any other intellectual property rights of each image
- they have the permission of anyone pictured in the image (or, where the image shows any persons under 18, the consent of their parent/guardian) for the usage rights required by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
- they have not licensed or disposed of any rights in the image that would conflict with uses to be made by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
- they have received any necessary permissions from the owner(s) of objects including buildings included in submitted images for the usage rights required by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
– We value your support and do not pass on information about you to any group or individual outside the Wildlife Trusts. If you are not on our email subscription list, we will not automatically contact you about future photography competitions. If you wish to receive regular updates from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust by email, please sign up via our website.