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photography competitions you should enter

12/2/2015

There are so many wildlife photography competitions out there, how do you know which ones are worth your time and effort to enter? I've compiled a list of some competitions worth considering, from the most prestigious to little-known gems.

UK

Amateur Photographer of the Year 2014 www.amateurphotographer.co.uk

BBC Countryfile Photographic competition www.countryfile.com/subject/photographic-competition

British Wildlife Photographer of the Year www.bwpawards.org

British Birds: the BB Bird Photograph of the Year competition http://britishbirds.co.uk/birding-resources/bird-photograph-of-the-year/

International Garden Photographer of the Year “Wildlife in the Garden” category www.igpoty.com/

The Mammal Society Photo Competition www.mammal.org.uk/photo_competition

Marwell Photographer of the Year competition www.marwell.org.uk/photocomp/

(Every two years) National Insect Week photo competition, Royal Entomological Society, http://nationalinsectweek.co.uk/competitions/insect_photography.htm

Outdoor Photographer of the Year www.opoty.co.uk/

Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition celebrates the power of photography to communicate science https://royalsociety.org/journals/photo-competition/

RSPB Photography Contest‎ “Wildpix” www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/families/children/join_in/competitions/wildpix/index.aspx

RSPCA Young Photographer Awards http://ypa.rspca.org.uk/

Society of Biology photography competition www.societyofbiology.org/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/photography-competition

Wildlife Photographer of the Year www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto

The Wildlife Trusts offer a range of local competitions www.wildlifetrusts.org/WildlifePhotography

(Occasionally) WWT Wetland Photography www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/experience/photography/

Landscape Photographer of the Year http://www.take-a-view.co.uk/

Travel Photographer of the Year http://www.tpoty.com/

Underwater Photographer of the Year http://www.upylondon.com/

Zoological Society London Animal Photography Prize www.zsl.org/about-us/zsl-animal-photography-prize

Wildlife Photo Contest (Will Burrard Lucas) www.wildlifephoto.com/wildlife-photography-competition

EUROPE

Asferico Photo Contest, Italy www.asferico.com/concorso/e_index.asp

GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Germany www.gdtfoto.de

World Press Photo Award, Amsterdam, the Netherlands www.worldpressphoto.org/

MontPhoto, Spain http://montphoto.com/website/index.asp

Montier Photo Festival, France www.festiphoto-montier.org

Glanzlichter Projekt Natur + Fotografie, Germany http://www.glanzlichter.com/

Oasis Photo Contest, Italy www.oasisphotocontest.com/index.asp

Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) https://sipacontest.com

REST OF WORLD

Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year http://naturephotographeroftheyear.com.au/

C4 Photo Safaris http://exploremore.c4photosafaris.com/#enter

Global Arctic Awards International Photography Competition, Russia http://arcticawards.ru/en

Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, California, USA http://bigpicturecompetition.org/

Golden Turtle international wildlife contest, Moscow http://wncontest.ru/en/about/

Kuwait Grand Photography Contest, Middle East www.kwtphotography.com

National Geographic Traveller Photo Competition, USA
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/photo-competition-2015/

Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, USA www.naturesbestphotography.com

Nikon Photo Contest, Japan www.nikon-photocontest.com/en

Por el Planeta Wildlife, Nature & Conservation Photo Competition, Mexico
https://porelplanetaphoto.com/

Sony World Photography Awards Nature & Wildlife Category www.worldphoto.org

B&H Wilderness Photo Competition www.wildernessphotocompetition.com/

Audubon Photography Awards www.audubon.org/photoawards

Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest www.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/?no-ist

National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest www.nwf.org/photocontest.aspx

International Photography Awards www.photoawards.com

International Ocean Art Photo Competition www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art-underwater-photo-competition

Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Awards http://ogpicoty.ogsociety.org/

"Wildlife" category of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Rashid AlMaktoum International Photography award www.hipa.ae/en/happiness-2015-2016/winners

If I've missed off any great wildlife photo competitions, do let me know!

How to survive a charging rhino: 16 life-saving tips

11/2/2015

16 top tips from Bryce Clemence, rhino guardian and anti-poaching team leader in Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe

1.     Rhinos will either run away from you or charge you.

2.     Rhinos do not give warnings or make mock charges – when a rhino makes a decision, it always follows through.

3.     Rhinos can cover 30m, accelerating from 0–55kmph, in just three seconds – do not make the mistake of thinking them heavy and slow. They will come at you flat out.

4.     Don’t panic and run – you cannot outpace a rhino. And, if you are in a group, don’t scatter – try to stick together. Make an escape plan before you approach and stick to it.

5.     Know which direction the wind is blowing at all times – be sure the rhino cannot smell you. Don’t forget, the wind direction can change.

6.     As you approach a rhino, make sure you identify all suitable escape trees near you (within three seconds’ distance) at all times, just in case you get into trouble.

7.     Never leave yourself with no cover – move from tree to tree.

8.     You have just three seconds to get out of a rhino’s path, so move sideways, not backwards.

9.     Move behind a tree – to the ‘blind side’ – and then climb.

10. Choose a tree with a girth of 30cm diameter or more and climb to a height of six feet, higher if you can manage it, as quickly as you can. Black rhinos stand 1.5m at the shoulder and you need to get above horn height. They can and do look up.

11. Rhinos use all of their senses – hearing and smell – and though they cannot see well, they can detect movement.

12. Make sure your escape tree is sturdy enough – a furious rhino may simply push down a smaller tree.

13. Rhinos will attempt to use their horn to toss you aside. They put their heads down when they run, so the horn is normally at thigh height on the average human and can inflict a terrible wound.

14. The impact of a direct hit at 55kmph can be as dangerous as a blow from the horn. If you are standing, it could break your back.

15. If you have no time to escape, and the rhino is upon you, dive to the ground and lie feet-first toward the rhino. It may miss you or it may trample you, so try to roll out of its way at the last minute.

16. Rhinos may be colour-blind but they react to red and white so avoid wearing these colours.

I hope this helps you to get out of a tight spot – but remember, the trick is to not get into one in the first place.

photography competitions you should enter

How to survive a charging rhino: 16 life-saving tips

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