BBOWT has opened its annual nature photography competition for 2023 with a host of new categories and prizes.

The charity is inviting nature lovers of all ages to send their shots of animals, plants, people and scenery at BBOWT nature reserves and in the community.

Anyone from a six-year-old with a camera phone to a seasoned professional can enter the contest which this year has new categories for pictures of plants, fungi, insects, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. There is also a new category just for Urban Nature.

This year’s prizes include a top-of-the-range digital camera, an exclusive wildlife photography masterclass and a high-quality canvas print of your winning photo. All winners will have their photo featured in the Trust’s 2024 calendar.

Rachel Levis, BBOWT Head of Events, said:
"We’re so excited to be launching the contest again with these new wildlife categories. Last year we had so many fantastic photos of plants, animals and fungi at BBOWT nature reserves, and this year we really wanted a chance to celebrate all those ways of capturing our wonderful wildlife at its finest.

“I’m also really excited to be launching our Urban Nature category: as we’ve come to realise in recent years that we are in a nature and climate crisis, it’s also become clear that the solution has to be more nature everywhere – and that means looking after wildlife in our towns and cities as well. This category offers a brilliant chance to showcase and celebrate the species that are right under our noses – pollinating our window boxes, nesting under our rooves and living in our gardens: these species can be just as important as the wildlife at nature reserves.”

Categories

All photographs must be taken on a BBOWT nature reserve except in the Team Wilder, Urban Nature, Children and Teens categories which must be taken in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire.

• Children (ages 6-11) - Photos matching any of the categories below.

• Teens (ages 12-17) - Photos matching any of the categories below.

• Flora

• Fungi

• Insects and Arachnids

• Birds

• Mammals

• Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish

• Nature Reserve Landscapes

• Team Wilder - People are stepping forward from every sector of society to lead change in their fields and we welcome businesses, schools, politicians, and individuals as part of Team Wilder. If you're taking action for nature right now, no matter how small the act is, you're already a part of #teamWILDER. Send us your photos and show us what you are working on or have achieved already.

• People in Nature

• Urban Nature – Wildlife or nature in towns, cities and other urban settings.

Closing date for entries is Friday 1 September 2023.

Prizes

This year’s overall winner will receive:

• A top-of-the-range digital camera

• Photography workshop with wildlife photographer Steve Gozdz from GG Wildlife Experiences

• A high-quality A3 canvas print of your winning photo

• Your photo featured in the 2024 BBOWT calendar

• Certificate

Category winners will receive:

• Photography workshop with wildlife photographer Steve Gozdz from GG Wildlife Experiences

• Your photo featured in the 2024 BBOWT calendar

• A BBOWT cafe voucher

• Certificate

The Children and Teen categories also have an additional prize: a bundle of nature books which will go to the school library of the winner (or to a school the winner nominates).

Judges

This year’s competition will be judged by a panel of three experts: Steve Gozdz is a professional wildlife photographer and founder of Berkshire-based GG Wildlife Experiences, which offers wildlife walks, experiences and photography classes; Ben Vanheems is the editor of BBOWT’s Wild magazine and a wildlife gardener and YouTuber, and Lis Speight is BBOWT’s head of communications.

Commenting on what he will be looking for in this year’s entries, Steve Gozdz said:
“A great photo makes good use of light, composition and shows creativity. However, most importantly, I will be looking for images that capture ‘the moment’ that encompasses the beauty and essence of the subject matter or the environment.

“You don’t need a fancy camera: even a smart phone can produce some amazing images and give some very different perspectives. Don’t forget - the best camera you can have is the one in your hand.”

The Trust is extremely grateful to GG Wildlife Experiences for sponsoring this year's competition.

For full details and to enter, go to bbowt.org.uk/photocomp23