Living Macarthur Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition 2011


Nature Photography Competition

The Award Categories are:

• Open Section-(Over 18 years)
• Young People's Section-(12-18 years)
• Children's Section-(Under 12 years)

Entries close on Monday 24 October 2011.

To download the promotional flyer with event dates and details, click here.
To download the Nature Photography Competition Rules and Entry Form, click here.

 

Hey all you nature loving shutterbugs: polish off that camera lens, get outdoors and get snapping - it's that time of year again! The Macarthur Councils are once again hosting the highly anticipated Macarthur Nature Photography Competition and we're after your most striking, engaging and enticing images of the region's flora, fauna and natural scenery.

Outdoor-loving residents of any age with a camera and a keen eye for the natural world are invited to enter for a chance to win a range of prizes totalling over $4000 as well as the opportunity to have their images displayed publicly for several months at various locations as part of a travelling regional exhibition.

Participants are encouraged to visit their favourite scenic spots in search of images that reflect the unique natural beauty and environmental heritage of the Macarthur region. Submissions will fall under one or several of the following competition themes:

  • Our Landscapes
  • Our Wildlife (flora or fauna)
  • Our Waterways
  • Our Environment

There are two age group categories:

  • Young People's Section: 15 years and under
  • Open Section: 16 years and over

Participating photographers are invited to sharpen their skills by attending any of a series of FREE guided bushwalks led by an outdoor photography expert, who will provide helpful hints on camera use and outdoor shooting techniques.

Bushwalks will occur at various sites within Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly throughout September and October (see below for details).

Download for Entry Form and full competition rules. Entry closes Monday 24 October 2011.

So get out there and give us your best shot!

Photography Tips

There are no "hard and fast" scoring mechanisms for taking winning photos, but there do tend to be certain elements common to high scoring shots. Here are a few things to keep in mind when taking your photos:

Technical quality

Composition: Is the subject positioned well in the photo? Is the eye drawn around the whole image?

Focus: Is the subject clear and crisp?

Light: Is the subject well lit? Is the lighting used in an interesting way, eg as a highlight, or to add warmth or coolness, convey mood?

Texture: Does the photo take advantage of texture in the subject?

Depth of field: Is everything in focus, or is the background blurry to dray attention to the foreground?

Environmental significance/interest

Remember, this competition is an environmental education event. Does the photo reflect, recognise or make a statement about the importance of our local natural environment? Have you considered whether the subject is a native species? Have you identified it correctly? Was the photo taken in the Macarthur region? Does the photo make you think about the environment and/or how we interact with it?

Effort
Has the photographer made a special effort to capture his/her image? This could be taking a common subject from an alternative angle, or looking at in detail, or has s/he captured a hard to get subject?

Wow factor
Quite simply, does the photo stand out from the crowd and grab your attention?

Advice on Mounting Photos
If you would like to mount the photo yourself, you will need equipment such as a Black mounting board, Framers Tape, Double-sided Tape, or Photo glue. If you need to purchase these from an Art Supplies store or Framers, staff there should be able to give you instructions and assistance with mounting your photo.

Alternatively, you could head to one of the businesses listed in the telephone directory under ‘Framers and Enlargers' and have them mount your photo for you. Please note that costs vary from business to business.

Key Dates

Fri 19 August

Competition opens

Sat 10 September

Walk ‘n Talk - Kentlyn

Sat 17 September

Walk ‘n Talk - Thirlmere

Wed 28 September

Walk ‘n Talk - Kentlyn

Sat 1 October

Walk ‘n Talk - Minto Heights

Wed 12 October

Walk ‘n Talk - Gundungurra Reserve, Narellan Vale

Mon 24 October

Competition closes

Mon 31 October

Photo Exhibition at Ingleburn opens

Fri 18 November

Exhibition Launch & Awards Night - winners announced

Mon 21 November

Touring Photo Exhibition at Narellan opens

Mon 5 December

Touring Photo Exhibition at Narellan closes

Wed 7 December

Touring Photo Exhibition at Picton opens

Wed 21 December

Touring Photo Exhibition at Picton closes

 

Contacts

The Living Macarthur Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition is coordinated and supported by Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Councils. Council contacts:

Camden Council

Denise Franovich - Environmental Education Officer
t 4645 5007
e denise.franovich@camden.nsw.gov.au

Campbelltown City Council

Maura Pigeon - Environmental Education Officer
t 4645 4346
e maura.pigeon@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au

Wollondilly Shire Council
Alex Stengl - Environmental Services Team Leader
t 4677 1177
e alexandra.stengl@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au