Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Our new photo competition challenges you to capture the 'Seasons of Rural Scotland'. We're looking for your photos of community events, landscapes, wildlife, sporting events - anything at all as long as it reflects one of the four seasons!

The competition launches today, 27th August, and will run until 31st August 2011 with quarterly deadlines for photos of each of the seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. We're also running a competition for young photographers with two age categories - up to 12 and 13 to 18.

Norette Ferns, editor of the Scotland National Rural Network website said, "Previous photo competitions were very popular indeed and the standard of entries was extremely impressive. We're looking for the same high standard with our Seasons of Rural Scotland competition, and we're confident you're going to exceed our expectations!

"With the four seasons as your themes you'll be able to submit photos with a wide range of subjects including landscapes, wildlife, people and events. You can submit in advance for each theme, and judging will be quarterly. So, although Autumn is our first season deadline, you might want to submit your Summer photos in advance! The competition is going to build up a pictorial story of a year in rural Scotland.

"Choosing winners and runners up for each of the seasons is going to be tough, and we'll need your help to do it. We'll be shortlisting five photos and asking you to vote in an online poll for your favourite. And at the end of the competition, you'll be asked to vote for your overall favourite.

"We're also calling all young photographers to get involved. If you're under 18 you can enter under any of the seasons until 31st August 2011. The team here will then have the difficult task of choosing a winner in two categories - up to 12 years old and 13 to 18.

"We're looking forward to receiving your entries!"

More information

The quarterly closing dates are listed below:

The public will choose a winner and runner up for each season by voting in an online poll on a shortlist of five entries. Galleries with all the entries for each season will be available to view on the Rural Network website.

The winners of the competition for young photographers will be chosen by the Scotland National Rural Network website team.

In September 2011 the overall winner will be chosen from the four season winners and the two young photographer winners using an online poll. The overall prize will be a luxury hamper full of Scottish produce and a Tooth and Claw hardback book donated by Tooth and Claw.

How to enter

Submit your photos by email to editor@ruralgateway.org.uk with the following information:

• Relevant theme
• Title of photo
• Brief description of photo, subject, location etc
• Your name
• Contact telephone number
• Age (if entering our competition for young photographers)

You can get more information and find out how to enter on our Photo Competition page. And don't forget to check out our Terms and Conditions before entering.