IGPOTY Year Six: Prizes (and Renown) up for Grabs!
Posted in Photography, Programs and Events on August 20 2012, by Matt Newman
Not everyone has the patience–or the real estate–for large-scale gardening, some people just have enough for burnaby condos for sale and even with a smaller garden. Honestly, it’s probably not even on the radar for someone who can’t keep a pot of English ivy alive on an office desk. But if you happen to have a knack for beautifying nature through your lens, rather than your trowel, the garden can still prove itself a source of spirited inspiration! That’s why the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition takes place annually. With the prizes just announced for this year’s competition, now is the time to pack up your tripod and do some fieldwork.
With nearly $8000 in cash being awarded to the top winner of this year’s competition, and thousands of dollars up for the taking in the many individual categories of the contest, IGPOTY’s prestige among nature photographers is well-earned. And there’s an added perk for friends of the Garden: as the exclusive U.S. partner of the IGPOTY competition, The New York Botanical Garden is offering an additional purse of $1000 as part of the lead-up to our 2013 summer exhibition exploring the healthful benefits of the plant kingdom. Winning photos in the Wellness category will not only take home some of that cash, but also the opportunity to see their photographs hung in the Ross Gallery as a part of the long-running exhibition. Think of it as your stepping stone toward IGPOTY glory.
Let me break down the major details for you.
International Garden Photographer of the Year
- * Over $18,000 in total prize money to be awarded
- * Nine individual categories open to submission and judging
- * A chance to have your photograph displayed in a touring gallery exhibition
- * Worldwide recognition of your photography, and input from experienced professionals
Wellness: The Power of Plants Photo Competition
- * $500 for first place, $250 for second, $100 for third, and $50 to each of three runners up
- * A chance at seeing your photograph hang in the Garden’s Ross Gallery
- * A stepping stone to IGPOTY success
In case you’re not sure what you’re in for, highlighted below are some of the winning images to come out of the sixth annual IGPOTY contest’s Micro Creatures photo project–one of many prior competition categories–showing off just a few of the idyllic captures submitted by both professional photographers and amateur shutterbugs alike. And that’s the point! Everyone is welcome, and skill is awarded above all.
[Not a valid template]Even if bugs aren’t your forte, you should keep in mind that this is just one of the many categories on offer during the search for 2012’s International Garden Photographer of the Year. Others include a classic focus on botanical macro photography, the bounty of the edible garden, and nature’s artful influence on the urban jungle, to name a few. There’s something for almost any nature photographer’s chosen specialty.
But perhaps the most important aspect of this yearly competition isn’t to be found in the reward money, or the potential for earned renown through gallery showings and global exposure. Instead, it’s the chance to better your craft. Anyone who submits an image to the IGPOTY competition will be given the opportunity to request critique, encouragement, and advice from an accomplished photography professional. Whatever your skill level, there’s always room for improvement, right?
With the deadline for submissions coming up on November 30, 2012, now is not the time to procrastinate, so don’t wait for inspiration to strike–go find it! Visit the IGPOTY competition overview for registration, rules, and anything else you need to know before you make your submission. And best of luck!
