Photography is one of the many ways you can get out there and enjoy the natural heritage.  There are a number of competitions you can enter to increase your enjoyment and we have three to tell you about .

The Scottish Seabird Centre is running one of the most popular competitions.  And the good news it’s now open for entries !

This year they have six adult and one junior category in their competition, which was launched by Doug Allen, the highly respected wildlife cameraman who has worked with Sir David Attenborough on several projects recently.   The categories you can enter under are:

• Landscape

• Scottish Wildlife

• Worldwide Wildlife

• Creative Visions of Nature

• World Flora

• Environmental Impact

• Junior

Visit the photography competition section of the Scottish Seabird Centre website to enter.

For the eighth year running, they are asking amateur photographers to grab their cameras, and get out and about in the natural world to capture the best images of flora and fauna possible, whether that’s right on their doorstep or anywhere across the world.

The winners of the six adult categories will each join Lorne Gill, professional photographer at Scottish Natural Heritage, on a photography trip to the magical Isle of May National Nature Reserve. It’s an ideal chance to get first-hand tips on how to capture the perfect wildlife shot. Our junior competition winner will receive a top prize of photographic equipment, and there’s also a host of runners up prizes.

The work of all shortlisted finalists will be included in a special exhibition at the Seabird Centre at North Berwick from 15th November, and the awards ceremony will take place on 27th February 2014.

Lorne is one of three judges who face a tough decision, as the standard of entries was incredibly high last year, and more people are expected to take part this year.

The Scottish Wildlife category is expected to prove a particular source of inspiration, given that this is the Year of Natural Scotland.

 SECONDARY SCHOOL COMPETITION

That inspirational theme is the hope at Scottish Natural Heritage’s Aberdeen office too.  To celebrate Scotland’s amazing wildlife and countryside during the Year of Natural Scotland, we are asking Aberdeen secondary school pupils for their best nature pictures.

Winners will learn more about photography with a tutorial with SNH’s own Lorne Gill who is one of Scotland’s leading professional nature photographers. Winning pictures in each category will be enlarged and framed for a public exhibition in Aberdeen in late 2013. Winners will then receive the framed pictures after the display.

Students can enter three types of photo: Scottish wildlife (any plant, animal or bird except pets or domestic livestock), Scottish landscapes, or Scottish seascapes. There are also two categories for S1-S3 and S4-S6 pupils.

Gavin Clark, SNH’s Tayside & Grampian operations manager, said:

“Taking pictures is a terrific way to get outside and enjoy Scotland’s nature. And you don’t need an expensive camera – nowadays, you can get a great shot even on your mobile phone. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of terrific shots from the pupils in Aberdeen.”

The closing date for entries is 7 October 2013. Students should submit digital images by email to Aberdeen_photo_comp@snh.gov.uk in jpeg file format with name, school, age/school year, the categories entered and contact details. Each entrant can submit up to three images of their own work in each of the three categories. Winners will be notified by 1 November.

Hard copy entries can be submitted by posting to SNH at Inverdee House, Baxter St Aberdeen, AB11 9QA,

SCOTTISH NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

 Finally the Scottish Nature Photography Awards will open their competition to entries on September 10^th.  There are a host of categories and the various category winners will compete for the title of Scottish Nature Photographer of the Year. There is also a student competition and for younger snappers a Junior event aimed specifically at under18s.

The competition is restricted to images taken in Scotland, but open to both professional and amateur photographers. The winning images will feature in a touring exhibition in 2014 and both winning and short-listed entries make it into a  Portfolio Yearbook.

You can find full competition details and enter online at www.scottishnaturephotographyawards.com and the competition will accept entries up until 30 November.

So what better way to celebrate The Year of Natural Scotland than getting out there and capturing some great shots?