Hui Yu Kim, “Boating Fun” (Atkins’ Young Environmental Photographer of the Year: Under 16 Highly Commended)
Don't let the incredibly long and clunky name turn you off: The 's annual contest has a huge upside. The winner of the international competition receives a 5,000 pound ($7,800) grand prize.
The contest is also easy to enter, and professional and amateur photographers both are allowed to submit. All it takes is a five pound (roughly $8) fee for the first picture and a one pound (roughly $1.75) fee for any additional pictures. There are a total of 10 pictures allowed per contestant. Entrants can win in the overall category (5,000 pounds), the under-18 category (1,000 pounds), and the video category (1,000 pounds).
Here's some fair warning: The number of submissions has grown substantially since the contest began in 2007. More than 10,500 entries we're received last year, a 100 percent increase over 2010. Photographers looking to make a name for themselves will like to hear that exposure has increased as well. In recent years, , , and have displayed images from the contest.
Neil A White, “Lost Villages” (Mott MacDonald’s Changing Climates Highly Commended)
The deadline for all entries is December 31, 2012. The finalists will be announced in January 2013, and an exhibition showing off their photos is scheduled for spring/summer 2013 in London. The winners will be announced in the time leading up to the first exhibition.
Some of the 2011 finalists are included above and below. Check them out for inspiration.
Alex Rhodes, “Transport Links: Nature vs. Human“
To enter, go to .
—Joe Spring