Open category

The subject can be any aspect of North Sutherland and Caithness wildlife. Spoilt for choice!

You can enter two images.

Creepy-crawlies category

Focusing on the vitally important, and rapidly disappearing, invertebrates. A chance to get up close and be inspired by this wonderful group that make up an estimated 90% of all species of animals on the planet and more than half of all living things.

You can enter two images.

Guidance and Rules

There are two categories in this year’s competition: –

Open: Any wildlife seen in the North Sutherland & Caithness area, e.g. mammal, insect, fish, flowers, trees, fungi, mosses etc.

Creepy-crawlies: This category focuses on the area’s invertebrates.

We realise that not everyone has professional kit. We are not necessarily looking for the sharpest, most technically perfect shot.
What we really would love to see are pictures that showcase the wonderful wild flora and fauna that we are lucky to have in our region.

This competition is intended to be fun and entry is free.

How to enter

• You can enter up to two photos per category and as many categories as you like.
• Please send your entries by 31st December 2023 to: contact@nswg.org.uk
• Please identify clearly into which category each photo is to be entered, along with your name, contact details and approximate location of the photo. And don’t forget a title for each photograph entered.
• Large file sizes are no problem provided your internet speed is able to cope, so don’t worry about reducing the size or increasing compression. Please do not send zipped files.

The Prizes

The glory, of course, and it’s fun!
Plus, the winner of each category will have their picture as our Facebook banner for three months.
There will be a small additional prize for the winner of each section and, to the overall winner, the Abigail Rhodes Trophy to be held for the year.

Rules etc.

1. Pictures must be taken within the North Sutherland and Caithness general area during 2023.
2. The competition is free and open to all.
3. The maximum is two photographs per person in each section.
4. Digital manipulation is not allowed, other than basic cropping, horizon straightening and minor tonal adjustments to reflect the subject as you saw it.
5. Please note that we will not be able to consider photographs with people, especially children, unless the specific written permission of the individuals or parents is included with the entry.
6. Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times. Photograph animals from a safe distance, and remember, if an animal changes behaviour as a result of your presence, you are too close. In line with our general rules on our Facebook group page, photographs of nesting sites and breeding animals will not be allowed. We are primarily a wildlife recording group and this takes precedence over photography.
7. By entering this competition, you agree to North Sutherland Wildlife Group keeping your photographs on file and using them (with credit to you and not for profit) for future promotional purposes online or in the press.
   WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR PICTURES!

Previous winners.