Photography Competition 2022 | NMSB

In times gone past the company created an annual calendar for customers and the community. Starting in the 50’s with our last one produced in the early 2000’s. Unfortunately, our archives do not hold any past examples to share. However, we believe themes varied annually. We were recently shown one that circulated in 1967 produced on silk, but we are unaware of the significance of the lady in the photo or the jade ring.

Thus, as part of the Beaverbrook 30 for 30 Challenge in aid of Oakhaven Hospice, we thought we would revitalise the company calendar and raise much needed funds at the same time!

In celebration of the abundance of wildlife seen this year around the lakes on the Jubilee Walk, in the restoration area at our Downton quarry in Milford on sea. We would like to capture these and other moments of beauty to create our Celebrating Wildlife Calendar 2023.

Therefore, we are looking for twelve inspiring photographs of nature and wildlife in our local area. (Which of course you can use our lakes as a backdrop should you wish.) Your image could be a bird, bug, plant, or animal. If it was taken by you within the New Forest area including Lymington, Milford on Sea, New Milton, Barton on Sea and Highcliffe.

We can’t wait to see the images – Good Luck!

Entry

Please send your entries (a maximum of two per person) to photocomp@nmsb.co.uk with an image title, your name, your contact details and where your photograph was taken at by 11:59pm on 14 October 2022.

Your entry must be submitted digitally via the process outlined below.

• Photographs must be a minimum 1MB – maximum 5MB file. Jpeg or Png or RAW.
• Entries must not have been a ‘winner’ in any other photographic competition.
• A maximum of two entries may be entered per applicant.
• An image will be rejected if it appears to have been taken in such a way that wildlife law or animal welfare requirements may have been breached or it has been otherwise taken in an irresponsible way.
• Domestic pets and farm animals are not eligible, nor are native or exotic wildlife photographed in zoos, sanctuaries, shows and fairs or similar locations.
• All images should be taken within the New Forest area including Lymington, Milford on Sea, New Milton, Barton on Sea and Highcliffe with details of location and species (where known) included in the submission.
• NMSB reserves the right to remove or refuse any entries from the competition for any reason.

To give your images the best chance to win – please read the information below and the competition Terms and Conditions. By entering the competition, you agree to the provisions of these terms and conditions and to comply fully with them.

Please take care when taking images of wildlife. We have attached a link to a best practice guide created by the Wildlife Trusts for help: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/other-ways-get-involved/wildlifephotography

Judges

A panel of Judges will select images based upon technical skill, diversity, originality and creativity of composition. Judging will be made up of selected NMSB staff, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Oakhaven Hospice, and local photographer for the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times.

Judges will assess entries to establish the 12 winners and commended photographers, and collectively agree on the overall competition winner. The judges will choose which month the winning images will appear on.

Prizes

There will be 12 winners selected in total with one overall winner. All photographs will be displayed within the Celebrating Wildlife Calendar 2023.

Overall Winner: £100 Wessex Photo shop voucher with their photo displayed on the cover of the calendar and the selected month.

Other monthly winners: £15 Wessex Photo shop voucher and their photo displayed on the selected month within the calendar.

The photographers of each of the 12 final calendar images will receive a copy of the calendar and additional large prints and will be invited to afternoon tea to receive their vouchers and launch the calendar at Oakhaven Hospice on 23 November 2022.

The calendar will be sold throughout December 2022 at any of the NMSB sites and in Oakhaven Hospice, as well as at their Christmas Fair, and at Wessex Photography shops. £6 from the sale of each calendar will go to Oakhaven Hospice with the remainder going to Impress with Print who will be kindly producing the calendars at a minimal cost.

Oakhaven Hospice Beaverbrook 30 for 30 Challenge

Our pledge for this challenge is in total to try to raise £10,000. We will hold six activities from October to March 2023 and the Celebrating Wildlife Calendar 2023 falls as one of these activities to raise funds.

All the money raised from the Beaverbrook 30 for 30 Challenge goes to the Oakhaven Neighbours Project which provides crucial support to their clients in their own homes.

Living with a life-limiting illness can be lonely and can make everyday tasks difficult for both the patient and their loved ones. The Oakhaven Neighbours project provides a friendly face to help with running errands, picking up prescriptions or shopping, walking the dog, helping out around the house or simply having a coffee and a chat.

The support they provide is invaluable to those who may be struggling or living in isolation to remain as independent as possible in their own homes.