Enter Our Amateur Photo Competition - 20 Years of LIFE

16/01/12

Today MulkearLIFE launches its Amateur Photo Competition 2012. The competition is to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the EU LIFE Programme, which takes place in May. MulkearLIFE will be hosting a series of events throughout the year, which will coincide with similar events taking place right across Europe. The events are designed to raise awareness of the EU LIFE programme and the importance of the work being undertaken by LIFE projects throughout Europe. In Ireland, MulkearLIFE has been working to implement its plans to ‘Restore the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation for Sea Lamprey, Atlantic Salmon and Otter’. Together with coordinating partner, Inland Fisheries Ireland, and project partners, Limerick County Council, the Office of Public Works and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, MulkearLIFE has made very considerable progress over the past two years.

The Amateur Photo Competition is open to all and there are some fantastic prizes on offer for both young and old. The theme of the photo competition is ‘Exploring the Biodiversity of the Lower Shannon’. But what is Biodiversity? In simply terms, it means the variety of life on earth. Thus in terms of images that capture the theme of ‘exploring biodiversity’ there is no end to what type of image can be submitted. It could be an image of water, trees, plants, fish, invertebrates, fungi, mammals, birds, lichen, domestic animals, basically any living organism. Therefore, images may cover any aspect of biodiversity including people enjoying biodiversity. The images can be macro or landscape, black and white or colour.

While is it not essential, images which portray biodiversity in and along rivers, streams and watercourses throughout the Lower Shannon region would be preferred. To learn more about Irish biodiversity and to get more ideas, which might inspire you to enter, please click here on this short video from the National Biodiversity Data Centre: Irish Biodiversity

The competition opens on the 16th January 2012 and closes on the 1st May 2012. It is open to Amateur Photographers Only. Entry is free and anyone can submit up to three images but they must be related to the theme ‘Exploring the Biodiversity of the Lower Shannon’. The prize fund is €1,000, offered in two categories, namely, Children / Young Adults (under 18 as of 01/05/2012) and Adults. In addition, the overall winner will receive one full-days training in wildlife and landscape photography from a leading wildlife photographer during the Summer / Autumn / Winter of 2012.

Entering the competition is easy. Firstly, click LIKE the MulkearLIFE’s Facebook Page: MulkearLIFE Facebook

Then simply take a photo, or submit a photo you have recently taken (within the period 1st January 2009 and 1st May 2012) in the following manner: A/ Submit your image in digital format (minimum 1mb – maximum 5mb) to photos@mulkearlife.com. Each digital image should be sent through individually with the Subject line ‘Photo Competition’ and should be accompanied by a description, name, address and daytime telephone number and B/ You must also send your photo in print format (Size A4) on photo quality paper or card to MulkearLIFE Amateur Photo Competition, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Ashbourne Business Park, Limerick, Ireland. Each image must be accompanied by a description, name, address and daytime telephone number. If entering the Children / Young Adults competition (under 18 years of age as of 01/05/2012) please state your age. Only those images received in the two formats specified will be deemed to have entered. It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure this process if followed.

Full details of How To Enter, all Prizes on offer and the terms and conditions are available here:
Terms and Conditions

MulkearLIFE urges all those wishing to enter to read the terms and conditions in full. Good luck to all and remember the Closing Date is Tuesday 1st May 2012 at 17.00hrs. Happy Snapping.