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Calling all photographers!

Have you taken any striking images of our beautiful residents or wild birds of prey? Enter your images into our annual competition for the chance to win a private, one-on-one experience at the Trust tailored to your interests, it can include flying or photographing our birds (or perhaps a combination of both!). Plus all winning images will be displayed at the Trust.

We are looking for high quality images with great composition which fit into the following categories:

  1. Portrait – portrait of a Hawk Conservancy Trust bird of prey (or Trust animal).
  2. Action – resident Trust bird of prey (or Trust animal) in action.
  3. Working relationship between a member of Trust staff at work and a bird of prey (or Trust animal) in any location where the Trust is actively working. For this category, we are really looking for images that show the special connection between human and animal; we recommend that images show at least the head or face of the human.
  4. Flora and fauna – wildflowers, shrubs, plants, trees, insects, mammals, wildlife and the sculptures around the Trust grounds (excludes birds of prey).
  5. In the wild – wild (non-captive/non-Trust) birds of prey in their natural settings.
  6. Impression – we’re after photos that you feel sum up a visit to the Trust. This category is open to your own creative interpretation and is a way for you to show us in an image what you think a day with us is all about.

Please note: by entering this competition you take full responsibility for obtaining permission from all people included in your photograph (if their faces are visible).

This is an annual competition open to entries between 1 January-31 December 2024. No entries will be accepted after midnight on 31 December 2024.

How to enter the 2024 competition

The Prizes

A winning and highly commended photograph will be selected for each of the above categories as well as an overall winner selected from the six category winners.

Overall Winner
  • A private, one hour one-on-one experience at the Trust, tailored to your interests (you can fly or photograph our birds, or perhaps a mixture of both!)
  • A 2026 calendar showcasing all winning and highly commended images. The overall winner’s image will be displayed on the cover of this calendar
  • Your winning image will be part of a display exhibition in Feathers Restaurant
  • A framed copy of your winning image
Category Winners
  • A Half-day Photographic Experience at the Trust
  • A 2026 calendar showcasing all winning and highly commended images
  • Your winning image will be part of a display exhibition in Feathers Restaurant
  • A framed copy of your winning image
Highly Commended
  • A 2026 calendar showcasing all winning and highly commended images
  • Your winning image will be part of a display exhibition in Feathers Restaurant
  • A framed copy of your winning image

The Rules

  1. Images should be at a size of at least 2000 pixels on the longest edge.
  2. Images should be saved as JPEGs before uploading them.
  3. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright for all images entered.
  4. Please don’t add an copyright details or watermarks on to your images (we will always try to credit any images we use wherever possible).
  5. In order to submit your photos to the competition, you must seek permission from anyone featured in photos entered unless they are a Hawk Conservancy Trust member of staff or volunteer at work. If you don’t have the permission of someone featured in your image, please select an alternative image to enter.
  6. All photos entered into the 2024 Photographic Competition must have been captured in 2024.
  7. Images that show birds of prey eating or catching prey and that, in the opinion of the Trust or its representatives, could cause offence will be removed from the competition.
  8. In order to enter the competition you must pay a one-off fee of £9.00 and this allows you to enter up to 12 images per month from the date of entry until the close of the competition.
  9. Images which could be eligible for more than one category can only be entered once and in one category only.
  10. Use of Photoshop/Lightroom is permitted, however the integrity of the photo should remain. Artistic emphasis must remain on the photography and not the editing. Photographs should represent the original object or subject and photographs that, in the opinion of the Trust or its representatives, have excessive editing may not be approved.
  11. Full terms and conditions apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please take a look through the below questions before you submit your entries. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

How should I save my images?

All photos should be saved as JPEGs. Please do not add copyright details to your image. Images should be less than 16MB but with a minimum size of 2,000 pixels on the longest edge.

Why aren't my images showing in the gallery?

When you save your monthly entry, it is saved in our system and a member of our team will be notified. As soon as we have checked and approved your entry, it will be published onto the gallery page. Please note that each month when you add images, all images you have entered for the year will temporarily disappear from the gallery page. They will all reappear as soon as your latest entry has been approved.

My image fits into more than one category; can I enter it into both?

No, you can only enter an image once and in one category.

I took a brilliant photo last year, can I enter it now?

No, all photos entered into the 2024 Photographic Competition must have been captured in 2024.

What will you do with my images if I enter them into this competition?

Your image will be displayed in the online Photographic Competition gallery until the close of the competition. Should it be selected as a winning or highly commended image, it will be used in the 2026 Hawk Conservancy Trust Calendar. It will also be displayed in Feathers Restaurant as part of a photography exhibition of all winning images.

By entering your images into the competition, you give the Hawk Conservancy Trust a non-exclusive licence to reproduce the images for any purpose including, but not limited to, the following purposes: judging the competition, display of winning entries held at the Trust, inclusion into the BIAZA photographic competition, inclusion within Trust marketing and promotional material and for use in Trust merchandise. The Trust reserves the right to display, reproduce and publish in any media any entry, without payment, for the sole purpose of the Trust and its promotion and publicity. Should the Trust use any image for promotional or other purposes every effort will be made to give credit to the photographer (where possible).

2023 Photographic Competition Results

Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2023 Photographic Competition; all of your entries are certainly making our judges decision a tough one!

The twelve winning and highly commended images will be announced on our website and social media in spring 2024. The overall winner of the competition, as chosen by Chris Packham will be announced at our Members’ Event on Saturday 8 June. To view the winning entries of previous competitions, please click here.

Did you know?
Many birds hunt, kill and eat meat but they may not be raptors. Only raptors have hooked beaks with sharp edges, feet with sharp, curved claws or talons and keen eyesight.
©2024 Hawk Conservancy Trust