INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the most captivating visual celebration of the UK’s wild deer – the BDS Photographer of the Year competition! Join us in harnessing the power of your lens to tell the mesmerising tales of these majestic creatures and support our mission of nurturing a harmonious connection between wild deer and their environment.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Show Your Love
Express your passion for the UK’s wild deer through the art of photography.
Inspire Empathy
Your images have the incredible potential to foster empathy and understanding towards our diverse deer species.
Make a Difference
Contribute to our charity initiatives, and your winning photos may grace the pages of our prestigious BDS charity calendar.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
BDS Members:
Submit your entries before Midnight, 30th April 2024.
Non-Members:
Join BDS now to unleash your photography skills and be part of this extraordinary visual journey.
COMPETITION CATEGORIES: "BDS DEER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR"
- Deer Portraits
Capture the beauty and strength of Britain’s wild deer throughout the year. - A Home For Deer
Showcase the diverse and beautiful habitats that wild deer call home. - Deer in Action
Freeze a moment of dynamic movement and energy in the lives of wild deer.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Photographers will be evaluated based on:
- Adherence to Theme: How well the photograph reflects the chosen category.
- Composition and Creativity: The artistic arrangement of visual elements and the innovative use of photography techniques.
- Technical Excellence: The proficiency in handling camera settings, lighting, and overall technical skill.
- Emotional Impact: The ability of the photograph to evoke emotions and connect with the viewer.
- Relevance to BDS’s Mission: The extent to which the photograph aligns with the BDS mission of promoting the welfare and understanding of wild deer.
RECOGNITION AND PRIZES
- Winners Certificate: All winning entries, including Highly Commended and Commended, will receive an official certificate celebrating their achievement.
- Feature in the BDS Charity Calendar: Winning photographs will be put forward for possible selection to appear in our annual charity wall calendar.
- Showcase Across Platforms: Your talent will shine on BDS platforms, gaining exposure to a wider audience including our website, magazine, newsletter, social channels and more.
- Prizes: Unleash your creativity for a chance to win a prize! First, second and third places receive vouchers to spend on exciting rewards.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- Submissions Open: 1st November 2024
- Submission Deadline: Midnight, 30th April 2025
- Winners Announcement: August 2025
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: YOUR GUIDE TO SUCCESS
Eligibility
- Open to fully paid-up BDS members at the time of submission.
- Adhere to the BDS code of conduct and obtain legal permission from landowners.
- Submit up to three captivating images per category.
- AI-generated images will not be eligible for submission.
- Images should not have been previously entered into a BDS or other nationally recognised photo competition.
Submission Guidelines
- Feature live wild or park deer, showcasing the UK’s recognised wild deer species. The only exception is the A Home for Deer category where deer do not need to feature but the landscapes should be examples of habitats where wild deer live.
- Capture images legally and ethically, respecting the welfare of the deer.
- Submit high-quality digital images (300 dpi or higher) via email or our user-friendly online submission form.
Rights and Use
- Entrants retain sole copyright for each submitted image.
- Winning photographs may be exhibited, and published on the BDS website, DEER magazine, and social channels.
- Grant BDS permission to use your images to support its work, including the creation of the annual wild deer calendar.
Prizes and Recognition
- All winning entries, including Highly Commended and Commended, will receive an official certificate celebrating their achievement.
- Winning photographs will be put forward for possible selection to appear in our annual charity wall calendar.
- Entries will be featured on BDS platforms, including our website, magazine, newsletter, and social channels.
- First, second, and third place receive vouchers or equivalent prizes to spend on exciting rewards.
General Conditions
- Judges’ decisions are final – embrace the excitement of the competition!
- Open to everyone (except organising members, BDS staff, judges, and sponsors).
- Follow the submission guidelines to avoid exclusion from this thrilling event.
Submitting an Entry
Entries can be submitted online via our dedicated submission form or via email. If you are submitting via email please ensure the image name includes:
- Image title
- Photographer’s name
- Membership number
Contest photographs must be saved in a suitable image format (png, tiff or jpg/jpeg), 300 dpi or higher and the size of the files should not be less than 2 Mb. Large files can be zipped (compressed) for easier transfer.
Images must be emailed to photography@bds.org.uk
The subject of the email should be BDS Photographer of the Year
The body of the email must include:
- Member’s name
- Membership number
- Address
- Telephone number
- Photo Details – Please tell us about your photos including location, date and which categories you would like to enter.
- Technical Details – Please tell us more about the technical equipment used to take your photos (optional).
- Confirmation of Copyright, Permissions and T&Cs*
*You must also confirm the following:
- That you hold the sole copyright of each photo you entered.
- That you grant The British Deer Society permission to use and share any photos submitted to support the work of the charity and the benefit of deer.
- That you have read and agree to the BDS Competition Terms and Conditions.
Failure to include any of these details may result in images being excluded from the competition.
