Photography Competition for Garden Lovers and Horticulturists Presented by RHS 2019

The RHS Photographic Competition is owned and run by the charity Royal Horticultural Society. It is a multi-category, free to enter annual competition aimed at garden lovers, horticulturists, and photographers alike. The aim of the competition is to promote high quality and beautiful photography; and the RHS wants to inspire everyone to grow by encouraging people to share their two passions of gardening and photography. The RHS Photographic Competition is free to enter. The categories of the competition include:

• Celebrating Gardens
  Whether in your own private space or a spectacular RHS garden, a tiny city patch to a formal domestic outside haven – get out and about photographing the very best of any style of garden. Consider elevated overviews from an upstairs window or simply images that capture the enjoyment people get from being in an outside space.
• Welcoming Garden Wildlife
  Beautiful photographs of insects, birds, and creatures found wild in your garden or garden surroundings. Images can be close up details or wider views of wildlife enjoying the outside environment.
• All About Plants
  Submissions should show a plant, tree, or shrub as a whole entity – macro photography or tiny details aren’t right for this category. Instead, photographs could include the flower, stem and leaves of one single plant, or a clump of plants in their natural environment.
• Abstract
  Submissions can be a close-up of a plant or an abstract view of plants or gardens. Image manipulation and graphic approaches are also welcomed.
• Urban Gardening
  Whether you live in a flat, shared space or have a small outside terrace, all types of gardening can be undertaken in a city or town.
• Under 18s (age 11-17)
  Any image can be entered into this category that is related to anything horticultural, gardening or wildlife. Images should be submitted via RHS Twitter, Instagram or Facebook accounts using the hashtag #RHSphotocomp. The monthly shortlist will be selected by the RHS social media team and an RHS judge, and the winner will be voted for by our social media followers. Each monthly winner will then be fed into the competition judging for overall category winner.
• Under 11s
  Any photographs depicting something plant, garden, or wildlife related that interests you.
• Social Media
  Any photographs depicting something plant, garden, or wildlife related that interests you.
• Portfolio
  This category is open to both amateur and professional photographers.
  This category is judged for RHS medals and is therefore not included in the judging for the overall winner of the RHS Photographic competition. A ‘best in show’ will be awarded.
  This category is for a compilation of six images in a series or based on a common theme or style. You will not be able to change your submission at a later date.
  Shortlisted entrants must print, frame, and display their photography series.

Prizes

1. Winner of the RHS Photographic Competition 2019: £5,000
2. Young Winner of the RHS Photographic Competition 2019: £750 Wex Photographic vouchers
3. Adult categories:
   First Place: £500
   Second Place: £250
   Third Place: £150
4. Portfolio category:
   Best in Show: £500
5. Under 18s:
   First place: £150 Wex Photographic vouchers
   Second place: £75 Wex Photographic vouchers
   Third place: £50 Wex Photographic vouchers
6. Under 11s:
   First place: £150 Wex Photographic vouchers
   Second place: £75 Wex Photographic vouchers
   Third place: £50 Wex Photographic vouchers

Eligibility

1. The RHS Photographic Competition is open to all - apart from anyone associated with the competition including RHS employees (and their partners and family), board and committee members, ambassadors, media sponsors, and judges.
2. The entrant must be the original artwork creator and solely hold the copyright.
3.  Images must not be licensed or disposed of any rights that will conflict with the competition. Images that have been made available on stock libraries and that may have gained publicity from this may be disqualified at the judges’ discretion.
4. Images that have won, been commended, or received notable publicity in any major competition before the submission deadline or judging will be disqualified at the judges’ discretion.
5.  Any submitted image must not be entered into any other competition after being entered into the RHS Photographic Competition until the results have been announced at an RHS Show 2019.
6. The RHS requires that prior permission be sought before submitting photographs of private property or private gardens.
7. Visitors to RHS Gardens Wisley, Harlow Carr, Rosemoor and Hyde Hall are encouraged to capture and share photographic moments for personal, non-commercial purposes and do not require prior permission to enter the RHS Photographic Competition. Prior permission is necessary for any commercial and editorial usage of still or moving images.
8. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary permissions are obtained from any person featured in a photograph.
9. Entrants for ‘Under 18s (11-17 years)’ must be between 11 and 17 years old on the day the competition closes.
10. Entrants for ‘Under 11s’ must be under 11 years old on the day the competition closes.