We all have our own take on what is special about Dorset. Often, top of that list is a stunning landscape that people hold dear to them. The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Dorset AONB) Partnership, together with Dorset magazine, invite you to share your view of what makes Dorset special by entering the Take a Dorset View photography competition.
Take a Dorset View aims to celebrate the outstanding landscapes found within the Dorset AONB area which covers almost half of the county. Within this are a sequence of fantastic landscapes from chalk downland and clay vales to lowland heath and dramatic coastline, all within a relatively small area. Included in this are many characterful landmarks such as pine topped Colmers Hill, the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle, and Maiden Castle one of the largest Iron Age hillforts in Europe, as well as outstanding geological features on the Jurassic Coast such as Durdle Door and Chesil Beach.
The winning images will not only be displayed in the Dorset Magazine 2024 Calendar, but also shared with a wider audience via a touring exhibition and a new Dorset AONB Explore leaflet, Take a Dorset View.
Prizes include £500 worth of vouchers kindly donated by Castle Cameras to spend on photographic equipment. We are particularly keen to receive entries from young people, and there will be a Youth Winner who will receive vouchers to spend on camera equipment.
‘We know Dorset has outstanding natural beauty,’ says Dorset AONB Manager, Tom Munro, who will also be judging the competition. ‘By running this photo competition, we hope to get an insight into the views that bring colour to people’s lives. This could be taken on your journey to work or school, your favourite dog walk, views enjoyed from a family picnic spot, or a special Dorset place you go to when you need to relax and unwind. Views can be close and intimate, capturing the detail and spirit of a place, or sweeping vistas. We want to see your own view of Dorset.’
As these images will feature in a calendar, we want to see photographs taken from across the seasons. Frosty fields, wind-swept beaches, blossom-filled spring, sultry summer sunsets or fiery autumn colour. Local wildlife, great and small, can also be included within your Dorset view.
Take a Dorset View photographic competition runs until July 31, 2023. The competition is free to enter and open to all. Click here for details on how to enter, technical spec, and full terms and conditions.
How to enter
- All photographs must be taken within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which covers almost half of Dorset from Lyme Regis to Poole Harbour and north to Hambledon Hill near Blandford. You will need to say where your images were taken and when. Find a map of the AONB boundary at dorsetaonb.org.uk.
- Images must be a jpeg file as least 3000 pixels on its longest edge. Winners and runners up will be required to submit a higher resolution version for exhibition display.
- Each entrant can submit up to 10 images by the closing date of July 31, 2023. You will need to upload your photos at dorsetaonb.org.uk/photo-competition-2023 where you will find full details of how to enter, and the technical spec required. The competition is free to enter.
- Judging panel is Tom Munro (Dorset AONB), Helen Stiles (Dorset magazine), Castle Cameras and a member of the Dorset AONB Partnership Board.
THE PRIZES
Established in 1974, Castle Cameras has shops in Bournemouth and Salisbury as well as an online store. Their mission has always been to make photography fun and to provide excellent customer service.
‘At Castle Cameras, we are passionate about photography and love to see the incredible images that people capture with their cameras. As proud partners of Take a Dorset View, we are thrilled to be a part of this exciting photographic competition which will inspire photographers of all levels to get outdoors and explore the beauty of Dorset. We are committed to supporting the photography community in Dorset and beyond, and we are excited to be partnering with Dorset magazine and Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on this project.’ Karen, Racheal and Graham of Castle Cameras.
OPEN CATEGORY: Take a Dorset View
Winner: £250 Castle Cameras voucher for photographic equipment, inclusion in Dorset Magazine 2024 Calendar, 5 complementary copies of the calendar and inclusion in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
Two Runner-Ups: £100 Castle Cameras voucher for photographic equipment, inclusion in Dorset Magazine 2024 Calendar, 2 complementary copies of the calendar and inclusion in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
Nine Highly Commended: Inclusion in Dorset Magazine 2024 Calendar, 2 complementary copies of the calendar and inclusion in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
20 further images will be included in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
YOUTH CATEGORY: Take a Dorset View
Winner: £100 voucher for photographic equipment and inclusion in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
Two Runner-Ups: £50 voucher for photographic equipment and inclusion in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
Ten further images will be included in the ‘Take a Dorset View’ exhibition.
Closing date for entries July 31, 2023. Upload your entries at dorsetaonb.org.uk/photo-competition-2023
