Congratulations to David Smith and John Hopkins

Congratulations to two of our members for their results in recent competitions:

David Smith was awarded Best Botanical in the PAGB GB Cup Nature Section with Polytrichum Moss Capsules and in the RHS Garden Photographer of the Year competition Peloric Foxglove by John Hopkins won third prize in the Details category.

Polytrichum Moss Capsules © David L Smith

Pyloric Foxglove © John Hopkins

RHS Photographic Competition closes 1st November

With the closing date for this year's RHS Photographic Competition fast approaching, we're having one last push to remind photographers to get their entries in before Friday 1st November to be in with a chance of winning the coveted title of RHS Photographer of the Year 2013 and the top prize of £1000. The standard of entries for this year is already high, but we're keen to make sure that no budding entrants are left behind, so we very much hope that you will pass this message on to your members.

According to judge and professional garden photographer Clive Nichols,'shooting at dawn in the autumn is the perfect time to take pictures outdoors as flowers and foliage will still be decorated with dew and cobwebs which can make for some striking images.'  Now that we are in the midst of autumn it's the perfect time to get outside and capture some truly spectacular shots.

Full details of the competition including the entry form can be found on this website.

A Message from the RHS Photographer of the Year Organisers

At this time of year, when many photography clubs and societies are starting their new season after the holidays, we thought you might be interested in inviting your members to enter this year's RHS Photographic Competition, to compete for the prestigious title of RHS Photographer of the Year and a share in the £5,500 prize fund. There is a cash prize of £1000 for the overall winner as well as prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings in each of the six categories - plants, gardens, details, seasons, wildlife and people in the garden - with no limit on the number of entries you can submit. Winners and finalists also get a huge amount of exposure with their work featuring heavily in the UK and international press and being exhibited across all RHS Gardens. We would love you to pass this great opportunity on to your members and print off some of the attached brochures to distribute.

2012 winner Josie Elias, said: "Winning the competition was a huge honour and seeing my photograph all over the national and international press was very, very exciting. It led on to a whole new world of possibilities and the prestige of the title has really helped my career. I would encourage anyone, professional or amateur, garden lover or novice to enter."

World-renowned garden photographer Clive Nichols will be chairing the judging panel this year. Clive's work has appeared in hundreds of books as well as in countless magazines, calendars and brochures, and he regularly gives master classes in flower and garden photography for the RHS, the next being on 17th September at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey. All entries into the competition are also considered for the Medici Cards Award, presented to the photographer who submits the image best suited for reproduction as a greetings card. The winner will receive 200 copies of the card which they can then proudly distribute to friends and family.

The RHS is always keen to promote great garden and plant photography,and this competition offers an opportunity for all professional or amateur photographers from anywhere in the world, to showcase their best garden-related images. To find out more about the competition, and to submit your images, please visit our website.
The closing date is Friday 1st November 2013, so there is plenty of time yet to upload your images. It may just be that the next RHS Photographer of the Year is one of YOUR members!

Flowers under Water

When we were away last week in the Eden Valley we took a look at the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition which was on in Reghed.  There were some interesting pictures of flowers which had been put under water and left to degrade so today I plunged this tulip under water.  It will  be interesting to see how it looks in a few weeks' time.