‘Winter Woodland’ Schools Christmas Photography Competition
Every year we decorate Miss Alice’s Drive, our woodland walk, with a display created by local schoolchildren and we would like your school to take part. There is also the chance to win some money for your school!
A major part of our annual display is our lightbox exhibition, with images produced by schools. This year, we are asking schools to submit photographs for display, inspired by the theme ‘Winter Woodland’. We are hoping that each school will hold a competition in-school to choose their best photograph/s to submit to us. The aim is to have eighteen photographic images displayed in lightboxes that celebrate nature during the winter months.
A bit like the Countryfile calendar, but eighteen images rather than twelve!
We have asked local professional photographer Adam Hollier to choose his favourite images from the submissions for display.
You can take part in school, or as homework, or use your Forest School time, your playground-whatever works for you.
What will you win?
The final chosen photographs will be displayed for the whole of our Christmas and Winter Light periods.
Our visitors will be able to vote for their favourite photograph whilst on site, and the winning school will receive all of the monies raised.
Every child who takes part will also receive a free ticket to Christmas at Waddesdon and is also entitled to 4 half-price tickets for friends and family.
How does my school take part?
To take part, please email learning@waddesdon.org.uk
The deadline for photographs is Friday 21 October.
We are asking all schools who take part to be National Trust Education Group Members. You may already have this! Membership entitles your whole school to free entry to all NT properties when visiting as a school group, for a year. Here at Waddesdon, there are a whole host of other benefits to enjoy too including FREE sessions, extra resources and the chance for your whole school to take part in all of our special projects throughout the year.
Benefits you’ll enjoy:
- Free entry to National Trust properties during published opening times, including Waddesdon
- A free copy of the annual National Trust handbook
- Free planning and preparation visits for group leaders
- Free online workshops from Waddesdon, normally £40
- Free wall planner when you sign up via Waddesdon
Membership is much better value than buying one-off entry!
Find out more about Education Group Membership
If you are a local school based in Buckinghamshire, you are eligible to apply to our Schools Access Fund. Run by the Rothschild Foundation, this fund can cover the costs of your membership and any on-site trips, including transport up to £750.
FAQs
Are there any other benefits to being National Trust Education Group Members?
Can we visit our photograph?
What is the deadline?
How do we submit our photograph(s)?
How many photograph can we submit?
If we submit a photograph, will we feature in the display?
How will the photographs be judged by Adam?
Is the orientation landscape or portrait?
What can my pupils take photos of?
Do I have to worry about what resolution our photo is?
Where will the lightboxes be displayed?
How will the public know it is our photograph?
How many children can take part?
How will the winning photograph be chosen?
Hints and tips from our judge, Adam Hollier
Be different!
Try and avoid taking pictures like everyone else. Find different shots by kneeling down, lying down or shooting from above!
Go small and go large!
Try and get as close up as you can or get up high and shoot a wonderfully large landscape.
Get up early!
Drag yourself out of bed (ouch!) and shoot nature while it’s waking up. Not only will you get a beautiful sunrise but the light is amazing first thing.
Bad weather alert!
Just because it’s raining it doesn’t mean you can’t head out with your umbrella and wellies and catch stunning raindrops on leaves. Also look out for reflections!
It’s behind you!
When you’re out walking with your camera keep turning around and see what is happening behind you. It might just be THE shot!
Don’t forget…
Always follow the Countryside Code!
Rules of entry
- The title for the Waddesdon Schools Christmas Photographic Competition 2022 is ‘Winter Woodland’. The theme is open to your personal interpretation but we are looking for beautiful photographs that show off the best of the Buckinghamshire’s countryside, wildlife (in both country and urban settings), agriculture and recreation.
- Photos of farm animals and pets are allowed but photos of zoo animals are not. Images of native UK wildlife in captivity are also not allowed.
- Please tell your students that they must not cause injury or do anything to distress any animal or damage its habitat, either deliberately or inadvertently whilst trying to take a photograph. This includes the flying of drones, which should not be flown too close or noisily to wildlife, their habitat or nest sites.
- Please don’t trespass to take your photos and remember you may need a license to fly a drone.
- We are aware that digital photography does allow for some image enhancement. You can enter images that have had spots, scratches or other blemishes removed. You can have worked on the colour or enhanced the image for the sake of the composition. You can also crop the image to improve composition.
- We will not accept composite images – entries that stitch two or more separate photographs together to make one image, or entries that superimpose elements photographed separately onto an image.
- We want you to stay faithful to the spirit of the competition, and never deceive the viewer or misrepresent the aspect of nature being portrayed. We reserve the right to exclude any image we believe may have been excessively treated so as to alter its authenticity.
- Entries must be the work of your pupils. Teachers, parents and guardians can advise but entries must be your pupils’ own photographs. This a school competition and we are not expecting professional photography!
- Judges’ decision is final. No correspondence can be entered into.
- Entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The entrants must be the sole owner of copyright.
- Please ensure that photos do not include identifiable features of people or properties.
- All photos must be submitted with a completed entry form from the school.
- Always follow the Countryside Code!
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