Countryside Alliance National Photographic Competition

Countryside Alliance National Photographic Competition

A unique nation-wide photographic competition is now underway to capture the images of our countryside. Photographers from all over the UK are invited to submit pictures for publication in a new book that will celebrate the variety of British rural life, whilst highlighting the threats and challenges it faces.

Their photographs will illustrate evocative essays on the state of our farming, wildlife, rural professions and traditions written by a long list of eminent British writers, historians, explorers, broadcasters and environmental campaigners. Zac Goldsmith, John Mortimer, Ranulph Fiennes, Daisy Waugh, Edward Fox, Frederick Forsyth, Ivan Massow, Antony Beevor, Andrew Roberts, Caroline Waldegrave, Roger Scruton, Robin Page, John Scott, Julian Fellowes, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, and Rachel Johnson, amongst others, are joining forces in the book.

Editors Joanna Eede and William Mollett ask, "What element of the environment do you feel passionate about? What traditions do you want to preserve for your children? We hope to see photographs representing the whole diversity of rural life - from river-life or hill farming to cheese making, stone walling and country sports. From traditional festivals, gardening and bird-life to organic farming, abattoirs and woodland management - we will welcome photographs on every conceivable countryside subject".

Subjects include:

• Farming
  Organic and sustainable, industrialised, arable, livestock, hill farming, old traditions and new methods, diversification, farmers markets etc.
• Cottage Industries, Professions and Artisans
  Farrier, sadler, cheese-making, thatching, gunsmithing, bootmaking, coppicing, hedge-laying, gamekeeping, bee-keeping, etc.
• Wild Life
  Bird and wildlife habitat, agri-business, moorland management, bio-diversity, forestry, woodland management etc.
• Village Life
  Traditions such as May Day festivals, harvesting, Church life, country fairs, gymkhanas, services and amenities, etc.
• Coastal Life
  Fishing industry, village communities, lighthouse keepers, oyster farms etc.
• Off the Beaten Track
  Unknown bohemian traditions and pastimes; pot-holing, leylines, crop circles, myths, morris dancing and other curious activities etc.
• Country Sports - Sub divided into with dogs and without dogs
  Hunting, beagling, hare coursing, angling, shooting, working terriers, hawking, etc.
• The March
  Your impressions of the Liberty and Livelihood March
• The Future
  What will become of Farming, wildlife, rural communities, country sports, etc.

Zac Goldsmith, a contributor to the book and leading environmental campaigner, said, "The face and fabric of rural Britain is changing fast. We must continually press home just how quickly our natural environment and rural life could change irreversibly if we continue blindly down the path we're on. This book is an ideal way of depicting the beauty and complexities of the countryside, and I encourage as many people as possible to contribute photographs".

The photographs to be published will be chosen by a panel of judges in June, including award-winning photojournalist Judah Passow. One overall winner will receive 1,000 of digital camera equipment, and the photograph will be published in the Daily Telegraph. The runner up will receive 400 cash. All other successful entrants will get a free copy of the book.

Application forms can be found at www.travelman.co.uk or send email request to caphoto@travelman.co.uk

To submit a photograph by post, please send in colour or black & white by June 1st 2003 to:
The CA Photographic Competition,
Travelman Publishing
18 King Edward Buildings
629 Fulham Road
London SW6 5UH
Telephone: 020 7751 9998

To submit a photograph by digital format, please send to:caphoto@travelman.co.uk (max initial file size 2.5megs)

Book concept by William Mollett of Travelman Publishing and Joanna Eede. For further information please contact: Joanna Eede on 020 7840 9311 or 07721 093067