For Argyll

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is inviting budding nature photographers of all ages and abilities in Argyll to take part in a nature photography competition to celebrate Scottish Biodiversity Week, which runs from 19 - 25 May 2008. The Scotland-wide competition is being held online on Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) website.

The theme of the photo competition is Natural Inspiration, and people are invited to capture an image of nature on their digital cameras and to email it in.

First prize is an all expenses paid day with top professional nature photographer Neil McIntyre. Second prize is a fabulous whale and dolphin watching trip from the Isle of Mull, kindly donated by Sea Life Surveys, and Third prize is a year’s subscription to BBC Wildlife magazine.

Scottish Biodiversity Week organiser Zeshan Akhter said: “People use, and take inspiration from, nature in so many ways - to recharge their batteries, for art, literature, music, science and faith. We want Biodiversity Week and the nature photography competition to be an opportunity for people to express and share this inspiration. We hope people will dig out their cameras and go to visit the places where they feel connected to nature - where they feel rested, uplifted, refreshed or joyful - and tell us about it through their photographs. This is the second year that the competition has been run. Last year, we had over 400 entries and we are hoping for another great response this year.”

Entrants should email their photos by 31 July as a jpeg attachment to bit@snh.gov.uk with ‘photo contest’ in the subject line. Entries must be original, have a title and include information about where in Scotland the photo was taken as well as the name and contact details of the photographer. SNH will add entries to the website to create an online gallery of pictures which can be viewed at www.snh.org.uk/biodiversityweek.

The judging panel will be led by nature photographer Neil McIntyre. Winners will be notified by email by the end of August and the winning entries will be posted on the website. Winning images may be used on posters or postcards to promote Biodiversity Week next year.

Scottish Biodiversity Week is a week long celebration of Scotland’s wildlife, supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Top events taking place during the week include street theatre in Perth, trips to see a puffin colony in Caithness, wildflower planting to create a wildlife haven in Glasgow, badger watching on Loch Ness side, an expert-led coastal walk in Fife to discover fossilised giant millipede tracks, hen harrier watching at Clyde Muirshiel Country Park and a Homes for Wildlife drop in session at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to
discover practical steps that can be taken to attract wildlife to gardens and window boxes.

For details of competition rules and other details or further information on Scottish Biodiversity Week events go to www.snh.org.uk/biodiversityweek. The week is organised by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, a partnership of those organisations involved in promoting biodiversity, including SNH.