Enter our photography competition to win!
We are excited to announce our latest photography competition, where one lucky winner will get to spend a summer’s weekend by the sea in a beautiful barn in Norfolk and go on a private chartered boat to Blakeney Point to see the amazing seals and their pups! In addition to the two-night stay, the winner will also receive a First News subscription and a wifi bird box. To enter, simply take a photo of what nature means to you and submit it to us. The photo can be black and white or color, landscape or portrait, and can be taken on a phone, camera, or tablet. Please ensure that your entry contains no identifiable faces and is taken in the UK, featuring UK wildlife and nature.
Competition Details
- Competition is now closed.
- Winners will be notified no later than 19th May 2025.
- Take a photo of what nature means to you and you could win some amazing prizes!
What You Can Enter
Our photo competition is open to anyone who loves nature and wildlife. Here are some guidelines to help you get started:
- Your photo can be black and white or color, landscape or portrait.
- It can be taken on a phone, camera, or tablet.
- Please ensure that your entry contains no identifiable faces and is taken in the UK, featuring UK wildlife and nature.
Prizes
The winner will receive a two-night stay at 4 Cart Lodge Barn in North Norfolk, worth over £350. In addition to the stay, the winner will also get a private chartered boat trip to Blakeney Point with a National Trust ranger to see the amazing seals and their pups. Two runners-up will also receive a First News subscription and a wifi bird box.
How to Enter
To enter, simply fill out our online competition entry form. The form is available on our website, and the closing date for entries is Sunday 4th May 2025.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who are you? | I am a parent/guardian entering on behalf of my child(ren) |
| Last name | First name |
| Age category | Please select the correct age category |
| Please enter your email address | |
| Phone number | Please enter your phone number |
| School name | Please enter your school name |
| First line of address | Please enter your first line of address |
| Town/City | Please enter your town/city |
| County | Please enter your county |
| Postcode | Please enter your postcode |
| Are you currently a First News subscriber? | No |
| Are you currently a National Trust member? | No |
| How did you hear about the competition? | Please enter how you heard about the competition |
| Please submit your child’s photo(s) | Please upload your child’s photo(s) here |
Photographer’s Tips
We are pleased to feature photographer James Dobson, one of the National Trust’s top photographers, who has shared his top tips for taking a great photo:
“If it has eyes, make sure they’re in focus.” It gives the viewer an immediate connection with the subject and can add lots of impact.
Choosing where you focus, what is sharp and what is not, is important when taking an image. Generally, it is good to have whatever you are photographing as the point of focus, especially if they are big in the frame.
Whether you live in a city or surrounded by countryside, capturing the beauty of the natural world can be a very special experience, but it’s important you keep yourself and subject safe. Check you’re allowed to photograph it, how close you can get and what you should and shouldn’t do to allow it to behave in a natural and undisturbed way.
The composition – or how you arrange what’s in your image – is an important part of how you take a good photo. Simply looking at other photographers’ work can be helpful.
Ask yourself, do you like the image? If so, what are the bits you like? Is it the subject, colours, shapes, depth of focus? Think about the angle from which you are taking the image; for example, does a low-down or high-up viewpoint change the story?
Symmetry can be a great thing to play with, like a bird on water, or perhaps an animal looking straight into or out of the frame. Rules or no rules, a great-looking image will always shine through, and the best ones tell a story.
The invention of digital photography has made the process of taking and using photographs so much quicker, easier and cheaper, and most mobile phones these days have good cameras.
Regardless of the kit you own, always carry it with you and have it ready to hand. Who knows when an animal might cross your path, or you might be confronted with a great picture opportunity?
View Last Year’s Winner and Runner-Up Entries
You can view last year’s winner and runner-up entries on our website.
Competition Terms and Conditions
As the parent/guardian/teacher, you give consent for any image content uploaded via this form to be used by First News in their newspaper and on their websites. You have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
Competition is Now Closed
We are no longer accepting entries for this competition. Winners will be notified no later than 19th May 2025.
