IGPOTY Competition 17 main categories closed for entries on October 31st, 2023 and received many great submissions from around the world. Categories include; 7IM Abstract Views, Beautiful Gardens, Breathing Spaces, Plants & Planet, The Beauty of Plants, The World of Fungi, Trees, Woods & . . . Forests, Wildflower Landscapes and Wildlife in the Garden. The Overall Winner was chosen from the 1st Places of the above categories. Many congratulations to the Overall Winner of IGPOTY Competition 17 – June Sharpe from England, UK – with the photo entitled 'Birdscape'. June said: "Now, more than ever, it is vitally important to connect with nature and highlight the beauty and fragility of our planet’s ecosystems. The International Garden Photographer of the Year competition does just that and, in doing so, attracts vast numbers of stunningly beautiful and inspirational entries. Being awarded the title of Overall Winner is an enormous and totally unexpected privilege." Tyrone McGlinchey FLS FRSA, Head Judge, IGPOTY said: "When judging pictures we are hoping to be embraced, and taken on a journey, within a story. June’s picture delivers. There is an abundance of interest and depth which fires the imagination. The soft, new growth transforming between plant and feathers – it is both enticing and enchanting. We are pulled into and beyond the symbolic dancing cranes, and embraced by their ‘wings’, to a place of hope and peace. It is rare that one can connect with nature and feel such compassion." June will receive £4,000 and the Overall Winning photo will feature at the IGPOTY 17 flagship exhibition at Kew Gardens, which is planned to open to the public on Feb 3rd, 2024 and run until March 10th, 2024* Photo: 'Birdscape' © June Sharpe, 1st Place, 7IM Abstract Views, Overall Winner, IGPOTY Competition 17. Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens, 1/350sec at f/5.6, ISO 800. Post-capture: added white fill layer (exclusion blend mode), basic image management in Adobe Photoshop. Caption: The layered branches of this conifer reminded me of the dancing cranes often featured in Japanese woodcuts. In post-processing, I added a fill layer and used exclusion blending mode to alter the colours and enhance the feeling of movement and sense of the ‘birds’ dancing in a fantasy woodland. Congratulations are also due to all the other awarded entrants from the main categories, 'Portfolios', as well as the Photo Projects and Special Awards! To see the results which have been made live, please visit the IGPOTY webpage 'See the winners'. * Exhibition dates may be subject to change, the Competition 17 launch exhibition is supported by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and will feature a selection of higher-placed winning photos (mainly selected from Podium and Finalist level places), there will also be a selection of higher-placed photos from the 'Captured at Kew' Special Award on display.

The very first Photo Project of the new IGPOTY Competition 18 has now opened for entries, be creative and explore the brilliant genre of black and white photography – with a botanical twist! Photo Projects are pay-to-enter, stand-alone competitions, please visit the respective competition page on . . . the IGPOTY website using the 'ENTER NOW' button for full details including pricing, rules, prizes, closing date and to enter. Photo © Minghui Yuan

The results have been decided and all of the awarded entries can now be viewed on the IGPOTY website. Many congratulations to Peter Plottel who was awarded 1st Place, who said: "This award is very unexpected, but extremely gratifying and so much appreciated. It also inspires me to continue my . . . exploration of the macro world. Many thanks to the judges. I dabbled in photography many years ago but only took it up seriously after retiring. I was hoping to pursue landscape photography until I discovered the joys of macro and flower photography." Also congratulations to Diana Chan – awarded 2nd Place, and Daniel Callejo – awarded 3rd Place, and to all of the other awarded entrants. To see all of the awarded places, please visit: https://igpoty.com/competitions/macro-art-competition-17-results/

The results have now been decided and all of the awarded entries can now be viewed on the IGPOTY website. Congratulations to all awarded entrants, especially to the following podium places; Minghui Yuan who was awarded 1st Place, Norman Raine – awarded 2nd Place, and Alan Price – awarded 3rd . . . Place. Minghui will receive £250 and the winning work 'Spider in the Frame' will feature in the IGPOTY exhibition tour. Minghui said: "I found a spider on the underside of a huge leaf of the giant waterlily – Victoria amazonica. The veins of leaves form various shapes, with indentations forming pockets where insects such as this spider can hide. They will dive underwater to create a large bubble, and then they will rely on the air in the bubble to prey and rest underwater." To see all of the awarded places, please visit: https://igpoty.com/competitions/black-and-white-competition-17-results/

IGPOTY is delighted to announce the opening of the Competition 17 main categories for entries, plus the following; Photo Projects: Black & White Pets in the Garden Special Award – European Garden Photography Award And the 'Portfolios' stand-alone competition. All of the above are . . . pay-to-enter categories/competitions. For full information, and to enter, please click here.

The following categories/competitions that make up Competition 16 are open for entries, including the first Photo Project of the IGPOTY calendar year 'Black & White' and brand new Photo Project for 2022: 'Pets in the Garden'. Full list 9 'Main Categories' (All 'Single Entry' only): Abstract . . . Views Beautiful Gardens Breathing Spaces Plants & Planet The Beauty of Plants The World of Fungi Trees, Woods & Forests Wildflower Landscapes Wildlife in the Garden Portfolios - In Association with The Royal Photographic Society Photo Projects ('Single Entry' only): Black & White Pets in the Garden The above and any currently open Special Awards can now be entered here.

IGPOTY Competition 15 categories closed for entries on October 31st, 2021 and received many great submissions. The judges awarded the best photographs captured in countries across the world; Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, . . . Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Vietnam, and Wales. Many congratulations to all the winners and especially to the Overall Winner (best single image in a main pay-to-enter category) - 'International Garden Photographer of the Year (15)' Magdalena Wasiczek from Poland with her work entitled - 'The Stardust'. “Each time I won IGPOTY is a great surprise, these victories came in different periods of my photographic path, but I enjoyed it in the same way. Like a child! But of course - winning the top prize for the third time makes me feel like a champion of climbing Seven Summits.” Magdalena Wasiczek, IGPOTY Overall Winner (Competitions no. 15, 8, 5) Tyrone McGlinchey FLS FRSA, Head Judge, MD, IGPOTY said: "Magdalena has created this stunning, shimmering play on light, as she elevates this humble butterfly to the heavens. The magic of this capture is literally in the very air, with raindrops and macro lens used to great effect. With this calibre of capture, it is easy to see why this will be her third overall IGPOTY win, and I offer her my congratulations for achieving this most amazing distinction." Magdalena will receive £5,000 and her photo will feature at the IGPOTY flagship exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew which is planned to open to the public on Feb 5th, 2022 and run until March 6th, 2022 (COVID depending). Dates may be subject to change, the launch exhibition is supported by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and will feature a selection of higher placed winning photos (on the whole) drawn from Finalist level places and above, there will also be a selection of 'Captured at Kew' winning photos on display. Other special awards are not guaranteed to be on display and not all special award results are yet announced. If you entered the Competition and even if you didn't you can check the results on our website which are now live, by clicking here.

IGPOTY's main 'Competition 14' categories closed for entries on October 31st, 2020 and received many great entries. The judges awarded the best photographs from countries across the world. The winner is Robin Williams PhD MPhil BSc FRPS FIMI FBPA FBIPP from Melbourne, Australia with his work . . . 'Creation' - depicting the stunning close-up detail of the flower head of Nelumbo nucifera (lotus), captured at the Blue Lotus Water Gardens, Victoria, Australia. Robin expressed: "I am absolutely thrilled to be named ‘International Garden Photographer of the Year 2020’ – I am always inspired by the beautiful work submitted by photographers all over the world and humbled to think that my work can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with theirs. We all celebrate the beauty of the natural world and in doing so, hope to protect it.” Robin will receive £5,000 and his photo will now feature in IGPOTY's new virtual exhibition 14 gallery which is planned to open on Feb 6th, 2021 and run to March 7th, 2021 - to match the original Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew launch dates. Whilst on, the virtual exhibition can be viewed here.

The Square Crop (14) Photo Project closed for entries on October 1st, 2020 and has seen some incredible winning photographs from; England, Germany, The Netherlands, Scotland and Wales. Many congratulations to all the winners and especially to the 1st Place winner of this year's Square Crop Photo . . . Project: Paul Mitchell from England with the work entitled - 'Ancient Inhabitant'. IGPOTY Head Judge Tyrone McGlinchey said: "The art of the crop can make or break an image and a square crop really forces us to consider the place of every element and its contribution to the composition. Paul's photo demonstrates balance, critical ability and subject understanding." Paul will receive £250 and (COVID depending) will feature at the flagship exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2021. Please click here to see all of the winning photographs.

The Still Life (14) Photo Project closed for entries on August 31st, 2020 and has seen some incredible winning works from; England, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia and the United States. Many congratulations to all the winners and especially to the 1st Place winner of . . . this year's Still Life Photo Project: Cristina Wanjura from Germany with the work entitled - 'The Passage'. IGPOTY Head Judge Tyrone McGlinchey said: "Cristina has taken the still life photography genre to new heights, combining her own art and photography to create an intriguing work; full of depth and meaning." Cristina will receive £250 and (COVID depending) will feature at the flagship exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2021. Please click here to see all of the winning photographs.

The Macro Art (14) Photo Project closed for entries on June 29, 2020 and has seen an array of worthy winning photographs from; Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, England, Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, Thailand and United States. Many congratulations to all the winners and . . . especially to the 1st Place winner of this year's Macro Art Photo Project: Bruno Militelli with the work entitled 'Botanic Loop'. Guest IGPOTY Judge Ben Brain said: "Echos of the great Karl Blossfeldt run through this splendid image revealing the graphic, architectural beauty of this specimen in all its glory. The composition is balanced and harmonious and the black and white treatment spot on." Bruno will receive £500 and (COVID depending) will feature at the flagship exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2021. Please click here to see all of the winning photographs.

The Black & White Photo Project closed for entries on March 30, 2020 and has seen winning photographs from Australia, Austria, England, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States and Wales. The winner of this year's Black & White Photo Project is Anne MacIntyre with the work . . . entitled 'Ethereal Cosmos'. Anne said: "After having recently painted my summerhouse white, I decided to capture these delicate Cosmos flowers creating vivid white tones of this black and white composition." Judges said: "It is easy to turn any colour photograph into black and white, but through clear intent Anne chose the setup before photographing to dramatic effect; both the black and the whites are punchy and incredibly detailed." "This work uses black and white to add something special, not take something away." Anne will receive £500, be published in the new IGPOTY 14 book and will feature at the flagship exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2021 (should both go ahead post pandemic). Please click below to see all of the winning photographs:

Black & White Competition 14 – Single Results

IGPOTY runs four photo projects per year. They are smaller stand-alone competitions that give photographers the chance to explore specific themes and skills. IGPOTY continues to be the premier global competition for garden and plant photography – open to all adults from anywhere in the world, amateurs and professionals alike, with unique prizes, new categories and iconic exhibition partners. See the website for more information. Photo © Anne MacIntyre, 'Ethereal Cosmos', St. Albans, England, United Kingdom