This category celebrates peaceful images of open spaces and the places where we love to relax and enjoy the feeling of well-being. It could be that people (with permission) feature in the landscape of your photography or it could be plants and/or wildlife; perhaps a landscape, a wide vista or a favourite hideaway. Either way there must be connection to flora which is at the heart of all IGPOTY categories and the competition. The judges will be looking for those images that express peace, contentment and enjoyment.

(Admission fees withstanding) you are allowed to enter your photographs taken at National Trust sites into the competition. If your entry is from a National Trust property please note our rule 10.1.8 You agree not to use, or permit the use of, any images taken of or from National Trust sites for any purpose other than entering this competition or your own personal use. You expressly agree not to use such images for commercial purposes such as sale or licence to third parties.

This category is about finding peaceful images of spaces which lift your spirit, from local nature reserves to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Past category winners have deployed this sense of place whilst using plants and nature to frame the scene, creating peaceful images that offer a stunning blend of plant and landscape photography.

It’s time to go exploring, but it doesn’t have to be expensive and international. Use this category to share a local scene, place or retreat that’s close to heart, or set about discovering an entirely new natural place that’s all about promoting mental well-being.

Prizes

First prize:

By entering this category, one of your images stands a chance to win the overall IGPOTY title and prize of £4,000!
IGPOTY award certificate
Your image goes on tour in the travelling exhibition.

Second prize:

IGPOTY award certificate
Your image goes on tour in the travelling exhibition.

Third prize:

IGPOTY award certificate
Your image goes on tour in the travelling exhibition.

Entry Benefits

Exposure, international press coverage, prestigious photography category for green outdoor spaces and natural landscapes, opportunities for growth and feedback, become a stakeholder in conservation, cultivate your skills, reinforce or launch your photographic career.

General rules:

• You may not submit watermarked images with your name or website visible on the photo. Please do not frame your images with borders.
• Entrants may submit a maximum of 4 images per single entry token and a maximum of 6 images per portfolio entry token.
• For free-to-enter competitions you should enter 1 image per token given, up to a maximum of 8 images (8 tokens).
• Entrants' images must be .jpg or .jpeg format and of high enough quality.
• We recommend all images are output to 1920px on their longest side at 72 ppi (ideally with an sRGB colour profile). Any larger than this and you are supplying images bigger than they will be seen or used by IGPOTY judges; your files will take longer to upload and/or download to judges and viewers’ screens.
• The absolute maximum for each image must not be more than 7MB in file size and no more than 3000px on their longest side.
• All entrants must be able to supply a high-res image (300 ppi) suitable for printing/exhibiting should the image be shortlisted. You may be asked for this when the time comes.

N.B.

• High-res source file/s need to be at least 3780 pixels (longest side) @ 300 ppi, ideally larger (and ideally with an Adobe RGB (1998) colour profile).

Full competition rules:

Please see the IGPOTY competition rules, which always prevail:
https://igpoty.com/igpoty-rules/

Category rules:

People (with permission) can be featured in your images.

IGPOTY runs juried competitions based on skill.

Only singular entries from 'Single Entry' main pay-to-enter categories can win the overall IGPOTY prize. Entries from 'Photo Projects' (stand-alone competitions) cannot win the overall IGPOTY prize, neither can portfolios, which will be judged as part of the IGPOTY 'Portfolios' competition category which is stand-alone. Special Awards are not eligible for the overall IGPOTY prize and are stand-alone.

Please see IGPOTY competition rules for full terms, which always prevail.

Please use the large, red-outlined 'ENTER NOW' button on this page.

For help please visit our Frequently-Asked-Questions page.