Square Crop returns once again as a Photo Project of the IGPOTY competition calendar.

Judges will be looking for scenes of beautiful botanical subjects/garden views/abstract views/wildlife/fungi – perfectly suited to a square format/crop. Use inspiration from the other main Competition 18 categories as a guide to the subject matter to create stunning square photos. As always, IGPOTY is looking for plant life to be visible within your capture.

Please note, Photo Projects only accept 'Single Entries' not portfolios, which are separate and should be entered into the stand-alone IGPOTY competition category titled 'Portfolios'.

Making full use of the frame is the key to success as well as utilising the right subject elements with style and clarity to form an impactful square/or square cropped photo.

As Tyrone McGlinchey, Head Judge of International Garden Photographer of the Year says: "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. This photo project then is all about balance, critical ability and subject understanding.”

Likewise – square format photos (derived from native capture) are also accepted, these require those crtitical decisions to be taken at the time of capture.

The Photo Projects offer an opportunity to focus on specific skills and in this Photo Project – effective crop/composition is a significant skill to master, particularly within the genre of garden photography. Communicating the beauty of a garden (for example) within a box can be difficult, but a cropped image can help focus the mind on specific details or aspects of a larger scene.

Prizes

First prize:

Photo Project winner:

£250

IGPOTY award certificate
Your image goes on display at the IGPOTY launch exhibition/in the travelling exhibition if space allows.

Second prize:

IGPOTY award certificate
Your image goes on display at the IGPOTY launch exhibition/in the travelling exhibition if space allows.

Third prize:

IGPOTY award certificate
Your image goes on display at the IGPOTY launch exhibition/in the travelling exhibition if space allows.

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:

Square format or cropped images only, in aspect ratios of: 1:1 or 4:3 only. No other aspect ratios.

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.