Manifold Valley Nature Photography Competition

ManifoldCAN would like to invite you to take part in a nature photo competition, open to photographers of all ages and abilities. Thirteen winning photographs will be included in a 2027 Manifold Valley calendar showcasing the valley through the seasons and all winners and shortlisted photographs will be exhibited at a community event in the Manifold Valley in Autumn 2026. The 13 winners will also receive a free copy of the calendar, while all profits from sales of the calendar will help raise funds for ManifoldCAN's ongoing activities.

Who Can Enter

• Open to everyone, whether you live, work in or are visiting the area

• Entries are welcome from all ages and abilities

Photos should be focused on nature within the Manifold Valley area, for example:

• Landscapes and views

• Wild animals, birds, insects

• Plants, flowers and trees

• Farm animals

Please don’t include identifiable people

Photographs may be taken using:

• Any type of camera, including mobile phones or tablets, as long as you can submit a digital file for entry

• Colour or black & white

Competition rules

• All photos must be landscape in orientation

• Submissions should be high-resolution images suitable for printing (8MP / 4K / 3,840 pixels or higher)

• Photos must be an original work taken by the entrant

• Images must not have won previous competitions

• As this is the first time we have held this competition, there is no historical time frame – you can submit photos taken in previous years as well as the current year.

• Seasonal entries are encouraged (we really want photos to suit all the months of the year!)

• A small amount of editing is allowed (cropping, exposure, colour correction)

• Heavy manipulation or AI-generated content is not permitted

• No people should be identifiable (people may appear in the distance, back turned etc)

• Maximum of 5 entries per person (a maximum of 1 photo per person will be included in the calendar).

• Each photo must be submitted individually so it has a unique ID and means we can keep them anonymous during judging.

Submission:

• Submissions are open 24th July - 24th August 2026

• Digital submission only

• Each photo to include:

  • Photographer's name

  • Where it was taken (if you don't exactly where, an approximate location is fine)

  • When it was taken (if you don't know the exact date, just enter an approximate one)

  • Optional title and / or caption

Use of Images

• Copyright remains with the photographer

• By entering, photographers grant ManifoldCAN a non-exclusive license to:

  • Use selected images in the ManifoldCAN calendar

  • Promote the calendar and competition

  • Use images on the ManifoldCAN website, social media, newsletters and publication

• Photographers will always be credited

Prizes

• Shortlisted and winning photos will be exhibited at a local community event

• 13 winning photos will be featured in the ManifoldCAN 2027 calendar

• 13 winning photographers will receive a complimentary copy of the finished calendar