DG Unlimited Nature Photography Competition 2025
Take part in our inaugural annual photography competition! Whether you’re already a keen photographer or simply love capturing those special moments outdoors, we would love to see your images entered into our Nature Photography Competition 2025. It’s a chance to celebrate the beauty of our landscapes, wildlife, and plants and for us all to do something creative while we enjoy autumn in Dumfries and Galloway with friends and family.
There’s something about autumn in Dumfries and Galloway; it feels like a gift just before the bitter cold of winter sets in. The crisp mornings, golden leaves drifting through the air, low sunlight catching on the hills, and the bustle of wildlife preparing for winter. Autumn, one of my favourites, is a season inviting us to pause, look closer, and appreciate the changing colours around us.
This October, DG Unlimited is inviting everyone who is aged 11 and over to take part in our Nature Photography Competition. It’s the perfect activity for the October holidays whether you’re strolling with friends, walking the dog, exploring the Solway coast or woodlands, or simply enjoying a quiet moment in your garden.
We’re looking for photographs that capture the theme ‘Nature through an Autumnal Lens’ as Inspiration. It could mean an expansive coastal view, the textures of tree bark, autumn leaves, a tiny wildflower, or sparkles of light on a river. The only rule? Your picture must have been taken during the autumn season in the last year, and it must be your own original work. No AI images please.
And what a prize we have for our winners! One winner will receive two tickets to see ‘Hamza Yassin – My Life Behind the Lens’ at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on 31 January 2026. Hamza is one of the UK’s best-loved wildlife cameramen and TV presenters, celebrated for his work on BBC’s ‘Wild Isles’, ‘Countryfile’, and ‘Animal Park’. His passion for nature is infectious, and his photography breathtaking. Spending an afternoon to attend his one man show and hear stories of how Hamza sees the world through his lens will be an unforgettable experience. Our winner will also receive a £150 token to purchase camera equipment. Two runners up will receive a £30 National Book Token each. We will also publish the winning photos and a selection of images in our FOCUS magazine.
A few gentle tips for all you budding nature photographers:
- Work with the light – early morning and late afternoon can give your pictures a beautiful, soft glow.
- Think about perspective – crouch down, tilt the camera, or focus on something unexpected.
- Be patient – the perfect moment often comes when you wait quietly.
- Respect our flora and fauna – please don’t harm, disturb, damage or rearrange nature for a shot.
Your nature photographs can be taken anywhere: your garden, a local park, or while you are out on a walk in any part of Dumfries and Galloway’s beautiful countryside. Just make sure you stay safe, take someone with you, dress for the weather, and enjoy the moment.
You do not need ot be a member of DG Unlimited to entire this competition but yo are warmly invited to join us as a Member. Join DG Unlimited.
Important: Please take care not to disturb wildlife or damage habitats when taking your photographs. Only take photos in safe locations and never go out alone.
Entries are free, and you can send us up to three images. The closing date is Sunday 30th November 2025.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The Theme
Creativity, Photography, and Nature as Inspiration
We’re looking for images that capture the wonder of nature, grand views or tiny details, taken anywhere in our region in 2025. You might photograph a morning mist over the hills, autumn leaves in the park, or a robin on your garden fence.
Who can enter?
Anyone aged 11 years and over.
How to enter
Your photo must have been taken during 2025.
Email it to comms.dgu@gmail.com with:
1. Your name, age, and contact details (parent/guardian’s details for all under 16s)
2. Name each file as follows: Please use this precise naming convention for your entries, (e.g., ImageTitle_YourName.jpg or ImageTitle_YourName.png). Judges will not see your name when judging but they will be aware of the age categories. 3. A short description of your image (max. 50 words)
4. Send up to three images in JPEG or PNG format. No need to send hi res images at this stage, finalists will be notified and we can arrange for hi res images to be sent to us. If you need help to send us your competition entry please let us know by writing to the same email address above, we are here to help! 5. No AI generated images will be accepted. On this occasion we are looking for images that have been taken by you and as much as possible are unfiltered, unaltered and which depict nature as you see it.
Closing date: Sunday 30 November 2025, 11:59pm.
The Prize
One winner will receive two tickets to ‘Hamza Yassin – My Life Behind the Lens‘ at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, on 31 January 2026. Hamza is an award-winning wildlife cameraman and presenter, known for BBC’s ‘Wild Isles’ and ‘Countryfile’, and a passionate advocate for nature.
There is no cash alternative and tickets and vouchers cannot be exchanged for alternative shows or venues.
The judges’ decision on the winning images is final.
Entry into this competition grants DG Unlimited, Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of the Arts, the right to use your images for publication on the DG Unlimited website and on our social channels, and in our FOCUS magazine to showcase your entries. We will also share the winning images with our partner DG Life, but only for us on our monthly column.
You will retain full ownership and copyright of the images.
DG Unlimited will not share your images or use them for any other purpose other than for DG Unlimited materials online, digital, and in print. Any uses for other purposes will require your additional permissions. No payments will be made for use of photos entered into the competition. You will be notified if we intend to use your photos in any of the above mentioned formats, publications, or channels, as a courtesy to you, and to ensure you are correctly credited as the photographer and originator of the image. We may contact you and commission you to take further images for us. If you took several, we may contact you arrange to purchase further use of them.
Your details will be kept securely and not shared with any third parties.
You do not need to be a member of DG Unlimited to entire this competition but yo are warmly invited to join us as a Member. Join DG Unlimited.
Important: Please take care not to disturb wildlife or damage habitats when taking your photographs. Only take photos in safe locations and never go out alone.
No purchase is necessary to enter this competition.