The focus will be on indigenous (e.g. resident, migrant and vagrant species) and non-captive birds (please ensure that the bird you are photographing is not an escapee). Submit your best photographs of birds taken within South Africa’s borders. Attempt to submit as many photos of birds within or outside Pretoria’s boundaries, however photos capturing special moments inside our national parks, private reserves, when atlasing or inside your garden will be accepted as well!

Entry classes

• Point-and-shoot camera users (‘mik-en-druk’ cameras)
• DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex, i.e. cameras with interchangeable lenses) users

Each class participant may enter a maximum of three photos (one photo per category).

Submission categories
Each class participant may enter one photo into each of the following categories:

• Portrait shot (a full-frame photo shot/crop of a bird on a branch, rock, drinking, feeding, on nest etc., showcasing the bird as the only subject i.e. no interaction behaviour showcased nor a bird in a landscape setting)
• Action shot (an interaction or action photo showcasing a bird/s flying, fighting, playing, take-off, bathing, landing etc.)
• Natural shot (a photo showcasing the bird/s in their landscape i.e. the bird/s would typically make up a smaller portion of your photo, in contrast with the portrait shot)

What you need to know before submitting photos to us!

• A maximum of 3 photos can be submitted by any one participant, 1 photo per category;
• Photos must be submitted in JPEG (e.g. .jpg/.jpeg) format and in the highest resolution prior to exceeding the size limit;
• Photos may not exceed a size of 2 megabytes (MB);
• Each of your photo files must be renamed as follow:
  • Camera body
  • Entry class
  • Photo submission category
  • Your first and last name
  • Bird species
  • Locality where photo was taken

e.g. Canon EOS 7D, DSLR, Action, Rion Lerm, White-fronted Bee-eater, Montana Pretoria

• Do not add your initials, first, last or any name on the actual photos as a signature
• Photos must be e-mailed to the following address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Photos will be adjudicated by three professional bird photographers, taking into account the equipment your photos were taken with

Some rules!

• Only paid-up BLNG members will be eligible to enter this competition
• Please, no professionals (any one who derives >10% of their income from photography)
• Your photographs must be taken during the competition time-frame, i.e. from May 2012 to 25 September 2012
• Do not attempt to cheat and enter into the wrong class purposefully
• Photos you submit may not have been published elsewhere
• Photographs must be original, taken by the respective participant
• Submitted photographs must not violate the copyright or any other personal or property right of any third party. You have also obtained any and all releases and permissions necessary for our intended use
• By submitting your photographic entries, you provide the club with permission to publish your photograph/s on our club website in the ‘Laniarius’ newsletter and shown at the Gala event (end of 2012) where the winners will be announced (some great prizes up for grabs).
• You may apply your skills learnt at the photographic course presented earlier 2012, but no manipulation though (e.g. removing of branches or physical subjects etc. from the actual photo)
• Your photographs will be sent as anonymous to the judges
• The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
• The closing date for this competition is 25 September 2012