A global open call invites photographers to explore flora in cultivated and wild settings for the 2026 Photography Competition — a celebration of light, color and form in the garden.
Application deadline: January 18th, 2026
Under the theme In the Garden and sponsored by Classic Cottages, the 2026 Photography Competition focuses exclusively on flora — flowers, plants, trees and vegetation — encouraging entrants to interpret gardens as spaces of design, ecology and seasonal change. The competition welcomes worldwide participation across three age categories, with an awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday 21 February 2026 at 2pm in the Town Centre (venue to be confirmed).
What the competition is about
This edition centers on the expressive potential of botanical subjects. From formal borders to wild meadows, the brief asks photographers to work with lines, textures, patterns, shadows and light. Images of animals will not be accepted, keeping the focus on flora as the primary subject. AI-generated imagery is not allowed.
Categories and prizes
- 18 & Over — Prize: £300 (entry fee £4 per photo; up to 5 photos).
- 12 to 17 — Prize: £100 (free; up to 3 photos).
- 11 & Under — Prize: £50 (free; up to 3 photos).
Prizegiving: Saturday 21 February 2026, 2pm, Town Centre (venue TBC).
Judge: Jason Ingram
We’re delighted to welcome back award-winning photographer Jason Ingram as judge for 2026. Known for sensitive use of light and composition, his garden photography spans projects with Piet Oudolf and Dan Pearson, as well as publications capturing seasonal change across landmark gardens. For this theme, the judge highlights attention to light, harmonious or contrasting color, and the graphic power of details such as sepals, stamens, leaf veins and bark textures.
Eligibility and key rules
- Open worldwide; entries relevant to the theme accepted in good faith.
- Submit your own original work; images must not be previously published or entered elsewhere.
- No AI in any part of image creation; no animals as subjects.
- Images shot during 2025/26; any still camera, phone or tablet is allowed.
- JPEG format only; shortlisted entries may be asked for higher resolution/original files.
- Copyright remains with the photographer; organisers may reproduce images to publicise the competition and the Festival.
- No single work or entrant can win more than one prize; judges’ decision is final.
How to enter
Registration, entry and payments (where applicable) are processed via the official platform: Skor.ie. Name files with a unique title and your initials (e.g., “Morning Splendour – AS”). Ensure you review the full rules before submitting.
Why it matters
By focusing on botanical subjects, the competition invites photographers to consider how light animates living forms and how gardens — cultivated or spontaneous — reveal patterns of care, climate and time. It’s an opportunity to refine technique, celebrate biodiversity and contribute images that expand our shared visual archive of plants and green spaces.
For more international photography and visual arts open calls, explore our Open Calls section.
