Announcing our Judge for 2027 – Charlie Waite

“Instantly recognisable, Charlie Waite’s landscapes are rare perfections of light, colour and composition, and offer the viewer a luxuriant portrait of a planet at peace, and one where mankind and his activities are in harmony with his surroundings. There is no explanatory verbiage to endure, no theory to absorb and one’s emotions are immediately engaged. It is no surprise that Charlie Waite has become one of the most celebrated landscape photographers in the world.

His photographer’s eye selects with such precision that often what we see in his images are beautiful designs, some verging on abstraction, and one might almost believe that man’s use of the land, where shown, has an aesthetic as well as a productive purpose. His pictures have luminosity, an inner quietness and possess a sense of “being there”.

Some words from Charlie Waite about what he’ll be looking for:

‘Trees are among the most eloquent subjects in the landscape. They speak quietly of endurance, change and the passage of time, yet they are never separate from the world around them. Whether standing alone or as part of a woodland, they shape the landscape just as surely as light, weather and season.

‘For this competition, I would encourage you to look beyond simply photographing a tree. Consider its relationship with its surroundings and with the light that reveals its character. Ask yourself what drew you to a particular tree, and what it is saying within the landscape. It may be strength or fragility, solitude or companionship, permanence or renewal. It might be the intricate detail of bark, the elegance of a single branch, or the way mist, rain or early morning light transforms an ordinary scene into something memorable.

‘I hope to see images that reveal careful observation, thoughtful composition and a genuine emotional connection with the subject. The strongest photographs are rarely those that simply record what was there; they are those that invite us to pause, to look again, and to experience something of what the photographer felt in that moment. Landscape photography cuts across all political and national boundaries. It transcends the constraints of language and culture. I look forward to seeing how photographers from around the world interpret this remarkable and enduring subject.’

PRIZES & THE RULES 

The competition is open to all photographers, from anywhere in the world. There are three categories:

• Age 18 & Over – with a prize of £300
• Ages 12 to 17 – with a prize of £100
• Age 11 & Under – with a prize of £50 

The rules

Please take note of the guidance about the scope of the theme content from our judge, Charlie Waite; focus on trees and their landscape. We won’t accept entries featuring images of animals. 

All entries relevant to the theme are accepted in good faith.

The photographs must be your own original work and not have been published before or currently entered in any other competition.

We want to see images created from your own imaginations and hard work, please do not use AI in any way to generate your images.

Copyright remains with you but we reserve the right to reproduce the images in print and digital form to publicise and promote the competition and the Festival.

No single piece of work, or entrant can win more than one prize.

You must be able to supply the original image file if we ask.

Entrants agree to indemnify the judges, organisers, and any other related parties against any litigation that may arise should the images entered not have the necessary permission to be published.

We reserve the right to update and amend these rules at any time, but only if necessary; any changes will be posted on this website.

The judge’s decision is final.

How to enter

Entry fee:  Entries in the 18 & Over category – £4. All entries for the two younger categories are free of charge.

Number of images:  Over 18s can submit up to 5 photos, under 18s up to 3.

The image/s: 

• Must be taken by you using a stills camera, a phone camera or a tablet; you will hold the sole copyright.
• Any editing or post processing of the original image must have been done by you, and only you.
• Your image must have been taken during 2026/27 but it can be shot in any country in the world.
• We won’t accept downloaded clip-art, textures, overlays, or elements from any other photographer’s images, or images that bear no relevance to the theme.
• We reserve the right to disqualify any entries we consider not relevant to the theme.

Format: 

• Please send your digital image(s) in JPEG format only.
• Image size – The size of the image should be at least 2MB and not more than 12MB.
• Your entry should have Your Initials and a unique title in the filename e.g. “AS – Morning Splendour“

Deadline for entry:  Deadline for entry is 11pm on Sunday 10 January 2027.  

Registration, entry and any payment due must be completed online through our official competition platform Skor.ie