Rules, terms and conditions
Eligibility
- The competition is open to photographers of all ages.
- Entrants must submit their work in the appropriate age category at the time of entry.
- Participants under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian to enter.
Competition Categories
Age Categories
- Children: 0–12 years
- Teens: 13–17 years
- Adults: 18+ years
Photographic Categories
- Bird Portrait – A close-up photograph highlighting the character or features of a bird.
- Bird Behaviour – Birds displaying natural or interesting behaviour.
- Abstract – Creative or artistic interpretations involving birds, feathers, patterns, or forms.
- Groups of Birds / Other – Images featuring multiple birds or unusual compositions.
Each category will have one winner.
Entry Limits
- Entrants may submit one photograph per category.
- Each photograph may only be entered into one category.
- Entries must be submitted before the competition closing date.
Birdworld and Kiln Photo Staff
Birdworld or Kiln Photo staff may enter the competition but must declare their employment when submitting an entry.
- Staff entries will not be eligible for competition prizes or category wins.
- Staff photographs may still be selected for the exhibition and may be recognised separately (for example, Best Staff Photograph).
Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by 31st August 2026.
Entries received after this date will not be accepted.
Location Requirement
- All photographs must be taken within Birdworld.
- Organisers may request evidence that the photograph was taken at Birdworld.
Entrants must follow all Birdworld visitor rules and guidelines while photographing.
Image Submission Requirements
To ensure images are suitable for judging and potential exhibition printing, entries must meet the following technical requirements:
- Images must be submitted in JPEG (.jpg) format.
- Photographs must be a minimum of 3500 pixels on the longest side at 300 dpi.
- The maximum file size is 10MB per image.
- Images that do not meet these requirements may not be accepted.
File Naming
Each submitted file must follow the format:
PhotographerName_PhotoTitle_Category_age.jpg
Example:
JaneSmith_GoldenFeathers_BirdPortrait_18+.jpg
The file name must clearly include:
- Photographer’s name
- Title of the photograph
- Category entered
- Age category
Image Information
Entrants will also be asked to provide:
- Photographer’s name
- Age category
- Competition category
- Title of the photograph
- Optional description or caption
- Email address
- Optional telephone number
Image Ownership and Copyright
- The entrant must be the sole creator and copyright holder of the photograph.
- Photographs must be original and must not infringe the rights of any third party.
- Images created primarily using AI image generators or artificial intelligence tools are not permitted.
Image Editing
Basic editing is permitted, including:
- Cropping
- Colour and exposure adjustments
- Sharpening
- Minor retouching such as removal of dust spots
Images should remain a faithful representation of the original photograph.
AI-generated or heavily AI-altered images are not permitted.
Animal Welfare
Entrants must prioritise the welfare of birds and animals at all times.
Photographers must:
- Follow all Birdworld visitor guidelines and staff instructions.
- Not disturb, harass, bait, or manipulate animals in order to obtain a photograph.
- Respect the wellbeing and natural behaviour of the birds and other animals.
Entries that appear to compromise animal welfare may be disqualified.
Judging
Photographs will be judged by a panel from Birdworld and Kiln Photo.
Images will be assessed based on:
- Creativity and originality
- Composition
- Technical quality
- Interpretation of the category
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Exhibition and Use of Images
Selected photographs, including winners and runners-up, will be displayed in a public exhibition at Birdworld.
By entering the competition, participants grant Birdworld and Kiln Photo permission to:
- Print and display submitted images in the exhibition
- Use images for competition promotion
- Share images on websites, social media, and promotional materials related to the competition
Organisers may resize or crop images if required for printing or display, while maintaining the integrity of the photograph.
Photographers will be credited wherever possible.
High-Resolution Files for Selected Entries
If an image is shortlisted, selected for exhibition, or chosen as a winner or runner-up, the entrant may be required to provide a higher-resolution version of the photograph suitable for exhibition printing.
Entrants must:
- Provide the requested file within the timeframe specified by the organisers.
- Ensure the file is suitable for high-quality exhibition printing.
- Provide the original image file if requested for verification.
Failure to provide a suitable high-resolution file may result in the photograph being withdrawn from the exhibition or replaced by another entry.
Disqualification
Entries may be disqualified if they:
- Do not comply with the competition rules
- Contain offensive or inappropriate content
- Are suspected of plagiarism or AI generation
- Were not taken at Birdworld
- Compromise animal welfare or visitor safety
GDPR
Personal information provided during entry will be used only for the administration of the competition and communication with entrants.
Information will not be shared with third parties without consent.
Right to Amend or Cancel
Birdworld and Kiln Photo reserve the right to amend the competition rules or cancel the competition if necessary due to unforeseen circumstances.
Acceptance of Rules
By submitting an entry, participants confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by these competition rules.