Photography competition

Calling all budding and seasoned photographers of Avalon and the Poldens!

The theme for the Step, Ride, Thrive photography competition has two options: 'Discovering Nature at the Avalon Marshes' OR 'Discovering Nature in my Local Community'.

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Whether you're inspired by rare birds on the reserves or have found a new peaceful nature spot in your town or village - we would love to see and celebrate your images of our special landscape.

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• Entrants must live within the 23 parishes of Avalon and the Poldens. The parishes are:

  • Ashcott, Baltonsborough, Barton St David, Bawdrip, Burtle, Butleigh, Catcott, Chilton Polden, Cossington, Edington, Glastonbury, Greinton, Keinton Mandeville, Kingweston, Meare and Westhay, Moorlinch, Shapwick, Sharpham, Stawell, Street, Walton, West Bradley, West Pennard.

• Entry limit: maximum of 3 entries per person 

• The judges include Holly Holder, Business Manager at the Avalon Marshes Centre and local photographer, Irena Zvonar.

• Age Groups: aged 18 & over and under 18 

• Image requirements: 

  • No images of people to be featured in the photographs

• Prizes

  • The winning images will be displayed at the Avalon Marshes Centre during summer 2026

  • The winners will receive a large high quality framed print or canvas of their photograph

  • Free day passes to Glastonbury Abbey for the winners - each pass is for 2 adults and 3 children

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Submission guidelines / criteria: 

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• Submit your entries by 31 May 2026 

• Email your image/s to stepridethrive@gmail.com

• Format: Digital images in JPEG or PNG format

• Resolution - 300 DPI

• File Size: Each image file should not exceed 10MB 

• Orientation: Photos of any orientation are permitted

• Naming: Each file should be named as follows: YourName_YourParish_AgeGroup.
  For example, JaneSmith_WestPennard_Adult OR JohnJones_Burtle_Under18

• Within your email, give details about the photo or photos you have taken. Examples include:

  • Swan Lake - discovering a flock of swans at the Avalon Marshes

  • Discovery of a new peaceful spot in my community - nature is helping me process a recent bereavement

  • Sunset looking out from the Polden Hills, near Hurcot. I encourage others to visit this beautiful spot.
     

Terms and conditions:

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• Entries must not have won any competition prize previously

• Photographers may edit their images (e.g. to enhance colours or remove spots), but all edits should be listed alongside the submission. 

• Digital manipulation (e.g. overlays of images) will not be allowed

• Welfare of wildlife and habitats must be considered at all times. Entrants must not cause injury or do anything to distress any animal or damage its habitat, either deliberately or inadvertently, whilst trying to take a photograph. This includes the flying of drones, which should not be flown too close or too noisily to wildlife, or their habitats or nest sites. Please click on the links below for guidance about filming and photographing wildlife.  

• Always adhere to the Countryside Code when taking photographs or visiting the countryside

• You can find more information via the following links:

  • https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code

  • http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140605090108

  • http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/images/photography-guidance_tcm6-35807.pdf  

• For information about licences for photographing wildlife please follow the guidance here:

  • https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-species-when-to-apply-for-a-licence-to-survey-film-or-photograph-them 

• We regret that we are unable to accept postal entries and submissions via social media

• Photographs can be submitted from 27 April until 23.59 hours on 31 May 2026 (‘Closing Date’)

• Late, incomplete or corrupt entries will not be accepted

• Any entrants under the age of 18 must have permission from their parent/guardian to take part in the competition, and the parent/guardian agrees to the terms and conditions on their behalf. 

• Judging will be undertaken by a panel including a local professional photographer and the Avalon Marshes Centre business manager.

• Winning entries will receive a form to complete, requesting further information about their photograph(s) including inspiration, shooting style etc, as well as how the image should be credited. This information will be featured alongside the exhibited images at the Avalon Marshes Centre, and in online communications.

• The winners agree to grant Step, Ride, Thrive and Avalon Marshes Centre a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display the winning images at the centre and for publicity and marketing related to the promotion of the display. Permission is also granted for images to be used within future project activity.

• We will notify the winning entrants by 12 June 2026. 

• Entrants’ photos may be displayed online as part of a montage, in celebration of our local landscape. All entrants agree to grant a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display their images online. Permission is also granted for images to be used within future project activity.

• All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them and must not have been published elsewhere or have won a prize in any other photographic competition.  

• Personal data supplied during the course of this competition will be processed according to GDPR requirements. This information will be deleted after the competition has ended.

• Step, Ride, Thrive may contact you if your local parish council is interested in displaying competition entries locally.

• All information detailing how to enter this competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all terms and conditions are adhered to. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.