Share your love of your AONB in a Photograph

A photography competition with the theme, ‘The Landscape I Love’, has just been launched to encourage budding amateur photographers in the district to capture images in any of the district’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The competition, which is running until 30 September, has been organised by the Ring of Gullion, the Mournes and Strangford and Lecale AONBs. Through the competition they are encouraging photographers to interpret the theme any way they choose. The photographs from entrants could focus on our built, cultural or even natural heritage. Photographers can submit any of their great photographic moments, from a day out hiking in the Mournes to a moment of wildlife captured on the shores of Strangford Lough. Only photographs taken in the district’s AONB’s will be accepted. 

The Ring of Gullion, the Mournes and Strangford and Lecale AONBs are asking local schools to get involved and parents to get snapping with their children on their cameras or smartphones. The winning prize for the best photograph is £100 plus there are runner up prizes of £25 for the Under 14 and Over 14 age photo categories. The thirteen winning entries will all feature in the district’s 2020 AONBs Calendar, which will be available at this year’s Winter Solstice Festival.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “We live in a such a beautiful district, we hope that all budding photographers will capture the essence of this year’s theme, ‘The Landscape I Love’ and we hope to attract a large number of entrants who capture stunning photos of our landscapes and seascapes. These photos will help the AONB teams further promote the importance of our natural, built and cultural heritage.

“This fantastic amateur photography competition is a great way to showcase the skills of local amateur photographers and the outstanding qualities of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

It is simple to enter the competition, go to www.ringofgullion.org and click on competitions on the top of the page, full terms and conditions and guidelines for entrants are included.