The WEL Marine Photography Competition has now closed.

WEL Marine Photography Competition

With over 700 miles of coastline in Wales, we are spoilt for choice for places to visit and enjoy. With breathtaking views, wonderful marine wildlife, and picturesque coastal communities, the opportunities to capture the scene in a photograph are endless. Whether you live in Wales, or have visited the Welsh coast on holiday, we’re inviting you to help us celebrate Wales’ sensational seas by entering the Welsh Marine Photography Competition. Stand the chance to win some great prizes by submiting images and film of your favourite places, wildlife and things to see, either on the Welsh coast or in the sea.

WEL Welsh Marine Photography Competition:

Open to all
Enter online at www.waleslinkmarine.org.uk/photo_competition
Free to enter
All entries must be taken in Wales
Competition closes 31^st October 2011

The WEL MWG is made up of representatives from Wildlife Trusts Wales, RSPB Cymru, WWF Cymru, the National Trust and the Marine Conservation Society.

The judging panel include Iolo Williams, Chair of WEL Dr Madeleine Havard, marine biologist and photographer Judith Oakley, and photographer Paul Kay.

Photo comp flyer.bmp

The Photography Competition categories are:

Sensational seas;
Troubled waters;
Coastal communities and culture;
Young photographer category (open to photographers of 17 years and under);
Video;
Professional.

The prizes announced so far…

Skomer Island National Nature Reserve is home to thousands of Manx shearwaters and puffins and is teaming with other amazing wildlife. The Island is surrounded by the first and only Marine Nature Reserve in Wales. Win a free overnight stay in self-catering accommodation to Skomer for two people, with a fantastic guided Manx Shearwater walk by a member of the Island staff. The prize includes the boat fare and entry onto Skomer Island. Prize kindly donated by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

The dramatic offshore island of Ramsey hosts thousands of seabirds in the spring and early summer, including guillemot, razorbills and kittiwake. Win a free trip to land on RSPB Ramsey Island nature reserve, boarding the Thousand Islands Expeditions crossing, and joining the reserve warden on a scheduled guided walk of the island. Witness the tidal rapids in the Sound of Ramsey, vibrant seabirds colonies, seal pups and feeding porpoise, while enjoying the dramatic coastline scenery from one of the best vantage points in Pembrokeshire. Prize kindly donated by RSPB Cymru and Thousand Islands Expeditions.

Join a free boat tour of RSPB Ramsey Island nature reserve with Thousand Islands Expeditions tour operators. Witness vibrant seabirds colonies up close, diving gannets and the chance of spotting basking sharks, common dolphin, porpoise and other cetaceans. Prize kindly donated by Thousand Islands Expeditions.

Cardigan Bay is home to one of two semi-resident populations of bottlenose dolphins in the UK, and is a fantastic place to spot several species of cetacean, nesting seabirds and Atlantic grey seals. Join Dolphin Survey Boat Trips based in New Quay for a two hour cetacean spotting cruise in Cardigan Bay. The prize is for two people but does not cover transport to New Quay. Prize kindly donated by Dolphin Survey Boat Trips.

The biggest aquarium in Wales, Anglesey Sea Zoo is home to over 150 native species, and is a great place to find our more about the wonderful wildlife found around the Welsh coastline. Win a free Family Ticket to the Sea Zoo, which includes entry for 2 adults and 2 children. Prize kindly donated by Anglesey Sea Zoo.

Ever dreamt of having your photographs printed in a beautiful glossy magazine? Well here is your chance, the winning photograph from each category will be printed in the January edition of Welsh Coast Magazine. All images will be credited to the photographer. Prize courtesy of WWF Cymru.

More great prizes to be announced shortly…