Tomintoul250 Photography Competition

Capture Tomintoul’s 250th: Photography Competition! 📸

We are absolutely thrilled to launch our official Tomintoul250 Photography Competition as part of our village’s anniversary celebrations in 2026! This isn’t just any photo competition – we’re creating something truly special.

YOUR photos will be used to create the official Tomintoul250 Commemorative Calendar, showcasing the breathtaking beauty and unique spirit of our beloved village!

We’re inviting everyone who lives in the area – from seasoned hobbyists to keen phone photographers – to capture the essence of the Tomintoul area through your lens. Help us build a stunning visual legacy for our anniversary year!

🌟 Capture Tomintoul’s Beauty & Get Published! 🌟

We’re looking for 13 incredible landscape photos – one for each month and a show-stopping cover shot – to feature in our calendar. Imagine your beautiful image proudly displayed in homes across Tomintoul and beyond!

Everyone picked to appear in the calendar will receive a credit on their photo, and will receive a copy of the calendar.

🎯 The Details:

  • Who Can Enter: Open to everyone living in and around Tomintoul!
  • Where to Shoot: Photographs must be taken in the Tomintoul area.
  • Format:
    • All entries must be in landscape orientation,
    • Photos must be in a 16:9 aspect ratio (this is typical for widescreen photos),
    • Where possible, photos should be in high-resolution, suitable for re-printing to A4 size.
  • Equipment: Feel free to use your phone or camera—it’s all about the picture!
  • Usage: By submitting your photos, you agree that the Tomintoul250 group can re-use them (with credit of course), and feature them in promotional material.

🏆 Competition Categories (10 Ways to Win!):

Choose the category that best fits your amazing shot:

  1. Landscape
  2. Weather
  3. Farming
  4. Wildlife
  5. Estate Working
  6. Buildings
  7. Community
  8. Whisky
  9. Abstract
  10. Funny

🌟 Children and Young Adults:

And for our younger people, don’t worry, you don’t miss out – we’ll have two special groups just for you; under 11’s and 11-18’s.
You can choose from any of the above categories. Please make sure you get your parent or guardian to enter the photo on your behalf, and that they add your name and age.

✉️ How to Enter:

  1. Take your best landscape, 16:9 ratio shot in the Tomintoul area.
  2. Email your picture(s) to [email protected].
  3. In your email, clearly state which category you are entering for each photo. (Along with child’s name and age for younger entrants

🗓️ Key Dates:

  • Entry Deadline: All entries must be received by Sunday, May 31, 2026.
  • Winners Announced: We will announce the winners by Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

Integrity Note: To ensure a fair and serious judging process, all entries will remain completely anonymous from the judges’ perspective.

We can’t wait to see Tomintoul through your lens! Good luck and start snapping!

📜Terms and Conditions

By submitting an entry to the Tomintoul250 Photography Competition, all entrants agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions.

1. Eligibility and Entry Rules

  • Who Can Enter: The competition is open to all amateur photographers resident in or near Tomintoul. A professional photographer is generally defined as one who derives more than 50% of their income from photography; professional entries may be disqualified.
  • Location: All photographs must be taken within the Tomintoul area.
  • Original Work: All entries must be the entrant’s original work and must not infringe the copyright or other rights of any third party.
  • Maximum Entries: Entrants may submit a maximum of three (3) photographs in total, across any of the categories.
  • Exclusions: Photos that have previously won an award or major prize in any other national or regional photography competition are not eligible for entry.
  • Authenticity: Fully Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated images are strictly prohibited. While minor digital adjustments (cropping, brightness, contrast, colour correction, noise reduction) are permitted, the removal or addition of objects, people, or animals to fundamentally alter the scene is strictly disallowed.

2. Image Specifications

  • Format: All images must be submitted in JPEG format.
  • Orientation and Ratio: Photos must be in landscape orientation with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Any other orientation or ratio will be automatically disqualified.
  • Anonymity: Entries must not contain any watermarks, signatures, or borders, as judging will be conducted anonymously.

3. Children’s Entries and Consent

  • Parental/Guardian Consent: Any entrant under the age of 18 on the closing date must obtain the express permission of a parent or legal guardian to enter the competition. By submitting an entry on behalf of a minor, the parent/guardian is confirming consent to these terms.
  • Category Submission: Children’s entries (Under 11 and 11-18 age groups) should be submitted into one of the 10 main subject categories (e.g., Landscape, Wildlife). The age group and name of the child must be clearly stated in the submission email.

4. Image Subjects and Ethics

  • People: If your photograph features any person(s) who are clearly identifiable, you must secure their express permission for their image to be used in the competition and subsequent promotional use. For individuals under 18 years of age, consent must be obtained from their parent or legal guardian.
  • Wildlife and Environment: Entries must adhere to ethical practices. No image will be accepted if it appears that wildlife was distressed, harmed, or lured, or if the natural habitat was damaged in the process of taking the photograph.
  • Responsible Photography: Entrants must ensure they adhere to all relevant laws, access rights, and the Countryside Code when taking photos. Trespassing on private property to take a photo is strictly prohibited.

5. Copyright and Usage Rights

  • Copyright: Full copyright of the images submitted will remain with the photographer at all times.
  • License to Use: By entering, the photographer grants the Tomintoul250 Group a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, and exhibit the entries across all media (print and digital) to promote the competition, the village, and the 250th-anniversary celebrations. The photographer will always be credited where possible.
  • Publicity: Winners and highly commended photographers agree to participate in reasonable publicity related to the competition, including the publication of their name and image.

6. Judging and General Conditions

  • Judging Process: Entries will be judged anonymously by a panel of judges selected by the Tomintoul250 organizing committee.
  • Final Decision: The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection of the winners.
  • Liability: The organisers accept no responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed, or corrupted due to email failure, network malfunction, or any other cause beyond their control.
  • Disqualification: The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry deemed to be offensive, inappropriate, or in breach of these terms and conditions.

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