The Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year competition is now open for entries. Launched in 2007 by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the competition honours amateurs and professionals of all ages. Following a successful first-year partnership, Atkins, one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies, are once again sponsoring the competition, allowing for two significant improvements this year. 2014 sees the introduction of the Atkins Cityscape Prize of £1,000, and free entry for photographers. Selected from an open submission process, entries are judged on impact, composition, originality, creativity and technical ability. Photographers may submit up to ten works until 31 March 2014, by 5pm GMT.

Website: Environmental Photographer of the Year

CIWEM Press Release

CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS

Now with additional prizes and free to enter

Now open for entries, the Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase for the very best in environmental photography and film. Launched in 2007 by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), the competition honours amateurs and professionals of all ages. It provides an opportunity for photographers to share images of environmental and social issues with international audiences, and to enhance our understanding of the causes, consequences and solutions to climate change and social inequality.

Following a hugely successful first year partnership, Atkins, one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies, are once again sponsoring the competition, allowing for two significant improvements this year. 2014 sees the introduction of the Atkins Cityscape Prize of £1,000, and it is hoped that the competition will be open to more photographers this year, as it is now free to enter.

Justin Taberham, CIWEM Director of Policy, comments: “Building on the success of last year’s partnership, CIWEM is delighted to have Atkins’ support once again in the search for the most powerful environmental and social imagery out there. We hope the works in 2014 will capture moments in our fragile world that not only motivate change, but inspire and celebrate the successes as well.”

David Tonkin, Chief Executive Officer, UK & Europe, Atkins, comments: “As engineers and scientists we are engaged in helping solve many of the complex problems facing our growing worldwide population and balancing the impact on our environment. This competition plays a vital role in documenting our rapidly changing world and illustrates clearly why finding the right balance between demand for development and what is socially and environmentally acceptable has to be at the heart of all that we do.” 

Selected from an open submission process, entries are judged on impact, composition, originality, creativity and technical ability. Previous entries have examined issues such as innovation, sustainable development, biodiversity, poverty, climate change, human rights, culture, natural disasters and population growth.

Prizes for the 2014 competition include: the Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year of £5000; the Atkins CIWEM Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (Under 18) of £1000; the Atkins CIWEM Environmental Film of the Year of £1000. In addition, the competition this year awards two further prizes: the Atkins Cityscape Prize of £1000 and the Forestry Commission England Exhibition Award (one photographer will be invited to exhibit a solo show at one of England’s public forests).

Italian photographer, Michele Palazzi, was awarded the First Prize in the 2013 competition for his work Gone with the Dust #2, which shows a young brother and sister during a sand storm in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. He reflects:

“Since being awarded CIWEM’s Environmental Photographer of the Year Award 2013 my project, ‘Black Gold Hotel’ has become known across Europe and in Mongolia. The prize money has allowed me to return to Mongolia two more times and extend my body of work which has now become a long term project, largely because of the exhibition and publicity which has brought attention to it, as well as to the environmental issues in Mongolia.”

The announcement of the outstanding environmental, social and natural photographs selected for exhibition will be made in early April 2014. The works will be displayed at the Royal Geographical Society in London in June 2014, followed by a tour to forest venues nationally, supported by Forestry Commission England.

HOW TO ENTER:
Open to all photographers, professional and amateur alike, the competition encourages entries that are contemporary, creative, resonant, original and beautiful. Entry is now free, photographers may submit up to 10 works.

Deadline for entries: 31 March 2014, by 5pm GMT
For further information and to apply: www.epoty.org
Twitter: @EPOTYComp #EPOTY14

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