IT’s time to get your cameras and mobile phones at the ready for Northern Ireland’s biggest mass participation photographic event.
Once again, the Belfast Telegraph has teamed up with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) to launch the fourth annual ‘One Summer’s Day’ photography competition.
For a chance to win a short break in Northern Ireland, courtesy of NITB, we’re urging everyone to become a photographer for the day and take a photograph that illustrates what Northern Ireland means to them – from a family day out at a tourist attraction to a walk in the park with your dog or a hidden gem in your local area.
The unique aspect of this competition is that all photographs have to be taken in Northern Ireland on one particular day – Saturday June 29 – to qualify for entry.
Once taken, the photograph should be sent via email to onesummersday@belfasttelegraph.co.uk with a short note explaining the content of the picture and what makes it so special.
Belfast Telegraph picture editor Gerry FitzGerald expects this year’s event to be bigger and better than ever.
“When we launched ‘One Summer’s Day’ three years ago, we had no idea that it would capture the hearts and imaginations of so many people across Northern Ireland,” said Gerry. “The number of entries we’ve received each year has been overwhelming and the quality of the entries is outstanding. This year we’re delighted to team up again with our good friends at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and launch the fourth year of the competition which we believe will be the biggest and best yet.
“The idea behind the competition is that as many people as possible across the country go out on Saturday June 29 and take a photograph of somewhere in Northern Ireland that is important to them. It may involve people or pets, it may be an action shot, or it may just be a beautiful scenic photograph. It’s really up to the individual photographer,” he added.
Ruth Burns of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board said: “Northern Ireland is packed with things to do, beautiful landscapes and wonderful places to see. Last year was an amazing one for Northern Ireland with so many key events taking place and the opening of major attractions like Titanic Belfast and the new visitor centre at Giant’s Causeway. This year will be equally memorable as Derry~Londonderry celebrates its status as UK City of Culture, Fermanagh welcomes the world’s leaders at the G8 summit, and Belfast hosts the World Police and Fire Games.
“In recent years, more and more people have been choosing to holiday at home and in doing so they are discovering the many hidden delights that Northern Ireland has to offer, as well as our more popular well known attractions. So we’re expecting more entries than ever this year,” she added.
Competition entries will be split into three simple categories – one for primary school children, one for secondary school children, and a third category for everyone else. It is important that entrants clearly mark their age and category when submitting their entry
Last year, Matthew Humphreys won the adult category with his dramatic black and white picture of his girlfriend at Mussenden Temple near Castlerock while 15-year-old Amy Stevenson’s superb close-up of a tennis racket and sunglasses lying on the grass was voted tops in the secondary school category. The primary school winner was six-year old Luke Townsley from Ballynahinch with a colourful and energetic photo of his dog Amber.
Gerry FitzGerald claims that you don’t have to be a photographic expert to win, as the key ingredient is content rather than picture quality.
“You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take a brilliant picture,” said Gerry. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve taken the photograph on your mobile phone or an expensive digital camera. This competition is about choosing the right place at the right time and capturing a moment. It’s all about picture content rather than picture quality and we will be taking into account how every photograph was taken,” he added.
As well as the chance to win a short break, the top 100 photographs will be included in a special commemorative supplement which will be produced and distributed in September.
Closing date for competition entries is Saturday July 13 with winners to be announced in September.
In the run-up to One Summer’s Day on June 29, the Telegraph and NITB are asking readers to tell us where in Northern Ireland you would like to photograph and why. Send your answer with a photograph of yourself in an email to onesummersday@belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
HOW TO ENTER: RULES & REGULATIONS
Photographs to be taken ONLY on Saturday June 29, 2013
Send your entry via email to onesummersday@belfasttelegraph.co.uk with a short note explaining the content of the picture and what makes it so special
Clearly mark your age and category (primary school, secondary school or adult)
Closing date for entries is Saturday July 13 with winners to be announced in September
Failure to comply with any of the above rules and regulations will result in disqualification.
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