SECAD joins with the ENRD for a European Photography Competition

Midleton farmer, Denis Hennessy, checking out details of an EU-wide photography competition, which aims to celebrate the beauty and diversity of rural Europe - Picture: John Hennessy

The competition is organised by the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD), the ‘Images of Rural Europe’ competition is open to all professional and amateur photographers who are resident in one of the 27 EU Member States. All photos submitted will be considered for inclusion in a major EU ‘Travelling’ Exhibition’ during 2012/2013.

According to Ross Curley, development officer with SECAD “South and East Cork is full of diverse landscapes, magnificent scenery and a wonderful variation of rural businesses, rural services and some fantastic rural areas. This competition is an opportunity for our talented photographers in the South and East Cork region to show us some of their fantastic images and at the same time show how the rural mixes into today’s modern  Ireland in such a unique way. This competition is a fantastic way of capturing the very essence of Rural Ireland in the 21st Century and is a means of celebrating the beautiful diversity of the South and East Cork area as well as celebrating the fantastic landscape that is Rural Europe”.

The six categories featured in the completion include Rural Environment, Rural Employment, Rural Youth, Rural People, Rural Diversity and The Spirit of LEADER.

Competition entries can feature any aspect of rural life in South and East Cork, from a setting sun over Youghal Bay or the ploughing of fields in Carrigtwohill.

The options within the structure of this competition are endless and with so many wonderful locations, people and rural areas within the region of South and East Cork it should be a fantastic entry.

Mr Curley added “There will be three photographs from each section picked to progress forward, so we will have 18 images that capture the very essence of the part of Rural Europe where we live in the South and East Cork Area”.

The photographs to be submitted to SECAD will have to be images specifically from the South and East Cork area and the winning photographs will be chosen by a professional photographer.

There are so many aspects of Rurual Europe and in the South and East Cork region, it can be anything from a sporting event to a historical area, the options are indeed endless.

The winning entries will be displayed at a major exhibition at the prestigious European commission Berlaymont building, in Brussels from 22 June to 10 July. 2012. In addition, winning photographers will be invited to attend a high profile awards ceremony, in the presence of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos, on 27 June, 2012.

All photographs submitted from the South and East Cork region must be done so via email to SECAD at secadcompetitions@gmail.com.

All photos should have a minimum size 5MB, 300 dpi resolution. The closing date for receipt of entries is Wednesday the 16th of May 2012. Further information is available  at www.ruralimages.eu and it is highly recommended and it is essential that all photographers visit this site to get all the details to this competition.

Happy clicking! And good luck!