Belfast Parks Photographic Competition

The Belfast Parks Photographic Competition is open again to entries from amateur photographers. The competition is sponsored by John McQuillan (Contracts) Ltd. The closing date is 4pm on Friday 29 December 2023. The competition has four award categories with three prizes in each category. You can enter online or by post.

Parks and open spaces in Belfast

To enter the competition, you can only use photographs taken in one of our parks or open spaces since 1 April 2023.

Award categories

There are four award categories:

Active living, for example, photographs of people walking, jogging or cycling, attending events or using outdoor gyms, playgrounds, allotments and bowling greens.
Park landscapes, for example, photographs of landscapes, animals, trees, plants, buildings and horticultural displays in a recognisable park setting.
Seasons in our parks, for example, photographs of the different seasons and colours in our parks
Under 16 years, this category is only open to children aged under 16 years old

You can only enter one competition category. You can enter a maximum of four photographs in the category you choose.

Award prizes

We will award these prizes in categories:

Active living

First prize, £150
Second prize, £100
Third prize, £50

Park landscapes

First prize, £150
Second prize, £100
Third prize, £50

Seasons in our parks

First prize, £150
Second prize, £100
Third prize, £50

Under 16 years old

First prize, £50
Second prize, £30
Third prize, £20

How to enter the photographic competition

You can enter online or send your entry on CD, DVD or memory device to us by post.

Submitting a photograph to the competition

If you're using the online form, you must use photographs in JPEG format.
If you're entering by post, you must send printed photographs up to size 8" x 6" and the same photographs as digital files on CD, DVD or a memory device. The size, format and resolution of the CD, DVD or memory device should be suitable for printing and publications.

Photographic competition terms and conditions

To be eligible, your photo must be taken after 1 April 2023 in an area of the park that’s open to the public and is a recognisable park setting.
You can only enter one competition category.
You can submit up to four photographs in your chosen category.
You must be the sole author and owner of copyright for all photographs you enter in the competition.
Images must be taken in one of Belfast City Council Parks and open spaces.
Belfast City Council retains the right to free reproduction and exhibition of all entries. By sending a photograph to us, you grant the council permission to publish the photograph, or any part of it, for an indefinite period, in any media it chooses including the council website and social media channels. No commercial payment will be made by the council for the use of your photograph.
Entries must be accompanied by an official entry form. If you enter online, you must include your name, category, age (under 16 years old category only) and the name of the park where the photograph was taken.
Before taking an image and submitting an entry, you must seek permission from anyone who is recognisable in any photograph or secure the permission of parents or guardians for the photographs of minors or vulnerable adults.
Entrants’ images may be digitally edited to remove spots or scratches. However, the image should not have content added or removed digitally. Judges reserve the right to exclude any image that they believe has been excessively treated so as to alter its authenticity.
All entries are sent at the photographer’s own risk and Belfast City Council is not responsible for damage or loss sustained in delivery (either electronic or hard copy) of entries.
No more than one prize will be awarded to any entrant.
A panel of judges will choose the winning photos. The decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Employees in Belfast City Council employees and McQuillan Companies are not eligible to enter the competition.
By entering, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Enter Parks Photography Competition online

To enter online, go to:

Enter Belfast Parks Photography Competition 2023 (link opens in new window)

Enter Parks Photography Competition by post

To enter by post, send your printed photographs, CD, DVD or memory device to:

Belfast Parks Photographic Competition
Parks events and Outreach Unit
City and Neighbourhood Services Department
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP

We are unable to return printed photographs, CDs, DVDs or memory devices to competition entrants.

Winners and prizes for 2020-2021 competition

People in our parks category

Prize	Photographer	Belfast park
First	Scott McCutcheon	Ormeau Park
Second	Stephen Deyermond	Cave Hill Country Park
Third	Mervyn Marshall	Orangefield

Park landscapes category

Prize	Photographer	Belfast park
First	Matthew Grimley	Cave Hill Country Park
Second	William Corr	Cave Hill Country Park
Third	Conor Lundy	Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

Black and white images category

Prize	Photographer	Belfast park
First	Peter Soult	Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon
Second	Aleksander Bartusik	Ormeau Park
Third	Bruce Marshall	Waterworks

Under 16s category

Prize	Photographer	Belfast park
First	Shannon O'Brien	Barnett Demesne
Second	Izzy Walsh	Cregagh Glen
Third	Shreya Ananth	Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

Photo gallery

To see the winners' photographs for 2020-2021 competition, go to:

Parks Photography Competition 2020-2021

You can see some entries to the Parks Photographic Competition in 2019.

• Parks Photographic Competition showcase

To see winners in earlier competitions, go to:

Belfast Parks Photographic Competition 2023-2024