UK’s South Downs Astrophotography Competition 2024/25 Kicks Off: How To Apply

30th Oct 2024
UK’s South Downs Astrophotography Competition 2024/25 Kicks Off: How To Apply

The South Downs Astrophotography Competition is back for the 2024/25 season, inviting photography lovers to submit their most captivating night sky images. Official entry begins on Monday, 4th November. Here’s everything you need to know to participate.

South Downs Astrophotography Competition Opens for 2024/25

According to the organisers, the South Downs Astrophotography Competition aims to highlight and protect the stunning night skies of the South Downs National Park, UK, which was designated the world’s 13th International Dark Sky Reserve in May 2016. This initiative recognizes the importance of the starry skies, highlighting their value alongside the park’s stunning landscapes. Notably, it is especially vital as the dark skies of South East England face increasing threats, the authorities emphasize.

Stargazing Locations For The Astrophotography Competition

‘Milky Way at Birling Gap’
‘Milky Way at Birling Gap’ by John Fox. Credit: southdowns.gov.uk

To participate in the South Downs Astrophotography Competition, all entries must feature images taken within the South Downs National Park. Here are some prime stargazing locations to consider:

  • Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium: a great starting point for stargazing and learning about the cosmos.
  • Old Winchester Hill: a serene location offering a stunning dark sky backdrop.
  • Butser Hill: this elevated spot provides sweeping views of the night sky.
  • Buriton: a peaceful site perfect for spotting constellations in a tranquil setting.
  • Harting Down: a National Trust area with breathtaking vistas and dark skies.
  • Iping Common: managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust, this site offers free public access to natural stargazing.
  • Bignor Hill: a quiet location within the National Trust’s Slindon Estate.
  • Devil’s Dyke: known for its panoramic views and rich dark sky.
  • Ditchling Beacon: a scenic spot for catching the stars.
  • Birling Gap: located by Eastbourne, it’s another great site for stargazing.

To learn more about each place, visit Best stargazing spots.

Categories For Astrophotography Competition

A million stars
‘A million stars’ by Pablo Rodriguez. Credit: southdowns.gov.uk

This year, you can enter the competition in four categories:

  • South Downs Dark Skyscapes: capture a stunning photograph of the landscape under a starry sky, including celestial events like the aurora borealis.
  • South Downs Life at Night: showcase the vibrancy of night in the National Park, featuring wildlife, heritage, towns, people stargazing, or nocturnal plants and fungi.
  • Magnificent Moon: take a captivating image of the moon above the South Downs, including landscapes, buildings, or cultural heritage.
  • Mobile Phone Category: submit your best mobile photo of the Dark Skies, whether it’s a moon shot or a nighttime family walk—let your creativity shine!

What Is the Submission Deadline?

The submission deadline for the South Downs Astrophotography competition is midnight on Wednesday, 15 January 2025. Shortlisting will take place later that month. 

“During the annual Dark Skies Festival in February, selected images will be showcased on the South Downs National Park Authority’s social media channels, celebrating the beauty of our protected night skies”, the organizers highlighted.

What Are the Prizes?

This year, photographers can win up to £100 for their exceptional images in one of four categories. Additionally, each runner-up in every category will receive a £50 prize.

How To Apply For The South Downs Astrophotography Competition in 2024/25?

Photographers must be the sole authors and copyright owners of the submitted images. To enter the competition, submit your entries through the uploading portal on the South Downs National Park website: Astrophotography Competition.

Entries must be JPG/JPEG files of at least 1Mb in file size (maximum file size 10Mb). You may enter up to eight images in total in the South Downs astrophotography competition.

You can submit images taken between 1 January 2022 and 15 January 2025. Make sure your photo is original and has not been submitted in any previous South Downs National Park astrophotography competitions, as past entries will not be accepted.

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