Contents
The Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027: Trees and Their Landscape turns its attention to trees, but not simply as isolated subjects. This year’s theme, “Trees and Their Landscape”, explores the relationship between trees and their surroundings, from solitary specimens in open countryside to woodland scenes shaped by light, weather and the changing seasons. Photographers worldwide can submit their work until January 10, 2027.
Organized as part of the annual Shepton Snowdrop Festival in Somerset, England, the competition will be judged by renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite. Three age categories each offer a first-place cash award: £300 for adults, £100 for photographers aged 12 to 17, and £50 for children aged 11 and under. Adult entries carry a £4 fee, while participation is free for both younger age groups.
Photographs must have been taken during 2026/27 and may originate from any country. The competition places particular emphasis on observation, composition and the connection between a tree and the environment in which it grows. This gives the Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027: Trees and Their Landscape a defined focus within landscape photography contests. For photographers exploring current photography contests, the combination of an international call, a specific annual theme and separate youth awards makes the entry conditions worth examining.
Deartline Review
View full review
Prizes
The Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027: Trees and Their Landscape awards one first-place cash prize in each of its three age categories, with a combined prize fund of £450.
- 18 & Over: £300.
- 12 to 17: £100.
- 11 & Under: £50.
These cash prizes are awarded by age group. Each participant may win no more than one prize, and the organizer has not announced additional monetary awards or separate finalist prizes.
Related Photo Contests
Categories and 2027 Theme
The Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027 theme is “Trees and Their Landscape”. There are no separate photographic genres within the competition; all entries must address the relationship between trees and their surroundings.
Judge Charlie Waite suggests considering how an individual tree or woodland interacts with its setting, including the effects of light, mist, rain and seasonal change. Details such as bark and branches may also contribute to an image, provided the photograph remains relevant to the theme.
Although the subject overlaps with nature photography contests, the organizers explicitly exclude photographs featuring animals. The three competitive categories are determined by age, not photographic style.
Dates and Entry Fees
Submissions for the Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027 edition close in January, ahead of the Shepton Snowdrop Festival in February.
| Submission Deadline | January 10, 2027, 11:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Festival Dates | February 19–20, 2027 |
- 18 & Over: £4 for adult entries.
- Under 18: Free.
Adult photographers may enter up to five images, while entrants under 18 may submit up to three. The organizer has not specified a separate date for announcing the 2027 photography winners.
How to Enter
Registration, submissions and any applicable payment must be completed online through the festival’s official competition platform.
Entries must be submitted as JPEG files between 2 MB and 12 MB. Each filename must contain the photographer’s initials and a unique title, following a format such as “AS – Morning Splendour”. Photographs may be taken with a dedicated camera, smartphone or tablet.
Entrants should also ensure their images were taken during 2026/27 and meet the originality requirements before uploading them.
About the Jury
Charlie Waite, known for his landscape photography and his attention to light, color and composition, is the judge for the 2027 competition.
His guidance emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the tree itself. A photograph should communicate something about the relationship between its subject and the wider environment, rather than merely record its appearance.
Waite identifies careful observation, thoughtful composition and an emotional connection with the subject as qualities he hopes to see in submitted photographs. His published comments provide insight into his approach, although the organizer does not describe a detailed scoring system or an anonymous judging procedure.
Why Enter the Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027?
One of the most distinctive aspects of this year’s competition is the relationship between its theme and the judge’s photographic approach. Charlie Waite does not simply ask for attractive pictures of trees. His guidance places the subject within a broader visual context, where surroundings, light and composition contribute to the photograph’s meaning.
This creates an interesting balance between close observation and wider environmental storytelling. A branch, the texture of bark or the silhouette of a tree can become significant through its relationship with the surrounding scene. The requirement to submit photographs taken during 2026/27 also makes the competition particularly relevant to photographers developing new work around this theme rather than relying on older portfolios.
For readers comparing all photo competitions on Deartline, the separate age categories are another practical distinction. Younger photographers compete within their own age groups without entry fees, while adults can submit up to five images. International eligibility also allows photographers to interpret the theme through environments well beyond the festival’s location in Somerset.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the Shepton Snowdrop Photography Competition 2027 to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
All photographs must be the entrant’s original work, taken during 2026/27. Previously published images and photographs currently entered in another competition are not eligible.
Images generated using artificial intelligence are not permitted. Any editing or post-processing must be carried out by the photographer. Downloaded clip-art, textures, overlays and elements taken from other photographers’ images are also prohibited.
Entries must follow the designated theme, and images featuring animals will not be accepted. The organizers may disqualify photographs they consider irrelevant to the brief.
Entrants must be able to provide the original image file if requested. The judge’s decision is final, and the organizers reserve the right to amend the rules when necessary, with changes published on their website.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain copyright in their submitted images. However, the organizer reserves the right to reproduce photographs in print and digital formats for the purpose of publicizing and promoting the competition and the Shepton Snowdrop Festival.
The published rules do not restrict this reproduction permission to winning or shortlisted photographs. They also do not specify its duration or whether the permission is exclusive or non-exclusive.
Entrants are responsible for holding the necessary permissions for their work and agree to indemnify the organizers, judges and related parties against claims arising from images submitted without the required authorization.
—
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
