We are delighted to announce that an exciting photo competition has been launched by the European Network for Rural Development and we are looking to you - residents and visitors alike - to help us represent North Devon in the competition.

The competition will involve the collection of a diverse range photos which reflect rural life in Europe today - the winning entries will be displayed at a major exhibition tour and within a hard cover book to be published later this year.

How to take part

Taking part couldn't be simpler! The Images of Rural Europe photo competition is open to all professional and amateur photographers who are resident in any of the EU Member States. Each entrant may submit as many photos as they wish for consideration. The Leader 4 Local Action Group (LAG) for North Devon and Torridge will decide the final selection for submission.

To enter: Simply email your photo(s) along with your completed entry form  CLICK TO DOWNLOAD to leader4@northdevonplus.co.uk no later than Wednesday 16th May 2012. 

Entrants whose images have been selected to represent North Devon and Torridge will then be contacted by the 17th May.  

The Categories

Rural Environments

Reflecting the ‘new challenges' aspect of rural development policy, such as any image which conveys themes like climate change, biodiversity, water/ waste management, alternative energy. This is your chance to make a statement about something you care about!

Rural Employment

Reflecting the array of activities which take place in rural areas - including but not limited to shops, services, transport, markets, food production, small family run businesses...you decide!

Rural Youth

Supporting the continued presence of young people in rural areas is a high priority in many rural areas across Europe. And young farmers are increasingly recognized for their role in the food security and future prosperity of many agricultural regions. We would like to portray, through pictures, a better understanding of the range of activities, interests and passions being pursued by young people in your area.

Rural People

We want to know you! This category is for photos of rural people in any number of settings - at work or play and of any age. They can be portraits or group shots - but ideally not ‘staged' photos - rather images which ‘capture' a moment in the life of a person living in rural Europe. The more authentic
and ‘real' the photo - the better!

Rural Diversity

We would like you to portrait as genuinely as possibly the rural areas you live in with the people, the infrastructure, cultural heritage that show us the wide array of opportunities but also challenges that countryside poses today across Europe. We would like to have a peak into what rural areas mean to you and how it affects your everyday life.