Finalists announced and New Contest is Launched!

After thousands of photographs were submitted to the first ever international Garden Photographer of the Year competition earlier this year, the entrants have now been whittled down to a list of talented photographers, classed either as “Finalists” or “Commended” and announced today at www.igpoty.com.

The panel of eleven judges, including renowned garden photographer Clive Nichols and TV’s Chris Beardshaw, deliberated at length over photographs of an incredibly high standard from as far afield as Hawaii, Japan and Australia.

The Finalists’ photographs will be showcased at a high-profile exhibition launched on 22 May, in a purpose-built outdoor area at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and running until late September 2008. The winners themselves will be announced when the show opens, as part of the opening of Kew’s Summer festival.

Also due to be launched alongside the exhibition is a top quality coffee table book from AA Publishing, Garden Photographer of the Year: Collection 01, which captures these inspiring finalist images, and includes more commended photographs from all of the competitions categories: Trees, Plant Portraits, Garden Views, My Garden and Life in the Garden – as well as a special category for the Under 16s, Young Garden Photographer of the Year.

In its first year, this international competition has already caused quite a stir amongst those with an interest in both photography and gardening. Prizes include £5,000 cash for Best Single Image, £5,000* (includes £2,000 of Calumet photographic store vouchers) for Best Portfolio. There are also over £10,000 worth of vouchers from Manfrotto, Kata and Visible Dust.

The competition for 2009 is now open with new categories including “World Botanic Gardens” and “The Edible Garden.” Full details on all the categories, how to enter can and “early bird” offers can be found at www.igpoty.com. Closing date for entries is 31 January 2009.