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Here you can find detailed information about how to enter the competition. For a more general introduction to the competition, including what the categories are, the prizes, how much it costs and so on, please browse the competition category pages.

Encountering problems

How to begin

Click on 'ENTER NOW'

If have already registered, then simply login, using the username and password you chose when you registered. If you have forgotten these, please reset here:
Password Reset

If you have not yet registered then click on Register.

Fill in your details, then submit by clicking the 'Create account' button at the bottom of the form, following any CAPTCHA verification. You will receive notification of your registration details via e-mail, you must follow any links to verify your account. You will then, need to login - and then you will be able to enter the competition.

How to decide which photographs to enter

We recommend that you make all your decisions about which photographs to enter by reviewing your photographs in the normal way.

Come back to the competition uploading system once you are happy with the choices you have made. At the same time, we recommend that you also decide on what your title text will be, and how you are going to describe your photograph before you go into the system to upload.

Please include a unique reference in your filenames. See how to upload.

Here is a guide (not mandatory) way to name your files for initial low-res entries:

ABC129491_BeautifulGardens.jpg

ABC129492_BeautifulGardens.jpg

ABC129493_BeautifulGardens.jpg

ABC129494_BeautifulGardens.jpg

Titles and descriptions are useful additions for the judges; a poor or missing title will not disqualify an entry - but a good caption and description can help a judge to understand what the photographer is trying to achieve.

A good title is precise and to the point - short - and will add something to the photograph. You can expand on the title in the text description - but again, we recommend that this is not too long.

If you are not sure which category to enter take a look at the information we have provided on each category.

You should use these descriptions as a guide to the kinds of themes the judges will look for. You do not need to follow them to the letter - but if you decide to ignore them the judges may think your photograph does not illustrate the theme - however good the photograph is. So it's good idea to have these descriptions in the back of your mind.

For information on entry types and entry fees please see section 2 of the Rules page. You can pay in GB pounds or your local denominated currency as supported only via PayPal.

Note that you do not have to enter your photographs at the same time as paying. But, you must upload them and finish supplying any metadata before the relevant deadlines displayed.

How to take your competition photographs

You do not have to own a professional camera to do well in the competition. Some winning photographs were taken on small compact cameras.

It is always best to shoot your photograph with the highest quality setting your camera will allow so that we can make good exhibition prints from the files.

If you have a Digital SLR and you are familiar with processing RAW files, it is always best to shoot in RAW mode and to output to TIF (make further adjustments) then save as JPEG (max quality - 12) files from these for uploading.

If your photograph is shortlisted, you will need to supply higher quality images:

Here is a guide:

  • * Minimum- JPEG, quality: high, at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) the image needs to be 2480 x 3508 pixels (A4).
  • * Ideal- JPEG, quality: maximum, Adobe RGB (1998) colour profile at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) the image needs to be 3508 x 4961 pixels (A3 size and above would enable us to make larger prints if desired.)

If you are photographing in a public garden please remember that special permission may be needed from the garden to enter the competition- see the Rules.

Most public gardens will be very supportive of entries; especially with the publicity credit may bring. It may be more convenient for you to approach a garden in the event that your photograph is shortlisted - but this decision is entirely up to you- it is the photographer's responsibility to obtain relevant property/model releases.

Naturally, it is recommended that you obtain all relevant permissions from private gardens first.

How to enter competition photographs from transparencies

Images scanned from transparencies or negatives are welcome. The high-resolution output file that will be required for shortlisted images should adher to the above guidelines.

How to prepare your photographs for entering

When preparing your images please follow these recommendations and please bear in mind that we cannot take responsibility for the technical aspects of your entry - it is entirely the photographer's responsibility.

Once you have entered your photograph, you will have the option of changing it for a different one for up to seven days after the initial entry; you can change the caption and description text up to the close of the competition. See Reviewing your entries.

Format: Only images saved in .jpg or .jpeg format can be used

Size: Images should be 1920 pixels along their longest side, since they will be able to be reviewed by judges at a reasonable size.

Entries that are larger than 1920 pixels along their longest side may still be entered but the system will resize them - this means that uploading the images will take longer than normal. Your file may get corrupted.

If the files get corrupted in uploading, they may 'clog up' the system and are liable to be deleted by the system administrators. If this happens, they will have 'disappeared' from your Entries page. See Reviewing your entries.

For best viewing on the site, images should be 72 dpi resolution.

A photograph that is 1920 pixels along its longest side and 72 dpi will be well within the tolerance of the system.

Getting advice on preparing your photographs

When preparing your images please follow these recommendations and please bear in mind that we cannot take responsibility for the technical aspects of your entry - it is entirely the photographer's responsibility.

Once you have entered your photograph, you will have the option of changing it for a different one for up to seven days after the initial entry; you can change the caption and description text up to the close of the competition. See Reviewing your entries.

Format: Only images saved in .jpg or .jpeg format can be used

Size: Images should be 1920 pixels along their longest side, since they will be able to be reviewed by judges at a reasonable size.

Entries that are larger than 1920 pixels along their longest side may still be entered but the system will resize them - this means that uploading the images will take longer than normal. Your file may get corrupted.

If the files get corrupted in uploading, they may 'clog up' the system and are liable to be deleted by the system administrators. If this happens, they will have 'disappeared' from your Entries page. See Reviewing your entries.

For best viewing on the site, images should be 72 dpi resolution.

A photograph that is 1920 pixels along its longest side and 72 dpi will be well within the tolerance of the system.

Digital manipulation

Digital manipulation is allowed. We will ask shortlisted entrants for details of the manipulation used. You are not allowed to claim a subject to be unmanipulated if it has been.

Digital manipulation by software such as Photoshop is allowed. However, please be careful not to try to 'pass off' a manipulated effect as a natural phenomenon.

To take an extreme example, if you enter a photograph of an Asian butterfly in a European garden where the butterfly has been 'pasted in' to the original image, then avoid claiming in the caption or text description that this is a natural photograph. If you enter the butterfly photograph, making it clear that the image is a fantasy or artificial, then this will be judged solely on artistic merit regardless of the amount of manipulation.

How to upload your photographs

When you have prepared your photographs, you are ready to enter. There are three steps involved.

Step 1: Pay for your entries Step 2: Upload your photographs Step 3: Review your entries

How to Pay for your entries

You have to pay for your entries before you upload.

First login [top right], then click on the 'ENTER NOW' button [top menu]. You will now be given the option of choosing which category to enter. You can familiarise yourself first to get an idea of the concept each entails.

You can also choose how many entries (sets of 4) you want. For clarification an IGPOTY 'Single Entry' gives you 4 slots of single images (it is called 'Single Entry' because each image is judged on its own merit). An IGPOTY Portfolio entry gives you 6 image slots to use and every one must be filled.

On each category page, please use the red outlined 'ENTER NOW' button on the left hand side of the page.

If you want to change your mind, or add more categories, you can click the shopping basket icon on the top menu bar on any page.

You can remove your selection from the basket by clicking the small cross on the left hand side next to each entry line.

You may have a coupon code. This is a code that may offer a discount for your purchase - look out for these in the press - especially our media partner magazines.

The discount will be shown in the shopping basket if you have entered the code correctly and pressed the 'Apply coupon' button.

You can choose to pay in any currency or method that is supported by PayPal (excluding e-Cheques).

When you are ready, click the 'Proceed to checkout' button. Now, in the Checkout, confirm your address is correct, accept the T&C with a tick, then click the 'Proceed to PayPal' button.

We use PayPal to undertake all money transactions. This means that we never see/nor store any of your card details.

Once, our site passes you onto the PayPal site, you should follow their instructions.

You can pay with your PayPal account or with a credit card or a debit card. Remember that if you choose to pay by debit/credit card, your receipts will mention PayPal, regardless of the card you used. Your card will be debited in the normal way. The name "IGPOTY" may appear and is correct.

Once you have completed your transaction you will be taken back to the igpoty.com website.

When you return, you will see an order confirmation screen - importantly you must click Continue.

Now your entry slots will appear on this page in the form of banners with buttons that you can click to enter, please note that at busy times this may take a few minutes and you will probably have to refresh the page.

How to use Payment Discount Vouchers

If you have been given a payment discount coupon it will be in the form a set of text characters - eg HCSI0708.

You should enter this code on the payment page where your purchases are reviewed. You must click the 'Apply coupon' button to see the effect of your voucher discount.

From time to time, PayPal offers discount coupon codes and you may see these on the PayPal pages where you enter your credit card or other payment details. This is not connected in any way with IGPOTY and should be ignored.

How to Upload

Once, you have purchased entry slots and have been redirected back to the website you can wait for the slots to appear on the Latest Order page.

Click on one of the entry banners 'Enter now' buttons.

A new window will appear which will guide you through 1 by 1 (for Single Entry uploads). For Portfolios you upload all 6 onto the one page, then press Save at the bottom, once.

Now choose your photograph from your computer by clicking on the upload symbol and navigate to your .jpeg or .jpg picture file. Repeat this step for Portfolios.

Please ensure your filename is unique and contains your name.

Here is a guide (not mandatory) way to name your files for initial low-res entries:

Jane_Smith_BeautifulGardens_1.jpg

Jane_Smith_BeautifulGardens_2.jpg

Jane_Smith_BeautifulGardens_3.jpg

Jane_Smith_BeautifulGardens_4.jpg

Once uploading begins you will see a progress bar showing the file being uploaded. For a correctly prepared file (72ppi), this should not take very long. Once a tick appears the image has uploaded ok.

Next please proceed to complete the following fields:

  • Photo title - for example 'Rosa rugosa' or 'Red Rose Abstract'.
  • Photo description - your image journey plus how you captured/techniques used.
  • Location of photo - for example 'National Trust Stackpole National Nature Reserve, Pembrokeshire, Wales'.
  • Country photo was taken in - for example 'United Kingdom'.
  • Once you are finished be sure to press the 'SAVE ENTRY' button, each time.

    How to check your entries

    To check your uploaded entries in an overview, please visit the My entries page. If you can see the photograph(s) there, then be assured this means they are on our system and have been received correctly. There is no need to contact us for confirmation. The visual confirmation is all you need.

    You may use the 'View entry' buttons to check an entry. To edit any entry please use the 'Edit this photo' button. Please remember to save any edits you make. You have upto 24 hours before the deadline to make any edits.

    It is always a good idea to check the My Entries section, particularly if you encountered any problems uploading your file. If your file was very big - and therefore slow to upload - it may be truncated.

    Shortlisted photographs - submitting high-res files

    If your photograph is shortlisted, you will need to supply higher quality images:

    Here is a guide:

    * Minimum - JPEG, quality: high, at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) the image needs to be 2480 x 3508 pixels (A4).

    * Ideal - JPEG, quality: maximum (12), Adobe RGB (1998) colour profile at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) the image needs to be 3508 x 4961 pixels (A3 size and above would enable us to make larger prints if desired.)

    For the main comp you will be contacted by e-mail. You must supply your file by the deadline specified in that communication. For photo projects and Special Awards you will be advised separately of the supply deadlines, also via e-mail.

    Make sure the file you send is the largest JPEG you have, final and complete as you want it to be. The judges will not process your file for you - they will be judged 'as seen'. Please do not send RAW files, as they are undeveloped images.

    No responsibility can be taken by the organisers for images that are incorrectly submitted.