Get your entries in for the Black & White Photo Project of IGPOTY

(Image credit: Inna Karpova)

Winning images from the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) Competition 12 were released only last month, but already the calendar has begun for the next contest.

The IGPOTY calendar begins with the brilliant Black and White Photo Project. The organisers are encouraging photographers to "get creative, explore different botanical shapes and take advantage of the texture, patterns and shapes emphasised by the increased contrast of black and white."

Margaret was a finalist in last year's Black & White contest. She was attracted to the natural backlighting around these Arctic Poppies

Margaret was a finalist in last year's Black & White contest. She was attracted to the natural backlighting around these Arctic Poppies (Image credit: Margaret Sixsmith)

Enter black and white photos by 30 March

The International Garden Photographer of the Year’s Black & White Photo Project closes for entries on March 30.

If you're in need of inspiration, you could base your entries on the existing categories such as Trees, Woods & Forests, The Beauty of Plants, Wildlife in the Garden or Wildflower Landscapes.

You can also gleam ideas from winners of previous years.

IGPOTY Manager Curtis McGlinchey interviews last year’s Black & White Photo Project winner, Simon Hadleigh-Sparks for some top tips.

1st Place will receive £500, and selected winners will be published in the annual IGPOTY hardback book. They'll also be exhibited at the launch exhibition at Kew Gardens in 2020.

Don’t wait until the last minute! Enter the Black & White Photo Project now at igpoty.com/competitions/black-and-white-13

Lauren Scott
Freelance contributor/former Managing Editor

Lauren is a writer, reviewer, and photographer with ten years of experience in the camera industry. She's the former Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, and previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer magazine, Technique editor for PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, and Deputy Editor of our sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine. An experienced journalist and freelance photographer, Lauren also has bylines at Tech Radar, Space.com, Canon Europe, PCGamesN, T3, Stuff, and British Airways' in-flight magazine (among others). When she's not testing gear for DCW, she's probably in the kitchen testing yet another new curry recipe or walking in the Cotswolds with her Flat-coated Retriever.