Aspiring and experienced photographers are being encouraged to get their entries in for a unique photographic competition which aims to capture the beauty of the North East‘s archaeology.
Submissions are invited for the Picturing the Past competition ahead of the closing date for entries on 30 September 2008.
Devised by archaeologists at the University of Aberdeen, and funded by a Cultural Engagement Grant from the University, the competition calls for entrants to take inspiration from the range of archaeological sites and monuments located throughout Aberdeenshire.
Applicants are invited to enter images of archaeological sites or monuments from the area, which are older than AD 1500.
Entries are invited under three competition categories: adult monochrome images, adult colour images and children's images (for those under 16). A maximum of two submissions will be accepted from each individual entrant.
Dr Karen Milek, Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Aberdeen said: "The competition is designed to encourage both budding and professional photographers to use the diverse range of visually striking archaeological monuments within the Aberdeenshire region, as the subject of their art.
"From Neolithic and Bronze Age stone circles to Iron Age hillforts and Pictish symbol stones, the competition is calling for photographers of all ages to capture distinctive and evocative images which tell the story of these intriguing sites."
The winners of the competition will be decided by both a panel of judges and members of the public, who will be invited to vote for their favourite image from among thirty finalists in an online picture gallery that will go live in October.
The judging panel will consist of staff from Aberdeen University's Archaeology and Education Departments, Marischal Museum, Aberdeenshire Council, and professional landscape photographer, Sandy Menzies.
An overall adult winner will be chosen from across both the monochrome and colour categories, and will win a cash prize of £1000.
Two cash prizes of £100 will be awarded to the runners up within both the monochrome and colour categories.
A first place prize of £50 and a second place prize of £25 will be awarded in the children's category.
From November, the top ten finalists in each of the three categories will have their work displayed in an exhibition called Picturing the Past: The Archaeology of Aberdeenshire, at the Old Town House, in Old Aberdeen. The competition winners will be announced on January 24 2009.
Karen continues: "The overarching aim of the competition is to create a powerful display of images which depict Aberdeenshire's stunning archaeology. The Picturing the Past: The Archaeology of Aberdeenshire exhibition will bring together the winning entries in one location where they can be viewed as a collection.
The geographical spread of the monuments, and their sometimes inaccessible locations, can make it hard for members of the public to visit these sites. The exhibition will essentially bring these magnificent sites together under one roof, allowing members of the public - in particular those who are disabled, children, or people who don't have access to transportation - to engage with these historically significant locations."
Entries to the competition, along with entry forms, should be made by post or handed into Picturing the Past Photography Competition, Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, St. Mary's Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF. All entries must be in the form of prints (minimum size 5x7" and maximum size 8x10"), and entrants are asked to also submit digital copies on CD if possible.
For more information, and for entry forms, visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/archaeology/photocompetition or call Aberdeen University's Department of Archaeology at 01224 272328.