[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE Animals in the Wild Photo Competition - entries open

[David Shoebridge]

Media Release

13 May 2014

Animals in the Wild photo competition



The inaugural Animals in the Wild Photographic Competition started accepting entries on the 12 May 2014, and will continue till the 1 June 2014.



Animals in the Wild is a photographic competition encouraging animal lovers and nature enthusiasts to get out into the wild and shoot native animals with a camera, and not with a gun. It is a chance to explore the natural beauty that Australia's forests and parks have to offer and the beautiful animals that make these habitats their home.


We are delighted to announce renowned Australian photographer Rex Dupain as the judge for this competition.


Greens MP and firearms spokesperson David Shoebridge said: "Animals in the Wild is part of our campaign against amateur hunting, and in particular the photographic hunting competition run by Narooma's Huntfest<http://huntfest.com.au/?page_id=1166>.


"State and local governments continue to pander to a minority lobby of hunters and shooters by opening up public lands for bloodsports and pushing other users aside.


"There are many disturbing incidents of animal cruelty associated with the hunting culture in NSW with photos regularly received by my office of native animals and birds wounded and maimed by hunters.


"Through this competition we hope to show that appreciating animals and being in the Australian bush means shooting with cameras, not with guns or bows and arrows.



"We have already received a large number of very high quality entries and encourage anyone who is interested to grab their camera, and get snapping!" Mr Shoebridge said.



Details of the competition:



Entries in the below four categories are allowed, equal weight will be given to photographic merit and response to the subject matter:

*         The most beautiful image of an animal in the wild in Australia

*         The image that most evokes a connection with an animal in the wild in Australia;

*         The image that conveys the threats facing native animals in Australia; and

*         The image that best conveys the reality of the hunting, guns and killing culture in Australia.



The winner will be announced on 7 June 2014 in Narooma.



See http://animalsinthewild.info for more information and to enter.



Media contact: David Shoebridge 9230 3030 or 0408 113 952





David Shoebridge

Greens MP in the NSW Legislative Council

P: (02) 9230 3030 T: @ShoebridgeMLC<http://twitter.com/#!/shoebridgemlc>

SIGN UP TO STAY IN TOUCH at davidshoebridge.org.au/sign-up<http://davidshoebridge.org.au/take-action/sign-up/>

NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney NSW, 2000 Australia