Capture East Yorkshire amateur photography competition

Have you taken a photo in East Yorkshire that you’re really proud of? Maybe it was a quiet moment on the coast, a wildlife encounter at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, the perfect sunset after a walk, or just a place that means something special to you. If it tells a story about East Yorkshire, we’d love to see it.

To celebrate English Tourism Week this March, we’re launching Capture East Yorkshire, an amateur photography competition celebrating the landscapes, wildlife and places that make our corner of the country special.

You don’t need a fancy camera. You don’t need photography experience. If your picture looks great on your phone, it’s perfect for this competition. 

Please take photographs safely and which do not put you or others at risk from harm.

Win a wild East Yorkshire day out

Our winner will enjoy a nature‑filled day out on the East Yorkshire coast, packed with wildlife, inspiration and some very special experiences. Your prize includes -

Two day passes to Sewerby Hall and Gardens with lunch at the Clock Tower Cafe (including admission to Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 9 May to 19 July 2026)

Experience the 61st international Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum. The exhibition showcases breathtaking images from around the globe, capturing dramatic behaviour, rare species and powerful stories told through photography.

Your passes also include access to Sewerby Hall and Gardens. Explore the historic house, wander the landscaped gardens, enjoy lunch at the Clock Tower Café (with a £30 voucher included), and take in amazing clifftop views.

Two day passes to RSPB Bempton Cliffs

One of the UK’s best places to experience dramatic coastal scenery and incredible wildlife.

Perched on towering chalk cliffs, Bempton is home to over half a million seabirds in spring and summer - gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes… and the stars of the show: puffins!

Your visit is perfectly timed for puffin season, offering brilliant close‑up views from several cliff‑top platforms, plus expert help from friendly RSPB volunteers.

How to enter

1. Use the entry form below
2. Upload your favourite photo of East Yorkshire (one entry per person)
3. Tell us where it was taken
4. Agree to the competition terms
5. Hit submit and you’re in!

Submissions close at 23:59 on Sunday 15 March 2026, however we may close entries early if we receive a very high number of submissions, so we recommend entering as soon as possible.

Enter your image (link opens entry form)

Can I enter a phone photo?

Absolutely! Most of us take photos on our phones these days, and we welcome entries from any device, from phone snaps to compact cameras. We’re looking for great stories, lovely moments and a sense of place, not technical perfection.

If your photo looks good on your phone, it’s good enough for us.

What happens next?

Once entries close:

Moderation

We’ll check all submissions and remove any that are blurry, inappropriate or off‑theme.

Longlist (up to around 150 images)

A selection of the strongest photos will be longlisted to be reviewed by our supporting photographer, Jack Gray Photography. Jack is the creative mind behind many of  Visit East Yorkshire’s wonderful shots so he knows his stuff!

Shortlist (12 images)

From the longlist, Jack will choose 12 finalist images for a public vote.

Public vote on Facebook

The final 12 images will be shared on Facebook where the public will vote for their favourite by liking the image.

Winner announced during English Tourism Week

The photo with the most reactions will win the Wild East Yorkshire Day Out.

Ready to Capture East Yorkshire?

We can’t wait to see East Yorkshire through your eyes. Your little moments, hidden gems and favourite places that make this area so special.

Enter your image (link opens entry form)

We’re delighted to have local photographer Jack Gray Photography helping us select the 12 finalist images. Jack spends a lot of time exploring East Yorkshire with his camera, capturing the landscapes, wildlife and coastal moments that make this area so special.

Here are a few of Jack’s images to spark some inspiration. You don’t need to take photos like these to enter, phone photos and simple moments are more than welcome.

Terms and Conditions

Please make sure you have read and understood all the terms and conditions before entering.

1. Eligibility

• Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.
• Amateur photographers only.
• One entry per person.
• Photos must be taken in East Yorkshire.

2. How to enter

• Entries must be submitted through the online entry form.
• Social media tagging does not count as an official entry.
• Entries may close early if submission numbers become unmanageable.

3. Image requirements

• Photos must be original and owned by the entrant.
• Photos must not be AI‑generated.
• Blurry, low‑quality, inappropriate or off‑theme images will be removed.

4. Image use

• By entering, you grant Visit East Yorkshire permission to use your photo (with credit) across our marketing channels, including social media, website, email, printed visitor guides and promotional campaigns.

5. Moderation and longlisting

• Visit East Yorkshire will review all submitted images.
• If entry numbers are high, Visit East Yorkshire may create a longlist of selected images to ensure fair and manageable judging.
• Only qualifying images or longlisted images will be passed to the professional photographer.

6. Judging

• A supporting professional photographer will select 12 finalist images based on creativity, clarity, visual appeal and relevance to East Yorkshire.
• Finalists will be announced on Facebook for a public vote.

7. Public vote

• The 12 finalist images will be uploaded to Facebook.
• The winning photo will be the image that receives the most likes during the public voting period.
• Visit East Yorkshire reserves the right to remove fraudulent or suspicious votes if necessary.

8. Prize

• The prize includes two day passes for Sewerby Hall and Gardens which includes admission to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition (which runs from 9 May to 19 July 2026), a £30 voucher for the Clock Tower Café at Sewerby Hall and Gardens and two day passes for RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
• No cash alternative is available.
• The prize must be used between 9 May and 19 July 2026.
• The prize cannot be exchanged, refunded or passed onto a third party.

9. General

• Entries close at 23:59 on Sunday 15 March 2026 but Visit East Yorkshire reserves the right to close early if submission numbers are higher than expected.
• Visit East Yorkshire may amend or withdraw the competition if required.
• Visit East Yorkshire will contact the winner by email. The winner will then have 48 hours to get in touch with details required and confirmation they are claiming the prize. If we do not hear from the winner after 48 hours, we will offer the prize to the person with the next highest number of image likes.
• The winner must have their own transport to travel to East Yorkshire.
• The winner must pass on their name and contact details to Visit East Yorkshire, in order for Visit East Yorkshire to pass on the details to Sewerby Hall and Gardens and RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
• Subject to the usual Terms & Conditions of Sewerby Hall and Gardens and RSPB Bempton Cliffs eg. Opening times and other site rules/policies. Please see the business website for full terms and conditions.
• By entering, participants agree to these terms and conditions.