The response to the first round of APOY 2021 was huge, but we’ve only just started!

With its varied categories, there should be a round for you, no matter what you like to shoot. You might choose to enter just one category or enter them all with the aim of taking home the main prize and, of course, the title of Amateur Photographer of the Year 2021.

The competition is open to all amateur photographers* and we have again teamed up with Photocrowd, who will be hosting the competition on a simple and intuitive platform.

This year we have two new categories. Under-21s can enter the Young Amateur Photographer of the Year, with each category winner receiving a £250 voucher for MPB, and the overall winner being awarded a £500 voucher.

Finally, there’s a camera club category, where you can accumulate points for your society. The most successful club will receive a voucher for £500.

More about the Natural World category

Round two – Natural World – is now open and we want to see your best animal, wildlife and nature shots.

Capturing wildlife in motion is a huge challenge, but the results can be outstanding, as last year’s category winner proves

You don’t necessarily need to go far to find inspiration, as there’s a huge range of subjects close to home or even in your garden. Whether you find your muse in the local park or the wilds of the Serengeti, research and patience can be the deciding factor between an average shot and an amazing one.

Please note, this is not the round for domestic animals and pets: you can enter those into Round Three – Home.

ENTER HERE

* For the purposes of this competition, an amateur photographer is defined as someone who earns 10% or less of their income from photography or photographic services

Your guest judge and the full list of rounds
The guest judge for round two of APOY is the highly respected wildlife, close-up and landscape photographer, Ross Hoddinott. Ross has been taking photographs since childhood, and is an author of several books on photography – you might find inspiration in 52 Assignments: Nature Photography, which is a guide to putting creativity back into the craft of wildlife photography. Find out more at his website.

What you win
The winner of each round of APOY receives a £500 voucher to spend on anything at used specialist, MPB. From top-of-the-range digital medium-format camera bodies, to entry-level DSLRs, telephoto zooms and wideangle lenses, MPB is a one-stop shop for used kit.

And, of course, you can use your voucher towards your dream piece of kit, if it happens to cost more than £500. For £699, you could bag yourself a Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 in excellent condition. This camera features a 20.3MP Live MOS sensor with ISOs up to 25,600.

Ideal for wildlife photography, it can capture an astonishing 60fps continuous shooting with its electronic shutter function.

If you’re after a lens, take a look at the Nikon 1 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR (£549, excellent condition). It provides excellent quality throughout its range, vibration reduction aids sharp images, and all in a compact structure.

There are second- and third-placed prizes of £100 and £50 vouchers respectively, while the winner of the Youth category wins a £250 voucher. Check out www.mpb.com to take your pick from thousands of items.

Further reading
Why buying used gear is better for the ‘Natural World’