Forests NSW is  encouraging amateur photographers with a passion and flair for forests and  forest products to enter its 2010 photography competition.

The competition invites  budding photographers and lovers of State forests everywhere to capture what  forests mean to them, with the theme ‘State forests - part of your everyday’.

Acting manager corporate  and community partnerships and competition organiser, Joanna Bodley is looking  forward to receiving entries.

“The calibre of entries  in our 2008 competition was very high and we are expecting the same this year,”  Joanna said.  “It’s a great reason to  make the time to visit a State forest and have a think about what it means to  you.”

The competition is expanding  with photographs taken in State forests further afield being accepted.

“This year, we are  opening up the competition earlier and are also accepting entries of  photographs taken right across NSW, in any of our 700 State forests,” Joanna  said.

“Photographers can even  interpret the theme further by photographing a unique timber structure or  forest product.”

To enter, photographs  must be taken before 30 September 2010, with full conditions of entry available  online.

While photographs can be  captured on film or digitally, they need to be submitted electronically to  enter.

Judged by a panel of  experts, some great cash prizes are on offer including: 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd  $150.

Winners will be announced  during the Cumberland Family Forest Fair (in north-west Sydney) on 10   October 2010, with the winning images featured in Bush Telegraph  magazine, as well on Forests NSW website.

So get inspired and start  snapping today!

This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2010 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.