The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail Winter Photography Competition is back, and it's a photographer's dream come true! This annual event, a collaboration between the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, Sculpture by the Sea, and Region Media, invites photographers to capture the stunning interplay of art and nature in the Snowy Valleys region of New South Wales. This year, the competition is offering a grand prize that will make any photographer's heart sing: two nights' accommodation in Bondi during the renowned Sculpture by the Sea festival in 2026, plus a paid day as a photographer for the event. But that's not all - the winning image will also be featured in various publications, including About Regional, Region Riverina, and the Head On Photo Festival Foundation's online magazine, providing valuable exposure for the photographer's work. This competition is not just about winning; it's about celebrating the unique blend of art and landscape that the Snowy Valleys offers. The trail, stretching 150 kilometers from Tumut to Khancoban, showcases over 60 sculptures by Australian and international artists, displayed across forests, vineyards, townships, and alpine landscapes. Established after the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, the trail has become a major tourism attraction, drawing visitors from across Australia and overseas. The competition's judges are seeking more than just a pretty picture; they want a photograph that stops people in their tracks. It could be a dramatic landscape, an unexpected angle, beautiful light, or a fleeting moment that won't happen again. The best images, according to David Handley, the founder of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail and Sculpture by the Sea, should tell a story and encourage people to look more closely at both the artwork and its surroundings. Last year's winner, Gundagai's Elizabeth Medyskyi, captured the essence of this with her winning photograph of Tony Davis's Folly Interstice sculpture in the Sugar Pines Sculpture Forest at Laurel Hill, dusted with a light snowfall. The competition is open to photographers of all skill levels, and the entry process is straightforward. Participants can submit their best shots of any sculpture along the trail via Instagram or Facebook, tagging @snowyvalleyssculpturetrail and using the hashtag #snowyvalleyssculpturetrail. Alternatively, they can email up to six images to info@sculpturebythesea.com, where selected images may also be shared through the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail's social media channels. The competition closes at 11:59 pm AEST on August 31, 2025. So, if you're a photographer looking for a challenge and a chance to showcase your talent, this competition is not to be missed. It's an opportunity to explore the Snowy Valleys, discover its hidden gems, and capture the beauty of art in nature. As Kim Treasure, the editor-in-chief of Region Media, aptly puts it, 'Some of the best photographers in Australia live and work in regional communities, and this competition is a chance to showcase that talent to a much wider audience.' So, get your cameras ready, and let's see what unique perspectives you can bring to the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail!
