Unleash Your Lens: The EEA's "Urban Treasures" Photo Competition 2024
Discover how the European Environment Agency's "Urban Treasures" photo competition invited photographers to capture the beauty and sustainability of urban life in 2024. Learn about the themes, rules, and timeline of this impactful initiative.
Capture Europe's Green Future: The EEA's "Urban Treasures" Photo Competition 2024
Discovering Urban Beauty: An Overview of "Urban Treasures"
The European Environment Agency (EEA) hosts the annual "Urban Treasures" photo competition, inviting European citizens to capture inspiring moments of city life. The 2024 edition specifically highlighted the beauty, diversity, and sustainability of urban areas. Its core aim was to celebrate the positive efforts being made to create greener and more livable towns and cities across the continent. This initiative served as a powerful platform to showcase the evolving urban landscape, where nature and sustainable practices are increasingly integrated into the fabric of daily life.
Competition Rules & Guidelines: Your Path to Participation
Designed to ignite creativity and observation skills, the "Urban Treasures" competition outlined clear rules for photographers.
Eligibility and Submission Requirements
The competition was open to all European citizens passionate about photography. Each participant could submit a maximum of 5 original photos in electronic formats like .jpeg, .png, or .tiff. A minimum resolution of 2000 pixels on the long side was required (preferably over 4960 pixels). Every entry needed a title, and a short description (up to 1000 characters in English) was highly recommended. New rules were introduced, emphasizing restrictions against excessive photo manipulation to ensure authenticity.
Compelling Thematic Categories
Photographers could submit their work under one or more of these inspiring themes:
- Wildlife in the city: Highlighting the often-unseen presence of wild animals in urban settings.
- Charming neighbourhoods: Capturing the architectural beauty, vibrant living spaces, and unique cultural features of residential areas.
- Green at heart: Focusing on vital green spaces, sustainable initiatives, or positive environmental elements within cities.
The Judging Process
The judging involved a pre-selection by an internal EEA committee, shortlisting 20-40 finalists. An external jury of environmental communication experts then determined the main prize winners. A special Public Choice Award was decided by a public vote among the finalists.
Key Dates for Your Calendar
The submission deadline was October 1, 2024. The public voting period for the Public Choice Award ran from October 30 to November 13, 2024. Winners were announced on November 29, 2024.
