The Danube Environmental Forum encourages photographers to focus their talents on life in the Danube River Basin for the 'Danube' Photography Competition.

"There is no better way to draw attention to the river and its protection than to ask 160 million eyes to
provide their view of the Danube." Johannes Wolf, DEF.

The Danube Environmental Forum invites all photographers from the Danube River Basin - amateur and professional - to enter the 'Danube' Photography Competition to be held this May. With more than 80 million inhabitants living in the Danube Basin, Johannes Wolf of DEF says, "there is no better way to draw attention to the river and its protection than to ask 160 million eyes to provide their view of the Danube".

Focusing on the river.
The competition is divided into three categories, with the goal to present images of nature, culture and threats that characterise the Danube River Basin. The first category, 'People and Water', presents cultural, recreational or leisure activities related to water. The second category, 'Problems', highlights problems connected with water in the Danube River Basin, such as drought, flood, waste water or pollution. The last category, 'Nature', showcases the wildlife and natural habitats of the basin, using water as a focal point. This category is subdivided into two further categories, for plants and animals native to the Danube River Basin.

Rewarding developments.
Three prizes will be awarded for each category, with just one each of the 'Nature' subcategories. First prize winners will receive €200, second place will receive €150 and third place will receive €50. Winners will be notified in June and will be invited for the opening of the photo exhibition during the Danube Day celebration.

However, the river basin is the real winner in the competition. Wolf says that "to raise awareness on the interrelations between the Danube, its nature and the people of the Danube River Basin is an important step on the way to sustainable development".

The competition is open to all residents of the Danube River Basin - Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. All photos submitted to the competition must have been taken in the Danube River Basin. The deadline for entries is May 15, 2005.

For more information about the photo competition and how to enter, see www.de-forum.org.

Milan Vogrin
is a freelance researcher of ecology and ornithology, editor of the scientific journal Biota,
member of the DEF board, and a nature photographer.