The 13th edition of SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s internationally-renowned ‘Digiscoper of the Year’ competition will this year introduce some brand-new features. The main competition will run from 1^st August 1 to 30 September 2018 and so the period for submitting entries has been reduced to two months. The competition will continue to be judged by a jury of renowned international experts, and the first prize will remain a complete set of SWAROVSKI OPTIK digiscoping equipment. This year, the separate DOY competition that was previously held on Facebook will now also be run on Instagram. From 11 June to 31 July, users can post their digiscoping photos on Instagram with the hashtag #DOY2018 for a chance to win a pair of CL Companion binoculars. 

Immersing yourself in a world of fascinating details and undiscovered secrets: this is what digiscoping allows you to do. An ever-growing number of people are discovering this special photographic technique for themselves, helping them produce impressive pictures to share with others. That’s why, for the last 13 years, SWAROVSKI OPTIK has been running the Digiscoper of the Year competition, the world’s largest platform for digiscoping photos and attracting entries from all over the world.

Four categories, one main prize
Entrants in the “Digiscoper of the Year 2018” competition are invited to submit photos and videos of animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and amphibians) in their natural habitat. The photos and videos must be taken with a digital camera or smartphone through the eyepiece of a spotting scope or binoculars, with entries submitted in one of four categories: “Movement & Action,” “Portrait & Macro,” “Mammals,” and “Video”. One winner will be announced in each category, and from these four a jury of top experts will select the “Digiscoper of the Year 2018.”

Win a set of premium-quality SWAROVSKI OPTIK equipment
The overall winner will be presented with a complete set of SWAROVSKI OPTIK digiscoping equipment (ATX or STX eyepiece module, 25-60×85 objective module, digiscoping adapter, spotting scope rail, tripod, and tripod head) as well as a trophy crafted in the apprentice workshops at SWAROVSKI OPTIK in Absam, Austria. The three other category winners will each receive a pair of EL 32 binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK. Details regarding “Digiscoper of the Year 2018” terms of entry and the competition process can be viewed at www.digiscoperoftheyear.com.

DOY on Instagram 
In 2018, for the first time, a competition will run in parallel on Instagram. Entries can be posted between 11 June and 31 July. At the end of this period, a winner will be chosen at random from the posts including the hashtag #DOY2018 and that have also tagged SWAROVSKI OPTIK Nature in the photo or video. The winner will receive a pair of top-quality CL Companion binoculars from SWAROVSKI OPTIK. Please note that the posts must be public, so that they can be found and entered into the prize draw.

Important deadlines
Competition start: 1 August 2018
Closing date for submissions: 30 September 2018 (23:59:59 CEST)
Jury phase: 1 October to 14 October 2018 (23:59:59 CEST)
Announcement of the winners: December 2018

Birdwatch Magazine (UK), the Bavarian Society for the Protection of Birds (Germany), the Dutch Birding Association (Netherlands), natuurfotomagazine (Netherlands), and Bird Watcher’s Digest (USA) are partners of the competition.

The world belongs to those who can see beauty.
Experience the moment!
SEE THE UNSEEN.
www.swarovskioptik.com

SWAROVSKI OPTIK 
SWAROVSKI OPTIK, headquartered in Absam, Tyrol, is part of the Swarovski group of companies. Founded in 1949, the Austrian company specializes in the development and manufacturing of long-range optical instruments of the highest precision in the premium segment of the market. The binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes, and optronic instruments are products of choice for demanding users. The company’s success is based on its innovative strength, the quality and intrinsic value of its products, and their functional and esthetic design. The appreciation of nature is an essential part of its company philosophy and is reflected commendably in its environment-friendly production and its long-term commitment to selected nature conservation projects. The turnover in 2017 was 146.3 million euros (2016: 140 million euros), with an export ratio of 91%. The company has around 950 employees.

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