Are you the next Wildlife Photographer of the Year?

Does the British countryside inspire you to rise at dawn to capture the perfect shot? Do you spend hours waiting patiently for the right light? If yes then you might just be the next Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Both amateur and professional photographers are invited to enter the world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which is now in its 49th year

And where better to find inspiration than the British countryside? There is every chance you’ll capture one of those special ‘blink-and-you-miss-it’ miracles of the natural world that usually pass us by. Perhaps it’s the moment you spot a bashful otter peaking out from beneath the calm surface of a loch in the Scottish Highlands that compels you to snap away or maybe it’s the awesome sight of a peregrine falcon swooping down from above to snatch its lunch from the Yorkshire Dales.

Finding your subject is the fun part but setting your work apart from all others requires creativity, artistry and technical excellence. There are 18 categories for entrants to submit their work, with three categories for the under-17s. But hurry, as you only have until the 22 February 2013 to submit your work.

The lucky winners will have their photograph showcased in an exciting exhibition thatdebuts at London’s magnificent Natural History Museum.

If you think you have what it takes to scoop this coveted prize, please visit www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto for more details on how to enter. And do let us know how you get on.