News Archive - Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild

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OWPG celebrates 2018 Awards for Excellence

Posted on: October 12th, 2018 by OWPGWordsmith

Members of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) will gather at Simonsbath House in Exmoor over the weekend of 12^th-14^th October to celebrate the annual Awards for Excellence.

The Awards aim to recognise outstanding achievements in outdoor journalism across six categories: Outdoor Book, Guidebook, Outdoor/Travel Feature, Technical Feature, Digital and Photography. This year saw 66 entries submitted by 30 different members.

OWPG membership secretary and past award winner Ronald Turnbull says: “It’s a special thrill to gain such an honour from one’s fellow professionals, who really appreciate what’s what when it comes to writing walking guidebooks.”

As well as celebrating excellence within the Guild, the Awards weekend will honour outstanding contributions to the outdoors world with two prestigious external awards.

The Derryck Draper Award rewards outstanding innovation in outdoor equipment design. Commemorating one of the Guild’s founding members, it sees the most ground-breaking products on the market assessed by a panel of expert gear testers.

The Golden Eagle Award is given annually for distinguished service to the outdoors. Past winners have included Bill Bryson, Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott, Sir David Attenborough and John Grimshaw. The winner receives an original watercolour painting by Guild member David Bellamy.

This year’s Awards will be held at Simonbath House Hotel in Exmoor. Members will enjoy a packed programme of events and activities, including workshops, film screenings, horse riding, gin tasting and archaeology walks.

Media News Bulletin | Autumn 2018

Posted on: October 3rd, 2018 by OWPGCommittee

The autumn 2018 OWPG Media Bulletin can now be viewed online (requires Flash, so not suitable for Android or iOS devices) or downloaded as a PDF. If you are an editor or publisher and want to know something about somewhere or you want somebody to go somewhere, then the chances are that someone from the OWPG is there already, has just come back or is about to set off. Take a look and see if one of them can help with your editorial requirements…

Outdoor Focus | Autumn 2018

Posted on: August 28th, 2018 by OWPGCommittee

In this issue of Outdoor Focus, with a autumnal cover by David Forster, Jon Sparks is your guide through the challenging issue of rights of way, Tony Howard takes you along the Jordan Trail, Ronald Turnbull helps you get your head around the histogram, OWPG says a fond goodbye to Kate Spencer, and, in a new series, OF introduces the companies and organisations that share OWPG’s aims and values – in this issue: Aquapac.

To read Outdoor Focus in a web browser click here (requires Flash). You can also download a PDF version of Outdoor Focus – to read offline on PCs, tablets or smartphones – by clicking here.

Media News Bulletin | Summer 2018

Posted on: July 16th, 2018 by OWPGCommittee

The summer 2018 OWPG Media Bulletin can now be viewed online (requires Flash, so not suitable for Android or iOS devices) or downloaded as a PDF. If you are an editor or publisher and want to know something about somewhere or you want somebody to go somewhere, then the chances are that someone from the OWPG is there already, has just come back or is about to set off. Take a look and see if one of them can help with your editorial requirements…

OWPG Awards for Excellence

Posted on: May 9th, 2018 by OWPG_Secretary

The Awards for Excellence 2018 have been launched by the Outdoor Writers and Photographers’ Guild (OWPG).

These awards recognise the very best of writing and photography from OWPG members in a range of categories:

Outdoor book
Guidebook
Outdoor/travel feature
Techincal feature
Digital
Photography

If you are interested in joining the OWPG prior to applying for an award then click on the link below to see how to apply. Membership is open to professionals involved in the outdoors, whether it is writing, filming, blogging, publishing, walking, hiking, rock climbing and everything in between.

Looking to join

Previous winner Chris Townsend said:
“Winning an Award for Excellence from the OWPG means a great deal to me. Having experienced and knowledgeable judges feel my work is worthy of the award is very satisfying. It gives me confidence that my writing is worthwhile and encourages me to try and do even better.”

The closing date for Award submissions is 31st May 2018.

Happy Birthday TGO

Posted on: April 17th, 2018 by OWPG_Secretary

TGO turns 40 this year and the OWPG send our very best wishes to all those who have been part of this magazine over the years from editors and staff to contributors and of course, those who read it.

OWPG has many long-standing and current contributors to TGO amongst its membership including Vivienne Crow, John Gilham, Hanna Lindon, David Lintern, Fiona Barltrop and Ronald Turnbull.

To celebrate this milestone, the team at TGO have compiled a list of the 40 best mountains and OWPG members have contributed to this list. The souvenir edition of the magazine includes their words and photos on their own personal favourites. The top 40 include 25 in Scotland, seven in England and eight in Wales. Ben Nevis and Snowdon are included but Scafell pipped it’s higher neighbour Scafell Pike to the post in England.

Here’s to the next 40 years for TGO and its continued success.

Liathach by Chris Townsend

Media News Bulletin | Spring 2018

Posted on: April 9th, 2018 by OWPGCommittee

The spring 2018 OWPG Media Bulletin can now be viewed online (requires Flash, so not suitable for Android or iOS devices) or downloaded as a PDF. If you are an editor or publisher and want to know something about somewhere or you want somebody to go somewhere, then the chances are that someone from the OWPG is there already, has just come back or is about to set off. Take a look and see if one of them can help with your editorial requirements…

Media News Bulletin | Winter 2018

Posted on: January 16th, 2018 by OWPGCommittee

The winter 2018 OWPG Media Bulletin can now be viewed online (requires Flash, so not suitable for Android or iOS devices) or downloaded as a PDF. If you are an editor or publisher and want to know something about somewhere or you want somebody to go somewhere, then the chances are that someone from the OWPG is there already, has just come back or is about to set off. Take a look and see if one of them can help with your editorial requirements…

Outdoor Focus | Winter 2017

Posted on: December 6th, 2017 by OWPGCommittee

In this issue of Outdoor Focus you’ll find a heartfelt tribute to Octavia Hill by Kev Reynolds, the pressures and pleasures of shooting a tough hill race in the Lake District by Jon Sparks, Roly Smith’s Book Reviews, and coverage of this year’s OWPG AGM weekend at Newlands including details of the winners of the coveted OWPG Awards for excellence.

To read OF in a web browser click here (requires Flash). You can also download a PDF version of OF – to read offline on PCs, tablets or smartphones – by clicking here.

OWPG Awards weekend in the Lake District

Posted on: October 18th, 2017 by OWPGWordsmith

Richard Fox receives the 2017 OWPG Golden Eagle Award from OWPG Chairman Peter Gillman

The OWPG has just celebrated its annual Awards and AGM weekend, this year held in the Lake District.

Based at Newlands Activity Centre in the Newlands valley, highlights included a visit to Lanercost Priory/Hadrian’s Wall with OWPG member/Hadrian’s Wall expert Mark Richards, a walk exploring the benefits of the Viewranger GPS mobile app with Associate Member Viewranger, a practical video workshop with OWPG member/video expert Andrew White, a scrambly walk over Causey Pike in strong winds, kayaking on Derwent Water and of course our Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation, where the OWPG’s Golden Eagle Award, Derryck Draper Award and OWPG Members Awards are presented.

For more information on the awards please see our Awards Page.