October was a hectic and somewhat controversial month in the fast growing Newsport Best Photo Competition.

First there were IT issues allowing multiple voting for the October entries. Then there were calls for the competition to be split into different categories due to the large number of entries, and lastly a call from government regarding the inclusion of an image taken of the traditional and now entrusted Daintree waterhole, The Blue Hole.

The Best Photo department is flattered and more than a little excited that the competition is generating so much interest with ever increasing entries, voting and comments every month.

The team at The Newsport has taken your feedback on board and the winds of change are blowing as the competition evolves.

From November there will now be four categories; Most Popular Regional Landscape, Most Popular Regional Fauna/Flora, Most Popular Portrait, and Most Popular General.

At the end of every month these photos will be made available for the the public to vote as per usual.

The winners of each of these categories will win the major prize of a Carton of Corona and a Jungle Ball ride, with the runner up winning a bottle of wine. Thanks to our friends at the Court House Hotel and Daintree Station for their ongoing support.

In even bigger news for the competition, an expert panel of judges consisting of Allison George from Catseye Productions, Perrin Clarke from Perrin Clarke Photography, and Sam Cullen from Tourism Media Group, will select an overall BEST photograph for the month to be chosen from the four categories.

The overall winner will win a $100 cash prize. Now that's a huge incentive to get your photos in each and every month!

In addition, images from the competition will be selected to appear on tourismportdouglas.com.au in a ‘This is our life’ page and possibly the Port Douglas Magazine. The inclusion of these images in the online lifestyle section and the magazine provides access to tourists to never before seen imagery of the destination helping them confirm their travels to our spectacular region. 

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Best Photo Competition, from our sponsors, voters, and of course the photographers who continue to capture the essence of our area in their own unique style.