Hey Joe, where you going with that frame in your hand?

To celebrate UTV’s new series, Lesser Spotted Journeys, Joe called on all budding amateur photographers from Londonderry to enter the Lesser Spotted Snapper photography competition.

The new 12 part series, which sees Joe travel the length and breadth of Ireland, airs on UTV on Tuesdays at 8pm.

Entrants to the competition are being asked to submit images of their most loved and special places, with the overall winner crowned as the Lesser Spotted Snapper of 2015.

Joe said: “Four years ago when we last ran the Lesser Spotted Snapper photographic competition we received over 6,000 entries and simply we were overwhelmed. Not just by the volume of entries but the calibre of the images.

“We discovered that the country is populated by thousands of extremely gifted amateur photographers who are able to combine technical skill, an eye for composition and a deep appreciation of the beauty and wonder of our Ulster landscapes.

“I’m genuinely excited to be putting out this call once again to see how others capture the nooks and crannies that mean most to them.”

Lesser Spotted has been bringing audiences off the beaten track to some of the most intriguing and unknown corners of Ulster since 1995 but this new series will see Joe widen his search all-Ireland for the first time.

From Glenshesk, one of the lesser-known Glens of Antrim, to the parish of Kilcommon in north-west County Mayo, Joe will be journeying to some of the most beautiful places in Ireland.

Joe commented on how the new series came about: “To think I have been exploring for 20 years is remarkable, I’m really not quite sure where the time has gone. I’ve met so many extraordinary people and learnt so much about different cultures in that time but I thought after 2 decades the time was right to explore a little further so that’s how Lesser Spotted Journeys was born.

“In the first episode of the new series we travel to the heritage village of Ballyknockan on the shores of the Poulaphouca Reservoir in County Wicklow, a place with an extraordinary story. From the barnacles on the rocks on Lough Hyne in County Kerry to the Anglo-Norman heritage of Carlingford, I’ve tried left no stone unturned in revealing the hidden beauty and secrets of Ireland.

“Hopefully this series is just the beginning. Given the wealth of places and people waiting to be discovered I think we could have enough material to explore with Lesser Spotted Journeys for another 20 years.”

Any photographers wanting to take part in Lesser Spotted Snapper can find full entry details and terms and conditions at www.u.tv/snapper