Closing Date: 22nd June
Judging Date: 25th June
Judge: Peita Ward
Portrait photography is about capturing the essence, personality, identity and attitude of a person utilising backgrounds, lighting and posing. An image becomes a portrait when the image can evoke a sense of connection between the viewer and the portrait photograph.
The image may range from a head study to full body length and may include candid and formal images.
For this competition “group” portraits are not eligible.
What you can learn:
- How to engage with your subject to make them relaxed.
- Research the range of poses to create an effective image.
- Avoid harsh light. Soft light can be generated from a window, studio lighting or a flash.
- Use the golden hour to take images outdoors.
- Use a reflector to create the light that is desired. If reflectors are not available use a bight wall or other surface as a reflector.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 21st July
Judging Date: Tuesday 23rd July
Judge: Bill Chambers
Rush Hour Set Subject Guidelines
Rush hour refers to the time of day when most people are commuting to and from work by many different modes of transportation. People may be rushing along a street or running to catch a train.
Your image should convey the hectic or unique nature of this period of the day or evening.
What you can learn:
- Experiment with camera angles to create dramatic effects.
- Control of shutter speed to freeze the action or to allow motion blur.
- Consider monochrome for busy images.
- Decision between Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or Manual with Auto ISO.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 25th August
Judge: Don Dickins
Panorama Set Subject Guidelines
Panorama refers to a wide and unbroken image. The aspect ratio determines if an image is a panorama, an aspect ratio of 2:1 or more is the accepted definition. All the elements of the panorama should work together to convey a story.
What you can learn:
- The use of software to create a Panoramic image by stitching multiple images together.
- If stitching the requirement to have all camera settings in manual mode so all images making up the panorama have identical exposure, colour temperature, ISO and focus.
Closing Date: Midnight September 22nd
Judging Date: Tuesday 24th September
Judges: John & Leanne Alessi
Water in Motion Set Subject Guidelines
Capture water as it moves, with the water being the main subject of the image.
Water taken with fast shutter speeds can have dramatic impact with high volumes of water, slower shutter speeds smooth out the movement of water. Creative images that have moving water are acceptable.
What you can learn:
- The effect that different shutter speeds have when photographing water in motion.
- The need to use low ISO and possibly neutral density filters to obtain slow shutter speeds in bright light.
- Use of a tripod to keep stationary elements of the image sharp but have the water blurred.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 20th October
Judging Date: Tuesday 22nd October
Judge: Doug Carley
Playing with Artificial Light Set Subject Guidelines
Artificial light refers to any light that’s not produced naturally. The light source excludes the sun, moon and stars as the dominant light source.
Be creative and use a light source or light sources to create an image that has impact. Light can be generated through streetlights, car headlights, torches and light painting tools. The light is to be added to the exposure whilst the camera shutter is open.
The use of light that is synchronised with the camera shutter in the form of a flash is excluded from the competition. Portraits of people, close up images that use studio flash or studio lighting are also excluded from this competition.
What you can learn:
The effect that different light forms can have on the impact of an image.
- Experiment with some composite images that tell a story with some creative lighting.
- Experiment with changing the colour of the light in post-production. The light source must be captured by the camera.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 24th November
Judging Date: Tuesday 26th November
Judge: Graham Cam
Panning Set Subject Guidelines
The image is to be taken while panning the camera. Blurred backgrounds must be created by the camera movement and not the use of post-production software.
What you can learn:
- Experiment with shutter speeds to determine what parts of an image show motion and add to the story.
- How changing the shutter speed can affect the clarity of the subject or parts of the subject and blur the background.
- Practice panning through using the hips to turn with the subject with the arms close to the body.
