After tallying the voting results after the Open House meeting, the Board has selected the following themes for our quarterly and annual contests. I have tried to come up with a definition for each theme, but these definitions may change before a contest begins. You will always find the definitions in the newsletter.
First Quarter: Long Exposure
Long Exposure photography involves using a long-duration shutter speed to sharply capture the stationary elements of images while blurring, smearing, or obscuring the moving elements. Long-exposure photography captures one element that conventional photography does not: an extended period of time.
An image without some element having motion will not qualify for this contest. Some types of long exposures include clouds in motion, vehicle lights, star trails, and smoothing out moving water.
For more information see
https://visualeducation.com/long-exposure-photography/ or
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/long-exposure-photography.html
Second Quarter: Blooms/Flowers
Blooms/Flowers almost needs no definition. However, you can take flower photos in many different settings, including in the wild, in a studio, or at home with premade bouquets. Images may be of gardens of flowers or wildflowers, down to macro images of an element of a single flower. Techniques like focus stacking, selective focus (think Lensbabys), and macro can enhance a subject and display a creative element. Flat lay photography images will not qualify for this contest.
For more information see
https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/photographing-flowers-ideas
Third Quarter: Transportation
Transportation is the movement of goods, animals, and persons from place to place and the various means by which such movement is accomplished. Images do not have to show the transportation means in motion. Transportation modes can include air travel, road or rail transport, water transport, bicycles, or even children’s transport.
For more information see
https://annemckinnell.com/2016/03/24/how-to-photograph-modes-of-transportation/ or
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/10-top-transport-photography-tips-18820
Annual: Abstract Photography
Abstract photography is a style of photography that creates images that are not immediately associated with the physical world. Abstract photographers use light, movement, and perspective to create unexpected images that can challenge the viewer's perception of reality. Some techniques include camera motion, macro, and distortion.
For more information see
https://www.adorama.com/alc/abstract-photography-for-beginners-9-tips-for-capturing-stunning-abstract-images/ or
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/abstract-photography.html