Photography Competition: No Limits!

We get many requests to publicise competitions, we do not judge the merit of the of the competition or prizes, we assume you can do that for yourselves, so having publicised a competition about pubs today we now do one called No Limits

To the judges, No Limits! is an attention-grabbing image that is positive, empowering and demonstrates that there really are No Limits!, because every disabled person has the right to live their life and work towards their goals without limitations.

How Do I Enter?

Simply send your pictures to us here for your chance to win. There are four categories to choose from in the competition. Each entry will be divided into two age groups: aged 17 and under and aged 18 and over. For more information on each category and to see some of the entrants so far, click on one of the following:
Ambition
Independence
Life!
People
All abilities are welcomed. We are looking for your own personal perception of ‘No Limits!’. Winners will be judged on individual merit, rather than the standard of photographic technique.
There will be an iPad awarded to one winner from each age group for each of the four categories, as well as an overall competition winner which will be decided by our panel of judges. The judges may also award a commendation for individual entries at their discretion.
The overall winner of the competition will receive:
iPad
£200 Amazon voucher
Annual subscription to Photography Monthly magazine
Smartphone attachable lens-style camera
Closing date for entries: Sunday 24th November 2013

Full details are here

Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2013 closes for entries on 31 January 2013

If you love food, and we mean photographing it as well as eating it, then you may want to get your entries in for the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition before the closing date this month.

The competition will be closing on 31 January and with a prize of £5000 it’s worth getting those entries in. To read more about the competition, which has new categories this year, please read the press release below from pink Lady.

The international celebration of the art of food photography, Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2013 closes for entries on 31 January 2013.

This year’s competition has several exciting new categories for entrants, including the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year, for images of wine, producers and all things related to wine. Also the Food Sn-apping category, for images of food taken on mobile phones, in support of Action Against Hunger, and Food off the Press which is sponsored by StockFood, for previously published work in books and magazines.

First prize for the overall winner is £5000, and judges for this year include Antonio Carluccio, Edwin Booth, Chairman of Booth’s Supermarkets, Ellen Silverman (Gwyneth Paltrow’s food photographer), Jay Rayner, food writer and broadcaster, Alison Clarke, Editor of Cravings (Australia’s leading food title), Joanna Simon, award-winning Wine and Food Editor, House and Garden, and Neil Christie, MD of Wieden and Kennedy (the advertising agency behind the award-winning Lurpak campaign).

How to Win a Photography Contest (by Somebody Who Has)

From Lightstalking, a useful post if you are considering entering some photo competitions.

Entering a photography contest is a great way to not only gain exposure for your work, but to also win some fantastic photography gear that you can add to your collection. Additionally, your photo may be published in popular magazines, advertisement campaigns, etc. – which looks great on your photographic resume.” …..more by Christopher O’Donnell

These images are from The National Geographic Competition 2010

Selecting and Shooting Your Best Pictures for Competition Entries

Yesterday I posted about a number of photographic competitions that you might consider entering, not just because you might win but because of the learning process that you go through when working to a specific brief. I do believe that working to a purpose or particular subject matter improves your visual sense and eye so entering competitons is a good way to achieve that.

This article is written by D. Travis North who has his own blog. He writes that he recently acted as a judge for a photographic competition and this has led him to compile a list of tips and guides as to how you should approach entering a competition, all good information I think so have a look at his article here

Here is Marianne Majerus last year’s International Garden Photographer of the Year winner speaking to Miranda Gavin of f2 magazine about her experience of IGPOTY

If you are interested in learning more about garden photography here is a link to a IGPOTY masterclass and for a more hands on learning process join our Garden and Plant Photography  on June 12th

Photography Competitions

There are so many different types of photography competitions that there must be one to suit the type of photography you enjoy. You may think your pictures are not good enough to enter a competition but as the prizes are often significant you may find the exercise in trying to make great images improves your picture making skills anyway so it could be a win win situation for you. If you don’t win the competition but your pictures improve then you are ahead anyway.

Looking at the work of other photographers who are interested in your subject areas will certainly make you think and try harder, you will get inspiration and ideas that will just make you a better photographer. There are lots of places to find photography competitions but have have found this site, that lists a few

here are a few for you to consider

Pet Photography                              

 

 

 

Full list at Sticky Rice

You might find taking our Garden and Plant Photography Course or our Travel Photography course helps details on our site

British Wildlife Photography Awards 2011

The competition opens on 1 February 2011, with a prize fund of up to £20,000. The British Wildlife Photography Awards in 2011 are your chance to win a prestigious photography award and cash prize of £5,000.

Wildlife Photography: Hints and Tips

• When looking through the viewfinder, ask yourself the question, “How would I caption this image?” If the only answer is the species name, then wait for a more dynamic composition.
• Remember the technical must haves: in focus and well exposed.
• The best compositions are simple and uncluttered. Photography is a form of communication and the best communication is unambiguous. Think about the nature of your subject and make sure that any visual elements in the picture space add to the composition and don’t detract from the main subject.
• Be original. The judges will be looking for images that reveal the unexpected.
• With some exceptions, high ISO ratings in digital cameras may reduce image quality.
• Know your subject – the better you know your subject the easier it is to predict behaviour and capture original images.

The 2010 competition’s winning photograph of a herring gull taken by Steve Young shows a familiar bird in its conventional setting, but the visual impact is extraordinary. The judges were looking for the one image that stood out, among thousands of entries, as the most memorable.

Competition judge Greg Armfield from WWF said: “This is a unique and striking image. One that captures perfectly the power, chaos and intensity of the ocean as it surrounds the majestic gull.”

Tom Hind, competition judge from Getty Images, added: “I like the defiance in this shot – the gull’s refusal to be moved in the face of this crashing wave seems to sum up a peculiarly British stoicism! It’s also a great example of how the commonplace can be transformed in a judicious moment.”

© Steve Young, Herring gull in wave