Image time limit for the 2021-2022 club year is: June 21, 2021. That is, images should have been taken on or after that date to be within time limit. There are several 'special themes' like 'Open without time limit", "President's Choice" and "V Presidents Choice" that come with a different time limit. Each such theme will have its special limit listed.
ABANDONED
Hearing the word “abandoned,” we might think of a house, or a boat, an old factory or a truck sitting in a field behind a barn - something unwanted and left behind, left to fall into a state of disuse. But abandoned can also be a state of mind - abandoned hopes and dreams, forsaken, deserted. Left without needed protection, care, or support. Animals can be abandoned. So, unfortunately, can children.
For this assignment, a successful image will express “abandoned”, literally, metaphorically or conceptually, and consider that your title may provide context for the viewer.
(POWERFUL) BLACK AND WHITE
Shapes, Line, Texture and Color are the main elements in a photo with impact. When Color is removed one or more of the other elements will need to be strong to hold the viewer’s attention. So, by creating an impactful B&W you’ll improve your abilities to emphasize these other elements of a photograph, and to identify ways to grab attention and create mood without color. And perhaps you’ll learn how different B&W conversion methods can affect tonal relationships. For this month’s challenge, choose your own subject and composition emphasizing shapes, lines and/or textures to create up to two Powerful Black and White images.
Remember: NO COLOR – NO Selective Color, such as a red colored rose in a BW background; NO Monochromatic tints such as sepia; NO Duotones, or other forms of Color grading
Examples/Resources
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The Built Environment is the human-made environment that provides the setting for human activity, including homes, buildings, zoning, streets, sidewalks, open spaces, transportation options, and more. In other words "the human-made space in which people live, work and recreate on a day-to-day basis." The objective of this theme is to depict an aspect of the human-made environment. Examples of a built environment include, but are not limited to, architecture, transportation infrastructure, parks and green spaces. The links below discuss tips for photographing urban landscapes but are applicable to suburban and rural locales as well.
Examples/References:
LONG EXPOSURE
Long-exposure photography captures one element that conventional photography does not: an extended period of time. 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. When a scene includes both stationary and moving subjects (for example, a fixed street and moving cars or a camera within a car showing a fixed dashboard and moving scenery), a slow shutter speed can cause interesting effects, such as light trails. For this assignment, while there is no fixed definition of what constitutes "long", the intent is to create a photo that somehow shows the effect of passing time, be it smoother waters or light trails or motion.
Examples/References
NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
Night photography has the ability to take a scene and cast it in an unusual light. For this theme, the image will be shot outdoors after the sun has set, between dusk and dawn, using only natural light from the moon or stars, or artificial light from building or streetlights or cars. NO intentionally added light such as flash or light painting may be used.
Examples/References:
WATER
We photographers, who are fortunate to live near the Chesapeake Bay and other bodies of water, see water in its many forms. From reflections, silky waterfalls, rippling waves, abstracts, to seeing to the bottom of the pond, water serves as a picture-perfect subject, stage, and backdrop. Water has no inherent color but can convey a mood and define the atmosphere. You can see into it, across its surface and what it reflects around it all at the same time. Water moves and changes shape. It can behave as a destructive force or as a calm, meandering, gentle presence. Water can be deep or shallow.
A strong image of Water will complement its mood, movement, and behavior. For this theme, please submit a maximum of two images with Water as the predominant element.
Resources:
https://www.nyip.edu/photo-articles/photography-tutorials/how-to-photograph-water
https://learn.zoner.com/6-basic-tips-for-photographing-water/
https://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-photographing-water/
https://shotkit.com/how-to-photograph-water/
