Prime Advertising & Design is proud to partner with the City of Maple Grove for the Maple Grove Photo Contest this year. I had the honor of being one of the judges. What a difficult (but fun) job! We had to first choose three or four of our favorite photos in each category. Then, using the list of all photos that had received votes, the judges got together to select the category winners. There were very few that everyone agreed on! Maple Grove definitely has some very talented photographers!
Here are some tips to improve your chances on making a big impression with your photo in the next contest:
#1: Follow the rules
Any photo that didn’t match the requirements of the category was immediately disqualified even if it was a great photo. There might be another category that fits your photo better. Read through the contest’s rules very thoroughly before making the move forward.
#2: Shoot with intention
The most effective photos are those that make a person stop, take in every detail of the photo, realize it has meaning, and creates a feeling. Being able to capture the moments and let the reader draw the details of the story on their own is huge in photography. Before you press the shutter ask yourself, “Why am I taking this photo?” “What am I trying to show?” “Is there a better way I can capture it and tell my story?” By allowing yourself to take in the scene, asking those questions, you become more intentional in your work which will, in return, allow you to create better images.
#3: Creative composition
Be sure to position your subject matter in a unique way or show a common item with an interesting point of view. Try putting the subject off to the side or shoot from a different angle. Choose to shoot looking down on the subject rather than straight on or to the side. You can also get very close and fill the entire frame. But remember, don’t try to be weird just for the sake of being different. Make sure your composition is intentional. Have it make sense and be purposeful. Does it lead the eye where you want? Will it make the subject stand out? Can it add visual interest? Does it help tell the story? Is the background distracting? Challenge yourself to find a unique way of seeing something besides the typical shots everyone else photographs. Make yourself stand out from the crowd.
#4: Quality of the photo
You may have a great subject matter but if the image isn’t in focus, under/over exposed, or has fundamental photography errors, it will often be overlooked by the judges. Capturing a quality photo requires knowing your camera’s abilities and limitations. The best way to understand your camera is to read the manual. It’s not the most exciting thing in the world but it is vital. Understanding how your camera works allows you to be more confident and creative with your images.
#5 See the light
Light is vital to telling and composing your image and your light source can determine the mood and affect the quality of your image. Without light you will lose detail and clarity. Find the light first and then place your subject where the light is. If you are doing candid shots, you may have to move your feet to get the right light for the image. Or wait for clouds to help diffuse the light. When working with lower light, you may have to stabilize your camera with a tripod to ensure an in-focus shot. Also make sure your lighting is in balance — be mindful of distracting shadows and “blown out” highlights. Lighting can be the difference between a good image and an award-winning image so start seeing the light.
Creating a great photo isn’t easy, but when you put in the work to get that perfect shot, you’ll increase your chances of winning that photo contest.
