A few tips on the subjects and techniques. Please note these suggestions are neither prescriptive nor comprehensive, they are just food for your thoughts:-

‘Open’
Open subject is anything that interests or inspires you.

‘Motion’
Look beyond action shots to long exposures, intentional camera movement, panning, flowing water and visual illusions of motion.

‘Human Influences on the Landscape’
Capture how people shape the landscape through geometry, industry, environmental storytelling, decay, regeneration, etc.

‘Food’
Food photography can be treated as still life. Thoughtful lighting, composition and styling can create an engaging narrative, while emphasizing the food’s colour and texture. The theme can also include the people, processes and equipment involved in food production.

‘Texture and Tactility’
Create images that viewers can almost feel, focusing on tactile surfaces such as peeling paint, rusty metal, soft animal fur, rugged mountains, etc.

‘Macro and close-up photography’
Macro photography captures subjects at a 1:1 life-size magnification or greater. Close-up photography is the broader term for tightly framed images produced at less than 1:1 magnification.  True macro images usually require a dedicated macro lens, extension tubes or bellows.  Close-up images can be taken with most standard, telephoto or zoom lenses that can focus at short distances.

‘Water’
Water appears in many forms, from ice and liquid to steam and vapour. It can be found in snow, rain, seas, rivers, fog, mist and clouds. Because all life depends on water, the photographic possibilities are endless.

‘Flora’
Photograph plants and flowers using techniques such as macro, close-up and creative shoot-through blur. Work outdoors in soft or overcast light to avoid harsh shadows and blown highlights on petals.  Use a wide aperture to keep the subject sharp while softly blurring the background. Compose your image creatively rather than simply making a record shot.

‘Light and Shadow’
Explore contrast through silhouettes, reflections, high- and low-key lighting, and abstract patterns.

Prints and Printing
For Merits print competitions, entries may be mounted on board or submitted unmounted—the choice is entirely yours. At a future date, we will discuss mounting options and provide practical demonstrations of the equipment, materials and techniques involved.  A carefully mounted print can be an excellent way to showcase your photography.