Free Photography Contests

I truly believe that all the best things in life come free. I guess the best example that I can provide are the air that we breathe and the water that we drink.

I guess that the above statement displayed the philosophical side of me. Focusing on the article now, I think that the best part of competing in a free photography contest is winning a prize. Besides that, it provides a great platform to display your creativity. You have to prove as to how good you are with your work before people will agree to pay you for the same.

A winning entry in a photography contest is usually selected by a panel of judges based on various criteria’s. One of major criteria that a judge will look for in your photograph is the visual impact that the photograph can make. The image should be such that it should demand attention. A fresh and imaginative approach to the image is also as important as the style. In a contest, the judges will also evaluate the technical competence with which the photograph was taken, some of the areas of technical expertise being correct exposure, composition, contrast and clarity. Lastly, to enhance the chances of you winning to the competition ensure that the photographs you submit for the contest are printed in the highest quality possible. The better the quality of the photograph, the more likely are the chances that the photograph will capture the imagination and admiration of the judges.

Free Photography Contests – Categories

Some of the categories that are generally available in free photography contests are as follows:

• Animals
• People, Baby or Child
• Creative, Artistic or Digital Art
• Black and White
• Nature, Landscape or Seascape
• Macro, Abstract or Still Life

Free Photography Contests – Tips

Here are some tips that you can use if you are planning on taking part in a photography contest:

• The subject of the photograph should be chosen wisely. It will help if the entire photo except the subject is plain so that the focus of the person viewing the photograph is immediately captured.
• Anticipate and plan out a photo opportunities instead of waiting for a ‘great’ shot.
• You could also create a photograph from somebody else’s perspective like baby’s view out of its crib.
• Incorporate new angles, use different times of daylight, filters, colored lightings to create new and innovative effects.
• It is important to constantly go through books, magazines, websites and product catalogs to keep up with all the latest and new trends and also pick up new ideas.
• It is always advantageous to use a tripod or a monopod to help increase the details and reduce the blur in the photographs.
• Your photograph must provide a compelling reason that will force a user to look at it. Other that the fact that your photograph must be really good, you can add a thought provoking or an interesting title that will help grab the attention of the viewer further.
• The color combination of the photograph should be such that it should capture an interesting color palette which is complimentary and analogous.
• With the help of silver, gold and white reflectors, lightening can be improved. Further, ensure that you bounce your flash off the ceiling as direct flash creates ‘red eye’ and harsh shadows.
• Analyze the theme of the competition correctly before submitting your photographs. Further, you must make it a point to view the winning images in competitions and try to understand as to why they have been selected. Incorporate the positive qualities that you find in these entries in your photographs.
• When you have to submit a set of pictures for a competition, ensure that all the pictures are equally appealing as a single bad picture can weaken your overall score considerably.

Ensure that when you win in a contest, you notify your local newspapers with a press release. The press is always looking to publish good stories and the free publicity will go a long way in increasing your credibility as a photographer and will help you get work which I guess is the aim of entering a contest unless you enjoy photography as a hobby and would like to know as to how good you are. All the best!