Competition Categories
Nature
Nature photography celebrates the natural world in all its beauty and complexity. In this category, participants are encouraged to capture landscapes, flora, fauna, and environmental scenes in contexts that highlight color, light, and composition. A strong nature image often tells a story — whether it’s the drama of a storm, the calm of a sunrise, or the intricate details of a flower petal. The photographer should aim to balance foreground, midground, and background, and pay attention to leading lines, contrast, and natural framing. Images should avoid obvious disturbance of wildlife or environmentally destructive practices. Thoughtful post-processing is allowed, but avoid artificial over-editing. Participants may be inspired by seasons, weather, or patterns in nature, but originality is key. Judges will look for creativity, technical skill, and emotional impact.
Still Life
The Still Life category invites photographers to arrange inanimate objects to create visually compelling compositions. You might use household objects, vintage items, food, flowers, or textures to craft a scene that conveys mood or narrative. Lighting and shadows play a critical role here. Use directional lighting, soft diffusers, or reflectors to sculpt the subject and highlight textures. Composition choices — negative space, rule of thirds, symmetry, or deliberate imbalance — can provide tension or harmony. Color contrast or tonal harmony can strengthen the visual impact. This category encourages experimentation with abstract layouts or everyday items turned extraordinary. Judges will appreciate originality, artistic vision, and technical control in exposure, depth of field, and clarity. Make every element intentional.
Street / Candid
Street and Candid photography captures spontaneous moments of human life, movement, and environment in public spaces. This category rewards observant photographers who can anticipate scenes, freeze moments of emotion or action, or juxtapose elements to tell a story. Subjects might include people going about their daily lives, urban patterns, reflections, shadows, or spontaneous interaction, always respecting privacy and applicable laws. Timing, perspective, and context matter: a frame may seem ordinary until framed at the right moment. Minimal manipulation is encouraged — the rawness is the power. Judges look for authenticity, narrative strength, and visual balance. Your image should provoke curiosity or empathy, inviting viewers to imagine the backstory. React quickly and keep your camera ready.