Themes and Competitions
The Club hosts internal competitions in the monthly themes, and participates in a number of external competitions. This list gives an overview of what is planned for the 2024-25 season. As always, check the calendar for updates.
2024 – 2025 Themes [Internal Competitions]
SEPTEMBER 2024 - Architectural Features
Buildings often have features that make them unique as well as memorable. They’re just begging to be photographed. Looking up, down, or around corners can all give you a different perspective on architectural features that may go unnoticed. Try close up, with or without a telephoto lens, and try black and white to emphasize contrast.
OCTOBER 2024 - In the Kitchen
We all spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Take a closer look at what is there that would make an interesting image. Perhaps it’s food or a combination of utensils and serving dishes. Create a still life with everyday things! Practice composition, close up, black and white.
NOVEMBER 2024 - Peeking Through; Not Quite There
What do you glimpse out of the corner of your eye? Is there something there or not? This theme challenges you to capture the ethereal – whether in fog, behind a translucent curtain, through the fronds of a plant or partly hidden around a corner. Show us what you see peeking through. Think about composition, framing, leading line, multiple exposure and black and white.
DECEMBER 2024 - ICM
Practice your In-Camera Movement skills. Look for colour, shapes, textures; anything that will add interest when you use this technique. Try different shutter speeds for extra impact.
JANUARY 2025 - Give Me Shelter
Umbrellas, roofs, pergolas, porches, covered decks. All these are different ways to shelter from the elements. Look for ways to express this idea using some techniques such as ICM, long exposure, and black and white. Try for an emotion or mood to show how the subject is sheltering.
FEBRUARY 2025 - Water Droplets
Think about using macro and close up techniques to capture the miniature world in water droplets. Shrink your vision to capture a reflection in a single drop of water or perhaps a whole spray is more interesting. Get out after a rain shower or create your own with a water bottle.
MARCH 2025 - Patterns
Look for repetitive or random patterns in the world around. Whether you’re out on a walk, in the street, in a mall, a building, an office or your home there are patterns everywhere. Sometimes they are created by nature or are man-made. Be creative with the use of colour and composition to make the most of what you find. Look also for leading lines, shadows and play with depth of field.
APRIL 2025 - Backlit
Drama and depth can be evoked through images that use the technique of backlighting. The interplay of light and shadow, as when capturing the glow of a sunset filtering through a forest or the outline of a person against a bright horizon, can create a sense of magic and mystery. This is more than just a silhouette. It's a way to enhance an emotional aesthetic in photographs.
MAY 2025 - Everyday Moments, A Slice of Life
This is all about documenting yourself or the people around you going about their day. It’s about capturing authentic moments whether it’s children playing, friends together, or strangers carrying on in their own way. This can be candid street photos or portraits. Try black and white or high key/low key to convey a mood or emotion.
JUNE 2025 - Have a Seat
Chairs, couches, benches, carousels or playland seats. They can all be sat on, so find an image that shows the special features of a welcoming spot. With or without people is up to you. Practice some street photography or maybe there is an opportunity for a formal portrait. Be aware of lighting, leading lines, composition and colour to emphasize the subject.
JULY 2025 - Flapping in the Breeze
Get out on a windy day and see what’s flying. It could be a simple flag or maybe street pendants. Perhaps there is a laundry line nearby or some kites overhead. Use different shutter speeds to freeze the shot or blur the motion. Or ICM to add more complexity.
AUGUST 2025 - Culture
We all think of what Culture is in different ways. Whether it’s personal to your history or something you just come across, think about the festivals that happen in different communities and the costumes, music, dance, and arts that they all involve. Try practicing high shutter speeds, different depths of fields, Bokeh or perhaps you want to create a still life of your own cultural heritage.
External Competitions
CAPA Pacific Challenge (September 2024)
*Click* Photography of the Fraser River (Fall 2024)
North Shore Photography Challenge (Spring 2025)
Crescent Beach Black & White Print Challenge (Spring 2025)