Photo Competitions
Challenge yourself with monthly themed competitions judged by professionals to improve your skills and gain recognition.
Current Competition
Monthly Competition
Check the calendar for the monthly competition themes which include: Pictorial, Nature, Journalism, Creative, Monochrome + Specialty Categories
Competition Categories
Pictorial
Use of the photographic medium as an art form. The emphasis is on interest, visual impact, composition, and technical excellence. Images in the Pictorial category are not confined to any particular subject, type, or style of photography. Pictorial images may be manipulated in the darkroom, on the computer or in the camera in a manner consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.
Nature
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation. The informative and nature story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality, while maintaining high technical quality. Images entered in the Nature division can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on humans for food.
Monochrome
A monochrome image refers to an image in black and white (grayscale), but also includes images made of tones of a single color. For example, sepia images, which display tones from light tan to dark brown, or cyanotype images (blueprints) are also monochrome. An image modified or giving the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi toning or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of monochrome and shall be classified as a color work ineligible for submission in the Pictorial Monochrome category.
Creative
Creative photography is producing an image through the use of imaginative skill or originality of thought including the altering of reality. Creative images may include modifications in the darkroom, on the computer, or in the camera, as well as unusual points of view, imaginative use of subject matter or lighting, or any other presentation that begins with the maker’s photograph or a collection of photographs.
Journalism
Entries shall consist of pictures with informative content and emotional impact, including human interest, documentary and spot news. Sequences in Journalism show a chronology of events or tell a story. The journalistic value of the photograph shall be considered over pictorial quality. In the interest of credibility. The primary concern is to make story-telling and/or newsworthy photographs.
Travel
A Photo Travel image must express the feeling of a time and place, and portray a land, its distinctive features or culture in its natural state. There are no geographical limitations. Close-up pictures of people or objects must include distinguishable environment. Techniques that add to, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. All adjustments must appear natural. Conversion to monochrome is allowed. The title should give the location and complement the travel story. All Travel images must be consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.
Recent Hall of Fame
Herb Gaidus
1000+ Gannets!
January 2026
Andrew Gaidus
Black Widow Spider
January 2026
Maria Rodriguez
City Lights at Dusk
January 2026
James Wilson
Winter Storm
December 2025
Linda Park
Redwood Cathedral
December 2025
Robert Thompson
Autumn Reflections
December 2025
Elizabeth Springs
The space in between
9.25
Submission Rules
- All entries must be original work by the submitting member
- Basic adjustments are allowed: exposure, color balance, sharpening, cropping
- Maximum three entries per person per competition
- Submissions due by midnight Wednesday the week before competition
- Maximum image size: 1920 pixels on longest side
Judging Criteria
Impact
The initial wow factor and emotional response the image evokes
Composition
How well the elements are arranged within the frame
Technical Quality
Exposure, focus, sharpness, and overall image quality