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LVPC Photo Challenge

Welcome to the LVPC Monthly Photo Challenge

The LVPC monthly Photo Challenge is a great way for all members to get involved and share images with the club. This year, the photo challenge topics have been selected in hopes of encouraging all members to become more thoughtful photographers while increasing photographic knowledge and sparking creativity.

We've never met a photographer who didn't hope to become "better" at their craft. Our hope is that the challenges will help novice photographers advance beyond the snapshot as well as inspire more advanced artists to pick up their camera and and explore photographic possibilities with purpose.

New challenges will be introduced in a monthly email. The challenges are meant to be fun for all and noncompetitive. All members are invited to submit THREE images for each challenge. Simply upload your images to a personal album and tag the with the tag indicated in the email. The tags allow us to find your images for display. You will find the tag in the pulldown tag menu when you upload your images. Your images will be compiled at the end of the challenge and displayed in an album on this website and on the private LVPC Facebook page. Only THREE images per photographer will be displayed in each albums so show us your best work.

While submitting images from your archives is allowed, we hope that you'll take the opportunity to pick up your camera and get shooting. Consistent practice is the best path to improving as a photographer. You are also welcome to use creative techniques and processing to fully represent your photographic style.

We hope that you will find these challenges engaging and enjoyable. We look forward to seeing your images!

All Challenge Participants will be entered for our Photo Challenge Raffle:
Each month we will award a $25 gift card to one lucky challenge participant! Every member who submits at least ONE image for the challenge will be entered to win. The winner will be chosen by random drawing and can choose a $25 gift card from Dan's Camera City, B&H Photo, or Amazon.

Current Theme

February Photo Challenge

Landscapes

Our January speaker, Ben Williamson, gave a masterclass on landscape photography. Whether you are an experienced landscape shooter or just building interest in the genre, he shares a multitude of useful pointers. We suggest you take the time to review his presentation which was recorded and will be available until February 15. Please check your email for the link to the recording.

Photograph by Katherine Fisher

Ben defines landscape more widely than many photographers. His principles apply across all types of photography that is practiced outdoors. He initially puts emphasis on the photographer's curiosity and response to a scene. He encourages us to tune into our personal response to where we are and what we're seeing and strive to capture the uniqueness of the moment. The challenge is to create an image that makes the viewer curious and to want to linger with the image by shedding new light on a familiar subject.

There are numerous practices he suggests be employed to that end. Points to be mindful of include:

DESIGN
Keep in mind perspective, camera placement, lens choice and lines and shapes that lead the eye through the frame and create visual weight and flow.

LIGHT
The direction of light greatly affects the scene. Backlight may be difficult to capture but can be very dramatic. Consider the impact of rim lighting or silhouettes. Sidelight emphasizes form, texture and dimensionality. Front light provides full, even illumination but may read flat or boring. Other lighting scenarios to consider are warm golden hour light, twilight or blue hour, or soft overcast light.

RULES
We are constantly reminded of the "rules" of photography. They are good to keep in mind but don't be afraid to break them. Take off the training wheels and master your own way of seeing.

Don’t wait for travel opportunities. Practice close to home by taking lots of photos and work to develop your own landscape voice. Don’t let the weather discourage you. Weather can be incredibly dramatic and make very compelling photos.

One of the most important things that you can do (other than practice) is to study the work of landscape photographers you admire. Ben has shared a list of photographers that he finds inspiring.

Michael Bollino - www.michaelbollino.com
Kurt Budliger - kurtbudliger.com
Dave Dostie - www.dostiephoto.com
Darylann Leonard - 1-darylann-leonard.pixels.com
John Putnam - www.jkputnamphotography.com/index
Jim Salge - www.jimsalge.com
Guy Tal - guytal.com
Laura Zamfirescu - www.laurazwings.com

All members are invited to submit up to THREE images for the challenge. Upload the images to a personal album on the LVPC website and tag your images 02/26_LScape from the pull-down menu. Detailed instructions and a brief instructional video are linked below.

This Challenge Will Run Until
February 28, 2026

Future Themes

Upcoming Challenges

March - Still Life
Opens March 1
Tag: 3/26_Still

April - Art of Abstract
Opens March 30
Tag: 4/26_Abst

May - A Photo Project
Opens April 26
Tag: 5/26_Project

How to Participate

For best viewing and for our downloading, prepare your images with 1280 pixel width for landscape and 720 pixel width for portrait, max file size 3 MB. Upload your images (3 max) to your member album.

Member Login, Profile, Website: Photo Albums, Open an Album (pencil), Add Photo(s).
Select the Correct Challenge TAG from the pull-down list for each image. Do NOT create your own TAG.
You are done! Your image will be manually loaded to the Challenge Album
after the challenge concludes.

For additional instruction, click on the "Challenge Instructions" button below, or watch a short video.

Challenge Instructions

Watch Short Video