Back to the Basics Photo Contest

No matter at what point you are in your photography journey, it’s always nice to slow things down and go back to the basics. For our fall photo contest, we focused on four photographic elements that can help challenge you to photograph with intention and strengthen your imagery.

Because the theme of this contest covers a large variety of elements, we wanted to feature as many images as possible so we broke the judging down into FOUR categories! Three winners were selected from each category, and participants could enter up to two images per category.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Congratulations to our winners below, and thank you to everyone that participated in the contest!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Category: Color

Get creative with color! Search for scenes that are filled with color, whether it be red or blue, black or white, warm or cool. Any color scheme counts, as long as it fills the frame!

FIRST PLACE: Kimberly Zismer

“Hahn Cock”

$50 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

SECOND PLACE: Walt Huss

“Lax Lake Reflection”

$25 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

THIRD PLACE: Michelle Bragg

“Cosmic Chaos”

Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Category: Shape

See the shapes within your surroundings and capture them in your image. Create interest with patterns or repeating shapes, or feature them as your main subject.

FIRST PLACE: Randy Smith

“Shapes 1”

$50 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

SECOND PLACE: Arlene Green

“Colored Curves”

$25 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

THIRD PLACE: Darrik Spaude

“Rain Blobs”

Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Category: Texture

Find and incorporate unique textures in your photograph for this category. Focus on the fine details that create texture or use it to build an abstract work of art.

FIRST PLACE: Erik Bjorum

“Rough Edges”

$50 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

SECOND PLACE: Heidi Sawyer

“Snowflake on Blue Sweater”

$25 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

THIRD PLACE: Larry Paulson

“Parkers Lake Ice 1”

Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Category: Line

Lines can help lead your viewer’s eye across your frame or to a specific point within. Use natural, manmade, or implied lines to your advantage to create a strong composition.

FIRST PLACE: Mark Kuhn

“DC Tower”

$50 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

SECOND PLACE: Kim Dayton

“Scarista”

$25 NCE gift card + Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

THIRD PLACE: Benjamin Pipkin

“Dancing Light”

Photofinishing Prize Pack
(8×10 metal print voucher, 50 free 4×6 prints)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

 Check out some of our Honorable Mentions from this contest in our Facebook album!