Monthly Assignments

Our club typically meets on the 4th Thursday of every month, at 6:30 PM. There are, of course, exceptions to this, so please check the calendar for any changes.

Standard Editing: May include HDR and Focus stacking of a single image composition. Elements may be removed but nothing may be added. The submitted image must be the photographers own work.

Unlimited Editing (UE): Includes combining multiple images, textures, and manipulations to create a new image or composite image. All images used to create the final image must be the photographers own work.

Fresh (F): Quarterly, there will be an assignment where the submitted photos will need to be taken within the previous 12 months of that meeting date. These are labeled Fresh.

If an images has won in any category for a previous assignment, it may not be submitted again. Non-winning images may be resubmitted for another assignment as long as it fits the criteria for that assignment.

Assignments are due no later than midnight on the Sunday before meeting night. You may submit 2 images each assignment.

Members are asked to submit their images through the Members Only section which will upload them to a Dropbox file. Please make sure you upload an image file that is under 5mb for ease/speed in uploading. Please note that if your file is smaller than 1mb it may not display well when viewed on a larger screen. For more information , please see the instructions on the upload page in the members only section.

P1180500_B&W Artistic car edit.jpg — Lyn McNees

GET CREATIVE!

LEARN SOMETHING NEW!

TRY A NEW TECHNIQUE!

2024 Assignments:

January: Black and White (UE) Any subject but with no color-monochrome black and white only. Look for shadows, patterns, textures, or lines to give your image interest.

February: Portrait with Hat or Scarf (F) Your subject must be wearing a hat or a scarf or both.

March: Emotions Your subject should be showing an emotion. Can be human or animal.

April: Urban Decay (UE) Your images should depict an Urban setting in different stages of deterioration due to neglect or age.

May: Splash (F) Capture the splash of a liquid. It’s up to the maker to decide if the object causing the splash is seen. A person must create the splash effect using props or self. These are NOT splashes found in nature.

June: Members Choice (UE) Chose from your favorites, any subject. Can be from your archives.

July: Abstract (UE) Abstract is creating an image that does not have an immediate association with the physical world. Using ICM is one way to achieve abstract images.

August: Architectural Detail Isolate the details of buildings or structures

September: In the Shadows (F) Find your subject in the shadows.

October: Made in Washington (UE) Show us something made in Washington. A great chance to try some creative product photography.

November: What’s that Smell? (UE) Photos of things that have a strong odor or people’s reaction to smelling something with a strong scent or odor.

December: Best of 2024 (UE) Print your images as 12x18 prints Chose your best images from 2024. You will still submit digital versions for upload to the website. We will have no technical judging this month, and instead vote for 10 images for Members’ Choice.

2025 Assignments This year we are adding a twist to our monthly assignments. Each month (excluding member’s choice) will include a technique to be applied in the capture of the image.

January: Still Life-Rule of Odds (F) Still life photography refers to pictures that feature an arrangement of inanimate objects. These can be organic – like food or flowers – or human-made. The number of items in your photo must be odd. ie, 1,3,5,7,9 etc.

February: Neon Signs -Fill the Frame (UE, F) Photograph Traditional or modern neon light like lights composing your photo so that it fills most or all of your frame

March: Street Photography-Slow Shutter (UE, F) Record everyday life in a public space by photographing random people. While you must use slow shutter speed as a part of your photo, since it is unlimited this month, you can use a combination of slow and fast shutter speeds, in different parts of the photo.

April: Stairs, Staircases, Stairwells-Explore use of Contrast (F) While using stairs, stairwells or staircases as your main subject, explore high/ low or shadow contrast methods to create interest.

May: Portrait -Use one (1) added light (F) Portrait photography is about capturing the essence, personality, identity and attitude of a person utilizing backgrounds, lighting and posing. One light portrait lighting uses a single key light or main light. This is often a speedlight or strobe. You can supplement it with ambient light, but not with any light controlled or directed by you, such as a reflector.

June: Intersecting Lines -Rule of Thirds Use Intersecting lines to create your image while using the Rule of 3rds

July: Members’ Choice (UE) Submit any photo that you have taken that has not won a technical or members choice award before

August: Seascape/Seashore-Minimalist Photograph a seascape, or the seashore, bordering the sea while using minimalism photo techniques. in this assignment, less is more. Focus on a small number of subjects, or even just one, leaving plenty of negative space.

September: Landscape (Day or Night) Include a Foreground Element – (UE) Foreground element is closest to the camera. The foreground element can be either in focus or out of focus. It can include the main subject, background, and other elements such as trees or buildings. It adds depth and dimensionality to an image to create more interest for a viewer.

October: Photojournalism- Black and White (F). While similar to Street photography, Photojournalism focuses more on the story that you are telling with your photo. Editing should be intentionally minimal, ie., taking out sensor dust spots, minimal cropping and other adjustments. It must be submitted in Black and White – not sepia or any other color.

November: Exploring Washington (UE, F) In 2024 we shared photo opportunities around Washington, now show us what you found! These can be landscapes taken in Washington, or even a street photography scene here in Washington.