Competitions are held on the first Monday of the month, October through May. Please arrive early for competition nights as the lines for entry are long and entries will not be accepted after 7:25 PM. Members are encouraged to enter the 8 monthly intra-club competitions, competing with peers at their own skill level (Novice or Advanced) in one or more of their chosen media (digital, slide, monochrome print, or color print). Digital entries must be filed on the club website no later than midnight of the Tuesday prior to competition. Login and password is required for digital entry submission.
Each competition provides expert, constructive criticism of each picture by outside judges, thus becoming a teaching tool for improving photographic results and personal satisfaction. We are also affiliated with regional organizations through which B-CCC members are eligible to participate in several competitions outside of the club.
| October | Open | Any Subject, any time |
| November | Leading Lines | Be they straight, zig-zagged, diagonal, C-curved, or S-curved, leading lines will move your eyes through your image. Leading lines will often run diagonally through an image, crossing from foreground through mid-ground to a subject found in the background or vice versa. Since we read from left to right, we often find it more pleasing to have our eyes led in this left to right direction, so perhaps try flipping your image to accommodate. Often it is best to not "cut" your photo exactly in half with your leading line. Try placing the leading line through a third/two-thirds split of your image (diagonally?!) and thinking in terms of one of the tic-tac-toe power points (where the tic-tac-toe lines intersect) for placement of main subject. |
| December | Back-Lit | At least one light source will be obviously coming from behind the subject and illuminating the subject from behind. Place your light source facing toward the camera, with the subject placed in-between the light source and camera. Back-lighting may result in silhouettes (think of the classic sunset shots with the lone pine silhouetted on the crest of a hill or the beach sunrise scene with palm silhouettes, etc.) Back-lighting might result in a rim-lighting effect (a golden glow to the edges of the subject, ex. to the hair of a person or the fur of an animal, or to the outlines of a plant.) Let the light work its magic! |
| January | By The Sea, By The Sea, By The Beautiful Sea | :and on the sea, over the sea, in the sea, or the sea itself. And yes, this includes briny/tidal tributaries like the Chesapeake Bay or the lower Potomac River but not your Shenandoah waterfall. Some examples might be: Bushel of crabs on the dock; Reflection of a yacht in the water; Waterfowl lifting off over the water or Osprey flying into its nest. |
| February | Travel | The photograph must be taken more than 50 miles from Bowie. A stronger picture would be one that suggests a different culture or geography. The Ernie Nagy Memorial Travel Award will be presented to the entry judged Best in Show. |
| March | Up Close and Personal | Although this may include "macro" shots of flowers or bugs or butterflies, etc. that are magnified to show detail, it can also mean capturing just a small part of the whole scene or subject in order to emphasize the small details that would be overlooked from just a few steps away. Some examples might be: The clasping hands of a baby or senior citizen; A portrait cropped in so that just the face or eyes or lips are emphasized; A shot of life on the forest floor or in the grass taken at ground level; An architectural shot that is close enough to capture textures. |
| April | Nature | All objects must be naturally occurring; no hand of man is allowed; and no domesticated plants/animals. Examples of "hand of man" would be such things as fences, wires, stone paths, vases, etc. The Novice Nature Award will be presented to that judged best of all the Novice entries. |
| May | Open | Any Subject, any time |
| May | End of Year Competition | All 2011-2012 club year award (1st, 2nd, 3rd, HM) winning photos are eligible for this End of Year Competition. Actual submission deadline to be announced. |