APRIL 2025 - EVERYDAY OBJECTS

Capture everyday and mundane objects and present them in an interesting way to make a compelling image. 

MAY 2025 - THREE

Could be groups of three similar subjects, triptychs, or as simple as the number 3. 

JUNE 2025 - INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY

Capture images that reflect the theme of industry and technology.  This could be computers, circuit boards, factories… anything that has a link to industry & technology. 

SEPTEMBER 2025 - JUXTAPOSITION

Juxtaposition is an act or instance of placing two opposing elements close together or side by side. This is often done in order to compare/contrast the two, to show similarities or differences, etc

Juxtaposition in photography involves combining two or more elements in the same picture, highlighting the interesting contrast between them, to create an eye-catching and thought-provoking image.

OCTOBER 2025 - CURVES

Curves in photography composition can add visual interest, guide the viewer's eye, and create a sense of movement.  Different types of curves…S-curve, C-curve, Spiral.

How curves can be used;

• Separate elements: Curves can separate the foreground from the background, or the foreground and middle ground from the background. 

• Guide the eye: Curves can draw the viewer's eye through the image to a specific area.

• Add movement: Curves can add a sense of movement to the image. 

• Create depth: Curves can add visual depth to the scene. 

• Lead the viewer: Curves can lead the viewer into or out of the scene.

NOVEMBER 2025 - OPEN (PRINTS ONLY)

Does NOT include Natural History.  This section covers any subject matter, treated in any manner, this includes composite images and photoshop tricks. Also included in the Open category are Still Life and Table Top images,  Experimental work (for example fruit plunging) and Light Painting.

This competition will be prints only so you will need to be ready early.  Speak to Simon, Steve or Chris about organising prints and mounting.

FEBRUARY 2026 - ANNUAL 2025/26

The clubs big, end of season competition.  Six sections across both colour and mono, plus the Calder Cup... 13 competitions in all.

Natural History:

This can include wildlife, wild flora and fauna, rock formations, waterfalls etc.  It can include Zoo shots but nor obviously in a zoo - eg: bars.  It cannot include pets, cultivated flowers or livestock.

Photojournalism:

An image that tells a story, real life events, something like you’d see in a newspaper or magazine.  Street photography is another example.

Pictorial:

Tonality, natural lighting, composition, these work well in a pictorial image. For example a landscape.

Portrait:

A portrait of a SINGLE subject. Portrait photography aims to capture the identity, personality, and essence of a subject with composition, lighting, and posing.

Open:

Basically an image that doesn’t fit into any of the above categories.

Calder Cup:

Landscape, street photography etc, but it image must be taken within the boundaries of Burnley Borough and depict something located in the Burnley Borough (ie not Pendle Hill taken from Burnley as the subject would be in Pendle).