Syllabus
Competitions for 2023
Following is a list of the photography competitions scheduled for this year.
| Comp No. | Competition Details | Due Date | Results |
| 1 | Open | 8 Feb | 8 Mar |
| 2 | Tell a Storey | 8 Mar | 12 Apr |
| 3 | Water | 12 Apr | 10 Apr |
| 4 | Portrait | 10 May | 14 Jun |
| 5 | Monochrome | 14 Jun | 12 Jul |
| 6 | Action | 12 Jul | 9 Aug |
| 7 | Abstract | 9 Aug | 13 Sep |
| 8 | Flora & Fauna | 13 Sep | 11 Oct |
| 9 | Landscape | 11 Oct | 8 Nov |
Competition guidelines
Competition 2 Tell a story
Relate a story through photography. With one image tell a story without words. Use your
camera to give insight into a specific situation, event, subject, issue, or theme. Your photo
could be powerful and evoke emotions, be educational, or provide a deeper understanding.
Start by thinking about what you are passionate about. Open your mind to the possibilities
of photo story telling be it personal or a global issue. Your image could say something about
climate change, mental health, a social or personal event, someone special in your life (your
grandmother) or any public figure – we all have a story to tell.
Competition 3 Water
This is a challenge to consider photographing a common element – WATER. Explore the
possibilities of representing it in an image, your photo can be of any water, including water
in its different forms: ice, snow, steam, sea, river, lake, ocean, clouds, Be as creative as
you like! For example: shoot abstract water images, get in the water, freeze wave action,
use ND filters to control exposure time, use water movement to create leading lines, shoot
reflections, shoot morning dew, shoot in wet weather, or create a water feature. Water
must be the main feature of your photo.
Competition 4 Portrait Open
Portrait photography is a photograph of a person or group of people that captures the
personality of the subject(s) by using effective lighting, backdrops, or poses. Portraits may
be candid, posed, made in a studio, outdoors or indoors. Images may be black and white,
monochrome or colour. Portraits of animals are accepted for this competition. Consider
your connection with the subject.
Competition 5 Monochrome
Black and white images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a
range of shades of grey. This year we are including Monochrome which can contain
variations of one colour and nothing else. This could be different shades of sepia, blue,
green, or grey, for example.
Competition 6 Action
Action photography is about capturing subjects in motion, showing speed or subject
movement. It can encompass wildlife, sports, traffic, water flowing or everyday items such
as washing on the line. You can apply a range of techniques including, panning, long
shutter speeds, motion blur, flash or high shutter speeds to freeze action.
Competition 7 Abstract
Abstract photos do not have an immediate association with the physical world. It does not
attempt to represent reality, objects, people, or places. That said, sometimes objects,
people or places are recognizable in some way. It is often a distortion of reality. Try to
explore the world around you in an unusual way or look at something from a different
angle. Think about light and shadow, shape, line, repetition, colour, texture and natures
natural abstracts. Be experimental in your approach. Your image could be minimalist or
could explore the close–up details of an everyday object. You can use movement, blur,
perspective, multiple exposures, or post–processing to create your abstract image.
Competition 8 Australian Flora and Fauna
Flora refers to all Australian plant life and fauna refers to all Australian animal life.
Plant species including trees, fungi, lichens, flowers and leaves.
Animal life includes birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects.
Very minimal man–made objects can appear in the image. No added elements to the photo
(no Photoshopping images into the photo).
Competition 9 Landscape/Seascape
Images may be a Landscape or a Seascape. They should incorporate elements of the
natural environment as it can be seen by the human eye, with the intention to bring the
viewer into the scene. Any human or human–made element can only be incorporated if it is
relevant to the scene or conveys a sense of scale.
Activities for 2023 “Expanding Horizons”
| Date | Activity |
| February 8 | Year Overview Entries due Competition 1 – Open VAPS entries due |
| February 22 | Melbourne City Night Out |
| March 8 | Judging Competition 1 Entries due Competition 2 – Tell a Story |
| March 22 | Action Workshop: Basketball & Bikes Mill Park All Abilities Play Space |
| April 12 | Judging Competition 2 Entries due Competition 3 – Water |
| April 26 | Photo Books & Photo Essays Presentation |
| May/April | Rob Roy Historic Hillclimb day trip (date TBA) |
| May 6 | Bunnings BBQ Fund Raiser |
| May 10 | Judging Competition 3 Entries due Competition 4 – Portrait |
| May 26-28 | Mount Beauty weekend |
| May 24 | Creative Photography Zoom presentation by Meike Boynton |
| June 14 | Judging Competition 4 Entries due Competition 5 – Monochrome |
| June 16-18 | VAPS Convention – Colac |
| June 28 | Creative Photography Workshop Rosanna Interclub images due |
| July 12 | Judging Competition 5 Entries due Competition 6 – Action |
| July 26 | Photography Sale + A Photographic Adventure – Presented by Leanne |
| July 30 | Creative Abstract Photo Walk |
| August 9 | Judging Competition 6 Entries due Competition 7 – Abstract |
| August 11 | Dinner & Photo Book Theme |
| August 17 | Rosanna/DVPS Interclub at Rosanna |
| August 23 | AGM How to get the best out of your camera |
| September 10 | Cranbourne Native Gardens day trip |
| September 13 | Judging Competition 7 Entries due Competition 8 – Flora & Fauna |
| September 27 | Light Painting indoors & outdoors |
| October 6-8 | Bright Festival of Photography |
| October 11 | Judging Competition 8 Entries due Competition 9 – Landscape EOY Competition entries due |
| October 25 | Still life workshop |
| October 27-29 | Grampians weekend |
| November 8 | Judging Competition 9 |
| November 22 | Plenty Gorge Photography night out |
| December 1 | End of Year Dinner |