All images entered into LLPS competitions must be the original work of the entrant. The original image must be made by the entrant digitally. All images must be original and may not incorporate elements produced by anyone else; the use of stock photography is not allowed.
LLPS Competition Subjects/Themes 2025-2026
"Open" refers to a category that has no specific theme or subject restrictions. It's a broad category where photographers can submit images on any topic, using any photographic technique they choose.
Here's a breakdown of what "open" means for a camera club competition:
No Subject Constraints: Unlike categories like "landscape," "portrait," or "street photography," an open category allows you to submit a picture of anything you want—from a close-up of a flower to an abstract image, a family portrait, a cityscape, or a wildlife shot.
Freedom of Technique: You can use various photographic techniques, including long exposure, macro, high dynamic range (HDR), black and white, or color. The only limits are typically those set by the competition's general rules (e.g., file format, size).
Focus on Creativity and Technical Skill: Because there are no thematic constraints, the judging in an open category often emphasizes the photographer's technical proficiency, originality, creativity, and the overall impact of the image. Judges are looking for an image that tells a compelling story, has strong composition, and is technically well-executed.
Think of it as the category for "anything goes." It's a great opportunity for photographers to showcase their best work, regardless of the subject matter, and often attracts a wide variety of submissions.
"On the Beach" is a themed category where all submitted photographs must relate to or be taken at a beach.
This theme can be interpreted in several ways, giving photographers a lot of creative freedom while still keeping them within a specific focus. Here's a breakdown of what the title typically implies:
Subject Matter: The main subject must be on or near a beach. This could include landscapes, portraits, wildlife, or even still life. For example, a photo could be of a person relaxing on a towel, a child building a sandcastle, a seagull catching a fish, or a detailed shot of shells and driftwood.
Atmosphere and Mood: Photographers can focus on capturing the feeling of being at the beach. This might involve shots that convey the tranquility of a sunset, the fun of a crowded day, or the drama of a stormy sea.
Time and Place: While the subject is "the beach," this doesn't limit the photo to just summer or sunny weather. Photos taken at different times of day (sunrise, midday, sunset) or in different seasons (stormy winter, misty autumn) are all valid. The location can be any beach, anywhere in the world.
To be successful in this category, a photographer needs to not only have a technically strong photo but also one that clearly and creatively fits the theme. The best entries often go beyond a simple snapshot and tell a story or evoke a strong emotion related to the beach experience.
"Reflections" requires photographers to submit images where a reflection is a key element of the composition. This can be interpreted in several creative ways, making it a popular and challenging category.
Types of Reflections
Reflections can appear in many forms, and a strong submission will often highlight one of these types:
Water Reflections: This is the most common type. The reflection could be a landscape mirrored in a still lake, a cityscape in a wet street, or a person's face in a puddle. The reflection itself can be a clear, perfect mirror image or a distorted, impressionistic one.
Glass and Mirror Reflections: These reflections can create intriguing visual layers. A photographer might capture a person's reflection in a shop window, a self-portrait in a mirror, or the distorted reflections on the surface of a skyscraper.
Reflective Surfaces: Shiny objects like polished metal, a car's chrome bumper, or even sunglasses can serve as a canvas for reflections. Capturing a scene in the surface of a polished object can create a unique perspective.
Abstract and Conceptual Reflections: A more advanced interpretation might involve photographing a reflection that is not immediately obvious, or one that creates an abstract pattern. The theme could also be interpreted more conceptually, perhaps with a focus on self-reflection or a metaphorical "reflection" of a memory or emotion.
"Transport" is a theme that requires photographers to submit images where a mode of transport is the primary subject or a key element of the photograph. This theme is quite broad, allowing for a wide range of creative interpretations.
What the Theme Includes
The theme encompasses virtually any method of moving people, goods, or animals from one place to another. This could include:
Land-based vehicles: Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, trams, and even historical vehicles like horse-drawn carriages.
Air-based transport: Airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and drones.
Water-based transport: Boats, ships, ferries, kayaks, and canoes.
Less common modes: Cable cars, escalators, elevators, and skateboards.
The wider context: A photo could also focus on the infrastructure that enables transport, such as bridges, railway tracks, airports, or harbors.
What Judges Look For
Judges in a "Transport" competition will be looking for more than just a simple snapshot of a vehicle. A winning entry will likely demonstrate:
Composition and Storytelling: The image should go beyond a static shot. A photograph of a train rushing through a landscape, a person on a bicycle on a busy street, or a lone boat on the water can all tell a compelling story.
Technical Skill: The photograph should be well-exposed and sharp. Techniques like capturing motion blur to show speed or a sharp, detailed shot of a vehicle's unique features are often appreciated.
Creativity: The best submissions will be unique. Instead of just a generic shot of a car, a photographer might focus on the reflection of the city in its window, a close-up of its weathered details, or the mood of a bus station at night.
In short, "Transport" is a theme that encourages photographers to explore movement, technology, and the connection between vehicles and the world they operate in.
"Buildings & or Bridges" is a camera club competition theme that requires photographers to submit images where buildings, bridges, or both are the primary subject. This theme is often used to showcase architectural photography, but it can be interpreted more broadly.
What the Theme Includes
The theme can be interpreted in several ways, giving photographers a lot of creative freedom:
Buildings: This includes any structure used for human habitation or use, from a single dwelling to a large skyscraper, a derelict factory, a historic church, or a modern office block. Submissions could focus on a building's entire exterior, a specific detail, or its interior spaces.
Bridges: This refers to any structure built to span a physical obstacle such as a body of water, valley, or road. Entries could be of a large suspension bridge, an old stone arch bridge, or a modern pedestrian walkway.
Combination of both: An image may feature a building and a bridge, where they interact with each other to create a compelling scene. For example, a photo of a cityscape with a prominent bridge in the foreground.
What Judges Look For
Judges will be evaluating the entries on several criteria, including:
Architectural Composition: Judges will look for a strong composition that highlights the unique lines, shapes, and patterns of the building or bridge. This could include using leading lines, framing, or symmetry.
Creativity: A simple snapshot of a building or bridge is unlikely to win. A creative photo might focus on a unique perspective, a play of light and shadow, or a reflection.
Technical Skill: The photograph should be well-exposed, sharp, and properly edited. The use of long exposures to show traffic flowing over a bridge or a clear HDR image of a detailed facade would be examples of technical skill.
The theme encourages photographers to look at the structures around them in a new light, focusing on their design, form, and how they interact with their environment.