The subject is "BOKEH"

Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke (ボケ), which means "blur" or "haze", or boke-aji, the "blur quality." Bokeh is pronounced BOH-Kə or BOH-kay.

Visit any photography website or forum and you’ll find plenty of folks debating the pleasing bokeh that their favorite fast lenses allow. Adjectives that describe bokeh include: smooth, incredible, superb, good, beautiful, sweet, silky, and excellent… but what exactly is it?

Bokeh is defined as “the effect of a soft out-of-focus background that you get when shooting a subject, using a fast lens, at the widest aperture, such as f/2.8 or wider.” Simply put, bokeh is the pleasing or aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus blur in a photograph.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/bokeh-for-beginners.html

Submit up to 3 images 

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Robert Chaplin

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES

The subject is "HIGH KEY PHOTOGRAPHY"

In photography today, a high-key image is one that is almost entirely very bright with very little or no dark shadows present. This is usually a creative decision made by the photographer, in order to create a certain mood in the image.

A bright, "airy" image most often creates a light, pleasant mood, as opposed to a dark, shadowy image which most often creates a dramatic, romantic, or even scary mood. A good photographer knows how to use not just lighting, but also pose and composition and other elements to create an impactful high-key photograph.

It may sometimes be as easy as over-exposing an existing scene by two or three stops, however often a proper high-key image requires careful attention to the balance of light between subject and background, often preserving detail in the subject while nearly or totally blowing out much of the background.

High-key portrait photography can be accomplished using multiple flashes, one for the "key" light, and one for fill light, plus others. Also, high-key images can easily be created using a single light source and other light modifiers such as reflectors or ambient light, to fill a subject's face, etc.

Submit up to 3 images 

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Robert Chaplin

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES

The subject is "LOW KEY PHOTOGRAPHY"

 In a world where the crisp, clean, high key shot dominates, this month's challenge is Low Key Photography. It is a genre of photography consisting of shooting dark-colored scenes and emphasizing natural or artificial only on specific areas in the frame. In comparison to high key images, where most of the tones are above 50% grey, the low key portrait has tones that are mostly under (darker than) 50%.

Submit up to 3 images 

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Robert Chaplin

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES

The subject is "THE NEW NORMAL"

 Kids are schooled at home. People work from kitchen tables and don't go to restaurants, shopping malls, and movies. We see long lines in supermarkets for food, toilet paper, and Lysol. 
Some are even missing rush hour traffic time.

Submit up to 3 images portraying life in the time of Covid-19  

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: TBD

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES

The subject is "SIGNS OF SPRING"

Goodbye Winter, hello spring. 
it's always heartwarming to see new blooms and buds appearing in the landscape. Take your best spring-time shots, that illustrate the season with originality. Do not just think flowers by themselves, there is more out there!

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Robert Chaplin

Critique Approach:

I received some feedback when I last judged and critiqued the digital challenge. The goal was to share observations and not try to make your art my own. It seems this approach came across ambiguous and esoteric.

This time I am including comments on the fundamentals of photography along with ways I see to improve the image. Keep in mind the idea of improving the image to my aesthetic may be different than what the artist intended. If it does; disregard the comment.

I have often said, image titles lead the judge to what you are trying to express. With that in mind, I will comment on some of the image titles as part of this critique.

Also keep in mind that, if provided, the visual critique was performed on a jpeg. It will not be perfect but is intended as a visual aid to express my written critique.

The score will still be based on the comment below.

The scores will reflect judgment based on the technical, processing, artistic, emotional impacts, and the challenge requirements.

The subject is OPEN, anything goes.

Photos must be taken with a mobile device, such as a SmartPhone or a Tablet. 

Post-processing is allowed on the phone, tablet or on your computer. 

NO COMPOSITES PLEASE

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Kathleen Ballard

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES

Be it in street, portrait, documentary, conceptual, travel or any other form of photography that tells the story of people

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Boris Gabay

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES

  Texture in photography subjects is everywhere.

From types of art like sculptures, pottery, paintings, and even people. To everyday objects and nature like trees, flowers, and fabrics. 

When done well, a photo of a texture can transform an ordinary scene into something visually beautiful. 

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: TBA

RULES HAVE BEEN UPDATED - CLICK HERE

KCC -  TEXTURES. Ratings and comments by Sandy Levy
OVERALL COMMENT:  Most all of these images are excellent.  One issue that kept cropping up is that “texture” did not seem to be the most prevalent theme in several of these photographs.  Yes, of course, there is “texture” in almost EVERY photograph one can make.  But to my way of thinking (and judging) “texture” should be a standout theme in any photograph that is to be judged in a contest that is titled: Texture.  Therefore, I scored several otherwise excellent images lower for this reason. 

 Zoos are great locations to practice photography.  They offer a variety of animal and landscape subjects. 

Photographing animals at the zoo may sound easy, but the trick is making them look like they’re not at the zoo! The challenge is creating images with no telltale signs of captivity.

And, don't discard the humans! Opportunities to capture expressions and emotions will be where least expected.

Photos must be taken at a zoo but the zoo can be anywhere in the world.

   Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: TBA

RULES HAVE BEEN UPDATED - CLICK HERE

 Depth of field can be one of the most valuable tools to create more interesting, creative, and professional-looking shots. 

Shallow depth of field it can help you to separate a distracting background, direct the viewer’s attention to a specific area, suggest distance the between elements, or transform background elements into an abstract wash of colors.

  Best of Luck! 

This month's judge: Robert Chaplin 

Metal is everywhere in our lives. 
Take a picture where metal is the predominant story. 

Be creative and don't be afraid of going out of the box or to break rules. 

 Best of Luck!

- This month's judge: Michael Harris