In-Camera Project Challenge

The main objective of this challenge is using in-camera techniques to produce “special effects” and to learn more about your camera and its features

A range of ten topics have been chosen, keeping in mind our club’s primary objectives of including challenges for all levels of photographic experience and fostering life-long learning. 

Some topics will challenge our more experienced photographers, while others will be less intimidating to members who are less experienced.  A suite of topics should allow members to select one or more (or all) topics to work on over several months

This challenge does NOT mean you can not use any “Photoshopping”, BUT Photoshop, or other image editing software, is limited to exposure, straightening, cropping, contrast, saturation, etc. and is not to be used to achieve the objective of the challenge.

Starting in October, 2021 and approximately every two months a topic will be presented at the meeting with examples and links to websites that will provide other hints and tips. 

Please note that these special challenges are totally independent from the regular Monthly Challenge.

Submitting Pictures

Select one image from a topic to present at a camera club meeting.  Submit your image using the same procedure as you do for the Monthly Challenge.  When you submit, include in the subject line of your email, that the image is for the In-Camera Project Challenge and the topic that it represents.  Let us know in your email if you wish to briefly discuss during the meeting how you created your picture.

If it takes you longer to work on a challenge and you miss the deadline to submit, you can still send in your image by May 20^th to be shown at the June meeting. 

Topics

The topics for this In-Camera Project Challenge are Camera Movement, Focus (Depth of Field, Soft Focus, Selective Focus and Bokeh), Manual Mode, Black and White, Exposure Creativity, Embrace the Grain, Extreme Perspective, Worm’s Eye View, Light Painting and Slow Sync Flash. 

See below for a further explanation of each topic, when it will be explained at a meeting and when to submit your pictures.  You may suggest other training videos or websites for the topics by sending an email to contact@ksccc.ca

OCTOBER CHALLENGE
Topic: Camera Movement
Submit by noon on November 20^th

Zoom in and out to create a 3-D effect. For more advanced photographers, zoom with a slow sync flash to create some real drama

Motion Blur, panning, rotating (or doing weird things with your camera). These techniques are a lot harder to master than one would assume. We can all create blurry photos, but to create impressionistic photos is another matter.

DECEMBER CHALLENGE
Focus Topics: Depth of Field, Soft Focus, Selective Focus and Bokeh
Submit by noon on January 21st

Depth of Field

Depth of Field Calculators: PhotoPills, DOF Master

Soft Focus

Selective Focus

Bokeh

FEBRUARY CHALLENGE
Topic: Manual Mode or Getting Off Auto
Submit by noon on March 18^th

Get back to basics and learn the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO

When to use Tv or Av priority

APRIL CHALLENGE
Topics: Black and White (or monotone), Exposure Creativity, Embrace the Grain
Submit by noon on May 20th

Black and White (or monotone)

We can all convert an image to B/W in post-processing, but visualizing in B/W and then taking the image is a different technique that takes a lot of practice.

Exposure Creativity

Hi key or Low key

Embrace the Grain

A favourite in-camera technique. It involves cranking the ISO to the maximum to create a lot of grain (noise). It works best with B/W in-camera photography, but I have also used it for macro shots of flowers. However, this may be a bit more challenging with new, higher-end cameras that accommodate extreme ISO levels.

Click here for ideas of How to Take Grainy Photos.

MAY CHALLENGE
Topics: Extreme Perspective, Worm’s Eye View
Submit by noon on May 20^th

Extreme Perspective

We have “Perspective” as one of our monthly challenges. However, it may be interesting to try “extreme perspective” that really distorts an image

Worm’s Eye View

Get down and go very low

JUNE CHALLENGE – FUN FOR SUMMER
Topics: Light Painting
Submit by noon on August 19^th

Light Painting

This is a good technique to learn but does require some specialized equipment