Enter Your Best Landscapes: APOY 2024 Round Five Now Open

Round Five of the Amateur Photographer of the Year (APOY) 2024 is now open for entries! The theme for this round is Landscapes. Participants are encouraged to submit their best seascapes, urban scenes, mountains, and countryside photography.

A powerful landscape photograph has the ability to transport viewers to the exact moment and location where the picture was taken, allowing them to share in the beauty of the scene. This genre heavily revolves around the quality of light. Stunning lighting—whether it’s a brilliant sunset peeking through swirling clouds or the gentle hues of the dawn—can elevate a mundane setting into something breathtaking.

ENTER APOY ROUND FIVE, LANDSCAPES, HERE!

Deadline for Entries: August 12, 11:59 PM BST

Guest Judge for Round Five: Paul Sanders

This round features Paul Sanders, a distinguished fine-art photographer and former picture editor of The Times. His approach emphasizes a mindful connection with the landscapes he captures. After analyzing almost 20,000 images daily during his editorial career, Paul now creates art that reflects his emotional and spiritual responses to the locations he explores. Discover more about his work at discoverstill.com.

Inspiration for APOY 2024 Landscapes

To ignite your creativity for entering the Landscapes round, consider these insights from four top ten photographers from last year’s competition:

Lynn Fraser, Muir of Ord

Camera Used: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Focal Length: 100-400mm at 400mm, Exposure: 1/320 sec at f/6.3, ISO: 100

Lynn secured fourth place with a minimalistic shot that focuses on dramatic light. The judges praised her ability to find beauty close to home, stating, “You don’t always need to travel far for a dazzling shot.” This particular image, taken from her backyard, showcases a deep azure sky and hints at dramatic weather changes.

Lynn expresses her passion for exploring landscapes, both near and far. “This image serves as a reminder to appreciate what’s right outside our doors,” she notes. Captured on a day with stark contrasts between sunlit barley and darkening clouds, the composition features a solitary telegraph pole that adds depth and scale.

John Seager, Bristol

Camera Used: DJI Air 2S, Focal Length: 22mm, Exposure: 1/730 sec at f/2.8, ISO: 110

John clinched the top spot last year with his stunning aerial shot taken in Argentina. The judges highlighted its unique perspective and impeccable timing, noting how it reshapes our understanding of scale.

This photograph from the Puna de Argentina captures El Cono Arita, a geological marvel shaped by natural forces. John reflects on timing: “I knew the evening sun would cast long shadows, emphasizing the conical shape against the sprawling salt flats.” His drone permits a perspective that emphasizes the striking beauty of the landscape.

Tony North, Manchester

Camera Used: Nikon D500, Focal Length: 11-16mm at 12mm, Exposure: 211 sec at f/3.2, ISO: 1250

Tony achieved third place but distinguished himself with a captivating nocturnal scene. The judges remarked on the haunting clouds and vibrant flowers, which anchor the composition.

Set atop La Palma, this image was taken during optimal astrological viewing. Using apps to forecast the Milky Way's position, Tony planned his shots meticulously. After capturing foreground elements during blue hour, he paired those with long-exposure images of the stars using a star tracker, resulting in a rich, detailed final product.

Nigel Watson, Bude

Camera Used: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Focal Length: 24-105mm at 24mm, Exposure: 1/1250 sec at f/7.1, ISO: 640

Taking seventh place, Nigel presented a semi-abstract depiction of Namibia’s Dune 45, skillfully capturing the early morning light that enhances the dune's contours and textures.

During a trip with his wife, he realized the advantage of aerial photography. His chance to fly over the dunes provided a stunning perspective of the S-curve, emphasizing both contrast and depth with the characteristic early-morning light.

Guidance for Entering APOY 2024, Landscapes

For those preparing to showcase their landscape photography, consider reviewing these landscape-related guides and inspiration articles:

• How to capture moody monochrome landscapes
• Master long-exposure landscapes
• Master Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) for more creative landscapes
• Guide to night landscape photography

ENTER APOY ROUND FIVE, LANDSCAPES, HERE!

The Camera Club Award

Camera club members can accumulate points for their societies when entering APOY. At the end of ten rounds, the club with the highest score will win a ViewSonic X1-4K projector valued at £1,500, while the top contributing member will receive a ViewSonic ColorPro VP2786-4K monitor worth £1,000.

The Young APOY Award

This year marks the fourth iteration of the APOY Young Photographer of the Year competition aimed at nurturing emerging talent. Eligible entrants must be 21 or younger by December 31, 2024. The categories mirror the main contest, and participation is free. Winners receive a year’s subscription to Adobe’s Photography Plan, with the overall Young APOY winner receiving a £500 voucher for Camera Centre UK.

A Look at the Prizes

For each round, winners obtain a £500 voucher to spend at Camera Centre UK, along with a one-year subscription to Adobe's All Apps plan, valued at £660. Runners-up receive a year’s subscription to Adobe’s Photography Plan worth £120. The grand winner at the end of ten rounds will receive a £1,000 voucher for Camera Centre UK.

For the Young APOY award, each round winner will earn a year’s subscription to Adobe’s Photography Plan, with an overall winner being awarded a £500 Camera Centre UK voucher.

Camera Club Rewards

The club with the most points after the ten rounds stands to gain a high-quality 4K ViewSonic projector and the club member with the most points will receive a premium ViewSonic monitor.

ENTER APOY ROUND FIVE, LANDSCAPES, HERE!

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