challenge

Challenge - "Tree Trunks" - Dec 25

Challenge – “Tree Trunks” – Dec 25

Rooted in Strength, Rich in Story: Enter the “Tree Trunks” Photography Challenge

Solid. Silent. Timeless. Tree trunks are more than just the backbone of forests—they are living sculptures shaped by time, weather, and life itself. Each scar, ring, and texture tells a story of endurance, growth, and quiet strength.

This challenge invites you to turn your lens toward the grounded giants around us. Whether it’s the gnarled bark of an ancient oak, the slender rise of a birch in morning light, or the rich patterns hidden in shadows and close-ups, tree trunks offer endless inspiration for those willing to look closely.

You don’t need to travel far. Nature’s art is all around you, waiting to be seen from a new angle, under a new light. Show us the beauty in the rugged, the strength in stillness, the elegance in simplicity.

Submit your photos and be part of a celebration of nature’s resilience and raw artistry.

Strong. Silent. Powerful. Just like your photography can be. Ready to get to the root of it? Good Luck, and we look forward to seeing your submissions.

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • New 1-Year Rule applies. (This means taken from January 2024 to date)
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg”  For example Tree Trunks by Joe Blogs.jpg
  • AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) and will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
  • All images will be given a critique by our guest judges.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Friday, 12th of December 2025

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Movement

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be  available as follows:
  • For checking that images are in the gallery & Judging at Saturday, 13th of December 2025
  • Published at 19:00 on Friday, 26th of December 2025

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Low Light" - Oct 25

Challenge – “Low Light” – Oct 25

Illuminate the Shadows: Take part in the “Low Light” Photography Challenge

When the sun fades and the world dims, a new kind of beauty awakens. In the soft glow of twilight, the shimmer of streetlights, or the quiet flicker of a candle, low light reveals stories hidden in the dark. It invites us to look deeper, to find magic in mystery.

This is your chance to capture the moments that happen between light and shadow—the subtle, the moody, the powerful. Whether it’s the golden hush of dusk, the neon pulse of night, or the quiet stillness of a single beam cutting through the dark, your lens can reveal what others might miss.

You don’t need perfect conditions. You need curiosity, creativity, and the courage to shoot into the unknown. Show us how darkness can glow, how contrast can speak, and how silence can shine.

Submit your photos and be part of a challenge that celebrates the unseen and the unforgettable.

Because sometimes, the most powerful light comes from the darkest places. Ready to reveal what the shadows guard?

We look forward to seeing your submissions.

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • New 1-Year Rule applies. (this means taken anytime in 2024 to date)
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg”  For example Low Light by Joe Blogs.jpg
  • AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) and will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
  • All images will be given a critique by our guest judges.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Friday, 24th of October 2025

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Movement

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be  available as follows:
  • For checking that images are in the gallery & Judging at Saturday, 25th of October 2025
  • Published at 19:00 on Friday, 31st of October 2025

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Clouds" - Aug 25

Challenge – “Clouds” – Aug 25

The Online Challenge brief for August is as follows:

Theme – Clouds

Capture Clouds: Join Our “Clouds” Photography Challenge!

Every day, above us, the sky paints a masterpiece. From soft, cotton-like wisps to dramatic stormy swirls, clouds are nature’s poetry in motion—ephemeral, powerful, and endlessly inspiring. Now’s your chance to capture that beauty and share your vision with the world.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just love snapping shots with your phone, we invite you to submit your best cloud-themed photos. This challenge isn’t about having the fanciest gear—it’s about seeing wonder in the everyday sky and turning it into art.

Let your lens chase the sunrise haze, the thunderous buildup of a summer storm, or the dreamy stillness of twilight skies. Show us how you see the sky—and inspire others to observe the sky a little more often.

Submit your photos today and be part of a celebration of light, mood, and imagination. Your moment in the clouds could become someone else’s moment of wonder.

The sky isn’t the limit…Good Luck, and we look forward to seeing your submissions.

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • New 1-Year Rule applies (this means taken anytime in 2024 to date).
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg”  For example Clouds by Joe Blogs.jpg
  • AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) and will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
  • All images will be given a critique by our guest judges.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Friday, 22nd of August 2025

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Movement

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be  available as follows:
  • For checking that images are in the gallery & Judging at Saturday, 23rd of August 2025
  • Published at 19:00 on Friday, 29th of August 2025

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Movement" - June 25

Challenge – “Movement” – June 25

The Online Challenge brief for June is as follows:

Theme – Movement

This challenge may present some challenges for some but it is still worthwhile making an effort and having a go at it. By Definition: There are three types of movement in photography: 1) Suspended Movement; 2) Motion Blur and 3) Visual Flow

  1. Suspended Movement– Easily the most obvious type of movement in photography, suspended movement is capturing that split second, the human eye does not see. It’s the mid-action pause: leaving the viewer wondering and eager to know what happened after that split second…
  2. Motion Blur – Sometimes associated with bad ability or inadequate lighting conditions, motion blur can be a striking representation of dynamic energy when used intentionally. Motion blur, normally produced at very slow shutter speeds, can come from either side of the camera: when, between the time the shutter opens and the time the shutter closes, either a) your camera moves or b) an element in the shot moves.
  3. Visual Flow – the movement that the viewer relates to as they journey through your photographic composition. Visual Flow is dynamic, continuous, and unforced.

So room for a bit of creativity in this challenge.  Good Luck and we look forward to seeing your submissions.

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • New 1-Year Rule applies.
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg”  For example Neon Lights by Joe Blogs.jpg
  • AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) and will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
  • All images will be given a critique by our guest judges.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Friday, 20th of June 2025

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Movement

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be  available as follows:
  • For checking that images are in the gallery & Judging at Saturday, 21st of June 2025
  • Published at 19:00 on Friday, 27th of June 2025

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Still Life" - Apr 25

Challenge – “Still Life” – Apr 25

The Online Challenge brief for April is as follows:

Theme – Still Life Photography By Definition is “a genre of photography used to depict an inanimate subject matter, typically a small group of objects.

This theme focuses on creating artful compositions highlighting everyday objects, textures, and forms. Emphasise lighting, shadows, and contrast to bring depth and dimension to your images. You may also want to experiment with arrangements to create balance and visual interest, using elements like flowers, fruits, or personal items. Consider incorporating storytelling by selecting objects that evoke emotion or meaning. Use a clean, uncluttered backdrop or explore natural environments for more dynamic settings, keeping the focus on detail and composition.

So room for a bit of creativity in this challenge.  Good Luck and we look forward to seeing your submissions.

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • New 1-Year Rule applies (means that the image should have been taken up to one year ago  – not 12 months prior to the exhibition date).
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg”  For example Neon Lights by Joe Blogs.jpg
  • AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) and will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
  • All images will be given a critique by our guest judges.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Friday, 18th of April 2025

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: View From a Window

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be  available as follows:
  • For checking that images are in the gallery & Judging at Saturday, 19th of April 2025
  • Published at 19:00 on Friday, 25th of February 2025

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "View From a Window" Feb 25

Challenge – “View From a Window” Feb 25

The Online Challenge brief for February is as follows:

Theme – View From a Window

This challenge may present some challenges for some but it is still worthwhile making an effort and having a go at it. By Definition: “A View From a Window” can not only be what we see looking through a pane of glass but it can also mean looking from one world into another… 

So room for a bit of creativity in this challenge.  Good Luck and we look forward to seeing your submissions.

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • New 1-Year Rule applies.
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg”  For example Neon Lights by Joe Blogs.jpg
  • AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
  • All images will be given a critique by our guest judges.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Tuesday 21st February 2025

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: View From a Window

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be published at 19:00 on Friday 26th of February 2025

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Night & Nightscapes" Dec 24

Challenge – “Night & Nightscapes” Dec 24

The Online Challenge brief for December is as follows:

Theme – Night & Nightscapes

This challenge may present some challenges for some but it is still worthwhile getting out there and having a go at it. By Definition: a view of an area at night. For example, “As dusk falls, a glittering array of nightclubs and casinos add their names to the town’s neon nightscape”. Hopefully, that paints a picture in your mind and gives you some inspiration.

This Theme also has “Night” which can also be used as a guide for your images. Night refers to the time of day between sunset and sunrise. The word night can also refer to the darkness that accompanies this period.

In both cases, your image will most likely be taken with low lighting meaning that long exposure will very much come into play and the use of a tripod or an alternative way of keeping your camera steady (unless you’re going off-piste and getting arty!).

 

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Exhibition-name-image-title-firstname-lastname.jpg”  For example Nightscopes-Neon lights-joe-blogs.jpg
  • AND MAKE SURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The top 3 images (selected by Guest Judge) will accrue (5 – Five) Merit Points each.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Tuesday 17th December 2024

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Nightscapes

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be published at 19:00 on Friday 27th of December 2024

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Food" Oct 24

Challenge – “Food” Oct 24

The Online Challenge brief for October is as follows:

Theme – Food

Yes, this theme is extremely broad so there is no reason why we should have a lack of submissions entered.  It is a theme that everyone can relate to as we all do it every day. However, how you decide to represent “Food” is down to you.  The golden rule for food photography is “Does the image make me want to eat it”?
If the answer to that question is “Yes”, then you are cooking on the correct gas mark. Food photography is a genre of photography that focuses on capturing beautiful, mouth-watering images of food.

Take into consideration the following points:

  1. Styling and Composition
  2. Formatting (Colours in specific that positively represent the food).
  3. Angles (45, 90 degrees)
  4. Action Shots (Indulge the viewer to make them feel as if they are right there).
  5. Props – The fun little extras make food styling so much fun. Pretty dishes, colourful textiles, or vintage silverware. Distressed wood pieces, white plates and bowls, or granite countertops.

Ready Steady…Off you go!

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Exhibition-name-image-title-firstname-lastname.jpg”  For example Food–victoria sponge-joe-blogs.jpg

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The top 3 images (selected by Guest Judge) will accrue (5 – Five) Merit Points each.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Tuesday 22nd October 2024

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Food Challenge

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be published at 19:00 on Friday 25th of October 2024

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Travel & Holidays" Aug 24

Challenge – “Travel & Holidays” Aug 24

The Online Challenge brief for August is as follows:

Theme – Travel & Holidays

This challenge may very well create a few confrontations when it comes to defining the theme. What is travel and what are holidays? Maybe you have never stopped to think about these two words and consider their meaning. But it’s an interesting task and very often one overlooks the other. And to take photos of things that portray one or the other we need to look at both of them first and see what the difference is.

  • Travel is what you do to go on holiday. “go from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length”. Travelling is also something else, Travelling is a challenge. It’s sometimes frustrating, sometimes infuriating. Travelling involves getting outside your comfort zone, taking chances, and taking risks. It isn’t always fun. It isn’t always relaxing. But it is memorable, and very often life-changing.
  • Holiday is by definition, “an extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home and not working”.

So with these now clear we can conjure up ideas for photos that fit one or the other. How do we travel? What do we do on holiday?  Where do we go on holiday?

Go answer those questions with your cameras!

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Exhibition-name-image-title-firstname-lastname.jpg”  For example Travel & Holidays-the beach-joe-blogs.jpg

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The top 3 images (selected by Guest Judge) will accrue (5 – Five) Merit Points each.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Tuesday 27th August 2024

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Travel & Holidays

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be published at 19:00 on Friday 30th of August 2024

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Challenge - "Abstract" June 24

Challenge – “Abstract” June 24

The Online Challenge brief for June is as follows:

Theme – Abstract 

We have had a few ABSTRACT-themed challenges and exhibitions over the years and it’s a subject that never gets old and one that everyone can relate to.

Entries for this theme will depict images that fall under the following description.

Abstract photography, sometimes called non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography, is a means of depicting a visual image that does not have an immediate association with the object world and that has been created through the use of photographic equipment, processes or materials.
A quick test to establish if an image can be considered abstract is; If you look at a photo and there’s a voice inside you that says ‘What is it?’….Then you’re probably looking at an abstract photograph.

Here are a few points you can take into consideration ahead of creating an Abstract photograph.

Key elements of a good Abstract Photo

  • Simplicity
  • Composition
  • Angle of View
  • Lighting
  • Harmony
  • Mystery

Also, for beginners may also like to contemplate these points too:

  1. Start with everyday objects
  2. Use elements of design to your advantage
  3. Go macro
  4. Shoot through objects
  5. Capture motion
  6. Practice the art of subtraction
  7. Customize your lighting
  8. Experiment with different shooting styles
  9. Post-process your images

Rules

  • Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG events.
  • Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
  • Photos must be at least 1800px on the longest edge and can be in Landscape or Portrait formats.
  • Maximum of Two Images per Member.
  • Entitle your image “Exhibition-name-image-title-firstname-lastname.jpg”  For example Astract-the unknown-joe-blogs.jpg

Order of Merit

  • All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (1 – One) Merit point each.
  • The top 3 images (selected by Guest Judge) will accrue (5 – Five) Merit Points each.

Deadline for Entries

  • The deadline for entries is 17:00 on Tuesday 25th June 2024

How to Submit your Entries

  • Please send your images to the following e-mail “membership(at)algarvephotographersgroup.org”
    with the Subject: Abstract

Exhibition Go-Live

  • The Online Gallery will be published at 19:00 on Friday 28th of June 2024

We look forward to seeing your entries.