Congratulations to Families for a Cure Council 2007 in Columbus, Ohio, for winning the October-December 2014 quarter of the UCT Photo Contest! The photo of UCT members and other volunteers “jumping for joy” at the finish of the annual Families for a Cure golf tournament earned the council $500. The golf tournament raised over $62,000 to help fight cancer.
Photos for the January-March 2015 quarter are being accepted through Jan. 31. Here are some tips to keep in mind when submitting photos:
The most attention-getting photos are clear, concise images of members ACTIVELY engaged in community service. Try to avoid stagnant check and plaque presentation photos. Try instead to get photos of members volunteering or photos of those who benefit from your efforts. Your photos needs to “grab” the attention of the judges by telling some kind of story that will make them want to know more.
Composition is important. Make sure everything that doesn’t matter to what the photo is trying to communicate is framed out. Are subjects being photographed from the front or are you only seeing their backsides. You want to focus on the subject matter and not other things going on around the room or area. Never take photos of people’s backs. Nothing is more boring than a group of people with all backs turned to the camera. It just doesn’t work.
A directed candid? Even though directed and candid are opposites, it doesn’t hurt to offer a little guidance when taking your shot. Ask people to move closer together or to look up and smile. When you act as a voyeur and just grab shots of people talking or eating, you don’t get the best results. In this case it would be better to say “Hey folks, how about a little smile for the camera.”
Clearness and light are essential! We realize you’re not professional photographers, but if your photo is blurry or too dark, it’s probably not going to make the cut. We’re not looking for professional lighting, but the photo at least needs to be clear.
Pay attention to your preview screen. If your subject’s eyes are closed or he or she has a frown, retake the photo. Don’t just take one shot. Take many shots, and you’ll have a much greater chance of getting that one gem you’re looking for.
Click here for more tips and contest details. Remember, the UCT Photo Contest pays $500 to a winning council each quarter, so, get out your cameras and cell phones and start shooting photos now!
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