Bell County 4-H Photography Contest
Photos entered at District must qualify at the county level first!
The Bell County entry deadline will be Friday, February 23rd. Entries must be EMAILED to Sheryl.Long@ag.tamu.edu. The winner of each category in each of the age divisions in the Bell County 4-H Contest will advance to the District 8 Contest. Senior aged 4-H members that win their category in the county contest, will also advance to the State contest.
Please make sure and follow the instruction on the Texas 4-H Photography Contest Rules AND the District 8 4-H Contest Rules. Both will be posted on the Bell County 4-H website once available.
***NEW FOR 2024***
Categories will be broken down per age division as follows: (Descriptions Below)
- Junior Age Division 3 Categories
- Animals – Domestic/Wildlife
- Plant/Landscape/Nature
- People
- Intermediate Age Division 6 Categories
- Animals – Domestic/Wildlife
- Plant/Landscape/Nature
- People
- Details/Macro
- Elements of Design
- Catch All
- Senior Age Division All 15 Categories
2023-2024 District 8 Photography Contest
Display Date: Photos will be on display online by May 4, 2024.
Purpose:
The Texas 4-H Photography Contest encourages self-expression and allows youth to demonstrate skills learned in the area of photography, including the use of photographic equipment and process of photographs.
Objectives:
- To develop life skills in composition, light, story line, posing, and awareness.
- To gain knowledge about cameras, camera settings, photography dimensions and resolution.
- To encourage 4-H members to use photography as a meaningful communication tool in their lives.
- To provide photography project showcase opportunity for 4-H members.
- To continue to share the message of 4-H.
- To utilize photographs which can promote and strengthen the 4-H program.
2024 D8 Photography Contest Information:
- Rules & Guidelines (includes: Rules, Category Descriptions, Judging Criteria, and Score Sheet) PDF MS WORD
- Description of Categories
- Judging Criteria
- Score Sheet MS WORD PDF
Texas 4-H Photography Contest Website
Categories
| Category Description | What is NOT Allowed | Examples |
| ANIMALS – DOMESTIC Photos focusing on the various animals that have been tamed and made fit for a human environment. To be considered domesticated, the animal must have their behavior, life cycle, or physiology systemically altered as a result of being under human control for many generations. |
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| ANIMALS – WILDLIFE Category focuses on animals not tamed or domesticated and commonly found in the wilderness or the bodies of water throughout the country and world. Photos can be of wildlife in nature, zoos, and/or petting zoos. | Photos taken through glass. |
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| CATCH-ALL Category for photos that CLEARLY DO NOT FIT into one of the other categories. | Catch-all is not intended for counties to use to eliminate duplicate photos from multiple 4-H members. |
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| DETAILS & MACRO Getting in close is the name of the game for this category. We welcome pictures of small details that suggest a larger story. This is also the place for macro photographs (although a macro image of a flower might equally go into the Flowers category). |
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| LEADING LINE This image composition technique features lines that draw the viewer’s eye from point A to point B, which is the primary subject. |
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| ELEMENTS OF DESIGN Images use of graphic elements of design. Photos that showcase line, shape, pattern, form, texture, perspective, etc. Photo can consist of any subject matter. | Digital creations or graphic designs made in commercial programs such as Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator. |
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| ENHANCED A single photo that has been technically manipulated to be an abstract, panoramic, stitched or composite image. Other variations are allowed as well. |
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| FOOD Category is a still life specialization of photography, aimed at producing attractive photographs of food for use in such items of advertisements, packaging, menus and/or cookbooks. | Photos of alcoholic beverages. |
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| LANDSCAPE & NATURE (NON-ANIMAL) The focus of this category includes landscapes, outdoor scenics, nature images, sunsets, urban landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and farms. Images focus on the beauty of the outdoors. | Photos which primary subject is wildlife or person |
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| MOTION / ACTION The capture of movement within a single photo. |
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| LONG EXPOSURE (New) Also known as time-exposure or slow-shutter, this technique involves using a long-duration shutter speed. It can be used to sharply capture stationary elements of an image while blurring, smearing, or obsuring the moving elements. It is also used in low-light conditions. |
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| PEOPLE Photos focus from all walks of life, parenting and family, children, babies, models/fashion, sports, and couples. All individuals in the photos mush have provided consent and permission as a subject. If requested, a release will be needed from the photographer and the subject. |
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| SHADOW/SILHOUETTE A silhouette is an outline that appears dark (typically a single color) with little or no details/features against a brighter background. Recording patterns of light and shade for a desired effect or emphasis is the definition of a shadow. The silhouette or shadow must be the primary subject and focus of the image. |
Reflections | Shadows/silhouettes of:
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| PLANT/FLORA Photos of interesting, unique, and beautiful flowers and flora. Photography can occur outdoors or indoors. Photo subject should be that of a single flower, plant, bush, tree, etc. Large collections of plant/flora should be considered for entry into the Nature & Landscape category. |
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| THEME The 2023-2024 theme is “Abandoned”. Photographs capturing the essence of forgotten or neglected places, things, or structures; emphasizing its worn and forsaken nature. | Photo manipulated by software |
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Judging Criteria
Each photograph will be evaluated against the following set of criteria. Based on total points awarded for each photograph, the participant will be awarded a blue, red, or white ribbon. The criteria for evaluating the photographs will be:
| IMPACT | (Max Points: 15) | Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of the judging elements. |
| CREATIVITY | (Max Points: 15) | Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought. |
| TECHNICAL | (Max Points: 25) | Technical is the quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing, which includes the following aspects:
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| COMPOSITION | (Max Points: 20) | Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker. |
| SUBJECT MATTER | (Max Points: 15) | Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told (i.e. category the photo is entered into) in an image. Subject matter also includes the center of interest for the photograph or where the maker wants the viewer to stop and they view the image. |
| STORYTELLING | (Max Points: 10) | Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image. |
Awards
Blue, red, and white ribbons will be awarded to each photograph that is not disqualified.
Champion & Reserve in each category. The photo with the highest point value in each category in each age division will be awarded as the Champion of their respective category. The photo with the second highest point value in each category in each age division will be awarded as the Reserve Champion of their respective category.
Best of Show. Best of Show awards will be given to one photo in each age division. The Champion photo from each category will be considered for the Best of Show award.
Other Opportunities
JANUARY 2024
Photography Trip to Houston: Jan 12-14, 2024 (MLK Jr holiday weekend)
Who: Open to all 4-H ages and skill levels! Families are welcome!
What: Drive site-to-site (option to carpool from location to location) and explore long exposure, plant & flora, details & macro, catch-all, movement and outdoor photography. We will visit Buffalo Bayou, Waterfall Park, Japanese Gardens, Graffiti Park, go on a downtown photo adventure and more!
When: Night photography with light trails Friday, full schedule Saturday and half day on Sunday
Cost: Entrance fees for may apply for some locations at your own expense
RSVP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5A729ABF8CF8-46730641-houston
AMBASSADOR LEADER: Lauren Edwards and Audrey Schmidt
ADULT LEADER: Victoria Schmidt, 979-218-8564, victoria.schmidt76@yahoo.com or Liz Schlak, 254-718-1332, liz.schlak@gmail.com
FEBRUARY 2024
WORKSHOP – Food Photography: February 10, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Who: All 4-H age kids 8-18 years old
What: Learn tricks and tips for food photography. This is a hands-on workshop – bring your camera and tripod (if you have one)
Where: Bell County Extension Office, 1605 Main St, Belton
Cost: $10.00 for cost of supplies and lunch (pay at door)
RSVP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5A729ABF8CF8-44416477-food
AMBASSADOR LEADERS: Coen Hefley
ADULT LEADER: Elizabeth Schlak, 254-718-1332, liz.schlak@gmail.com
MARCH 2024
Photography Trip to Palo Duro Canyon: March 15-18, 2024 (Spring Break)
Who: All 4-H ages and skill levels and their families
What: Shoot Palo Duro Canyon – the “Grand Canyon of Texas”! Learn outdoor and astrophotography while exploring this amazing location.
Where: Palo Duro State Park
Cost: No 4-H fees. Families are responsible for their own expenses.
Note: If planning on attending, it is recommended to reserve your lodging NOW! Campsite with limited tent capacity has been reserved – first come, first served
RSVP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA5A729ABF8CF8-palo
AMBASSADOR LEADERS: Allison Gray and Joeseph LeBlanc
ADULT LEADER: Brandy Gray, 979-557-3751, fireflyphotographynbtx@gmail.com or Liz Schlak, 254-718-1332, liz.schlak@gmail.com
Resources and Presentations
- Architecture Photography Tips– Created for the 2013 4-H Photo Architecture Scavenger Hunt
- 4-H Still Life Class for Dec 2013 Photography Workshop
- Using Color Harmonies in Photography
- Dominant Color
- How Using Color Relationships Can Impact Your Photography
- Photo Light Tent Presentation