Photography Contest Categories

Have questions about the photography contest categories at BetterPhoto.com? Not sure where to put your beautiful photo?

When you enter a photograph into the BetterPhoto contest, you can specify a contest category. Our online photo contest is designed to be the best, most fun and friendly photo contest on the Web. Use these category guidelines to determine where your contest photo fits most appropriately.

First Things First: Important Note

Random categories change and become more specific each month. Some will remain the overarching, "umbrella" category you see below; others will be more specific themes in that category. See the current monthly themes page to learn the specific categories for the month.

Nature & Landscapes

© Mike Hollman

© Guy Biechele

These pictures include landscapes, outdoor scenics, nature images, sunsets, urban landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and farms - to name a few.

These images showcase outdoor beauty.

• Landscapes
• Scenics
• Outdoors

We lean toward sweeping wide scenes in Nature and Landscapes. More close-up, intimate scenes and pictures of birds, butterflies, etc. might be best in another category.

See stunning examples of Nature and Landscape Photography

 

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Animals

© Donna Eaton

© W.J. Shattil

© Darwin Wiggett

© Bob Jensen

These contest entries are images of all kinds of animals. They can be pictures of pets - dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, birds, reptiles, amphibians - as well as photos of wildlife, zoo life, farm / domesticated animals, and even insects.

• Pets
• Wildlife
• Zoo and farm animals

See inspiring examples of Animal Photography

 

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People

© Donna Rae

© Monika Sapek

© Søren Skov

© Colleen Walsh

These are pictures of people in all walks of life - parenting and family, children, cute baby pics, couples and relationships, models / fashion, people engaged in fun outdoor activities, etc.

Important: as according to the Contest Terms & Conditions, be sure you have signed model releases for any recognizable people in these photos.

• Kids & Family
• Models/Fashion
• People from all walks of life

 
See gorgeous examples of People Photography

 

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Elements of Design

© Bob Garas

© Heather McFarland

© Robert Anderson

© Anupam Pal

© Peter Wilson

© Leslie Jané

These artistic images make good use of graphic elements of design. We are looking for photos that showcase line, shape, pattern, form, texture, perspective, etc. They can consist of any subject matter.

• Perspective
• Line
• Pattern

We are also looking for images that demonstrate cool photographic techniques, such as bokeh and motion blur.

This category is NOT for:

• Graphic design illustrations made in a program like Adobe Illustrator and extreme digital creations do not belong in this category. Here we are looking for the elements of design - line, shape, pattern, etc.

 
See more amazing examples of Abstract Photos, Photography Techniques, and Pictures of Graphics Elements of Design

 

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Techniques / Digital Darkroom

© Daniel Biggs

© Jessica Hughes

© Adam Cowart

© David Wilkinson

This category is appropriate for whatever technique is being described in the monthly "Techniques" theme. It could be digital art - images created or drastically altered in software like Photoshop - or it could be some in-camera technique. It might be:

• Intentional motion blur
• Composites
• Black and white photography
• Freezing the action
• HDR photos
• Photos stitched into a panorama
• Any other technique that is called for in a specific theme

This category is NOT for:

• Photos that have such a subtle application of techniques that one cannot tell any has been done.

 
See additional creative examples of Digital Darkroom and Photos Made in software like Photoshop

 

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Travel & Place

© Patricia Marroquin

This category includes images that express the joys and adventures of travel photography, showcasing place as an important part of the photo. Note: if you enter a photo into this category, it's a good idea to include the place name in the title or description of your photo.

This category can include landscapes, outdoor scenics, nature images, urban landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, people, details... any subject you might encounter while traveling, as long as the photo expresses a sense of PLACE. If the photo could have been taken anywhere, it doesn't belong in this category.

• Place
• Travel destinations
• People and cultures of travel destinations
• Photos from your adventures and excursions

This category is NOT for:

• Transportation and methods of travel (enter those in the "Man-Made" category)

 
See more beautiful examples of Travel and Place Photography

 

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Flowers

© Heather McFarland

© Monika Sapek

We are looking for really interesting, unique, and beautiful pictures of flowers in this category. They can be shot outdoors, photographed in the studio, or in an arrangement on your kitchen table... and at any angle of view.

• Floral portraits - rose, iris, daisy, tulip... you name it.
• Fields of wildflowers
• Close-up images of flowers

 
See more WOW examples of Flower Photography

 

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Details & Macro

© Piper Lehman

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. (Note: a macro image of a flower is better placed in the Flowers category, unless it is so close that it becomes abstract and looks little like a recognizable flower).

• Detail photos might be of a knot, a lock, or an abstract close-up. Anything goes as long as it is a tight composition of a detail.
• Macro - insects, coins, clocks, stamps, ice crystals, etc.

 
See powerful examples of Details and close-up photography

 

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Man-Made

© Cathy Gamlen

© David Andrade

This category is for:

• Transportation - trains, planes, cars, etc.
• Architecture
• Industry
• Cityscapes

This category is NOT for:

• Bokeh, Painting with light, and motion blur photos belong in the "Abstract/Graphics" category
• Still-life photos, if they don't fit into any other category, belong in the "Details" category

 
See even more amazing examples of Transportation, Architecture, and Industrial Photography

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Catch-All

This is the place for any image that doesn't fit into one of the other nine categories. If you have an photo that you love (that doesn't seem to fit into the other categories), enter it into this category. Please do not put photos into this category that could fit into another category.

• Visit the main photography contest page to see the current monthly themes.

See more stunning examples of Nature and Landscape Photography

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Final Thoughts

The contest is open to all photographers, regardless of skill level.

In the end, a photo may fit into more than one category. For example, a landscape with strong lines leading up to a person, that you photographed in Tibet, might reasonably get categorized in Nature & Landscapes, People, Elements of Design, or the Travel & Place category.

But remember... you can only enter a particular photo into one category per month. You cannot enter a photo repeatedly in various categories. Carefully analyze your photo, compare to previous winners, and then choose the most fitting category.

What We Do Not Take Into Account

As long as the subject matter fits, the following kinds of images can be categorized in any of the above categories - we do not separate the contest entries based on the following criteria:

• Digitally manipulated images
• Black and white images (unless that is the theme for the Techniques category)
• Humorous photos vs. "serious" photos
• Photos by professionals
• Photos by amateurs
• Photos taken with a digital camera, mirrorless camera, etc.
• Photos taken with a smartphone or other device

Note on Digital Manipulation

Although digitally manipulated entries are allowed, we ask that you note the digital techniques used to create the picture in the description of your photo. The judges do not discriminate against digital images but do appreciate when the contestant openly shares that such digital editing has occurred.

These categories are intended to help you enjoy the photo contest. They are not written in stone and are considered suggestions more than rules. We reserve the right to determine when a photo fits or does not fit into a particular category.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and give it your best shot. When you are ready, enter today.

Or... read the Photo Contest Guidelines to learn more about how to win a photo contest.