2025-2026 Challenge Topics and Schedule

Important changes for this season:

• We will be holding three of our meetings ONLINE including January and February when travel can be somewhat iffy (with November being the third meeting). This would be of particular benefit to our members who don't live close to Medford Leas. It also allows us to include some judges who live outside of our immediate area.
  
• We will have a particularly interesting judge in June. It will be Chat GPT, an artificial intelligence program. AI has gotten a bad rap with fake photos and videos, but when used correctly, and legally, it is a powerful tool that references a huge database of knowledge, including what makes an excellent photo. Anyone who attended our Spring Fling got a taste of what Chat GPT and AI can do. If you haven't experienced its critiquing skills yet, you're in for an eye-opening treat.
  

Each monthly challenge will have one assigned topic and OPEN category. Digital images are submitted via our website. Printes are currently not part of the monthly Challenges.
To upload your images, go to "Challenges | Competitions" > "Submit Images to a Challenge".

September 16 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

Transportation, judged by Greg D'Angelis

Here, there, anywhere. Show a mechanical means of getting from Point A to Point B.

October 21 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

Repeating Patterns, judged by Mike Pillows

Show us your sense of rhythm! Build a composition around repeating patterns – natural or man-made.

ONLINE MEETING: November 18 – 7:00 PM via Zoom

Negative Space, judged by Denise Bush

Compose your background with intention by surrounding your subject with empty space to create visual balance and impact.

December 16 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

Close to Home, judged by Robert Zurfluh 

From your own backyard to Main Street, show us something from your neck of the woods (no trees required). 

ONLINE MEETING: January 20 – 7:00 PM via Zoom

Pareidolia, judged by Jacki Dickert

It’s looking at me! Pareidolia is the phenomenon where we see human or animal faces or shapes in inanimate objects or patterns. Show us something you’ve seen. You’ll be judged on the quality of your photo, not your sanity.

ONLINE MEETING: February 17 – 7:00 PM via Zoom

Wabi Sabi, judged by Buddy Eleazer

Nothing lasts forever. Japanese culture embraces the beauty of impermanence, imperfection, weathering, or aging through the concept of wabi sabi. Express this sensibility in your photograph.

March 17 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

Light and Shadow, judged by Frank Smith

Employ light and shadow to set a mood, guide the eye, and create a narrative through compelling contrast.

April 21 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

One Square Foot, judged by Don Schroder

The subject and content of your image must exist within a single square foot. No grand landscapes here!

May 19 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

Tension, judged by Rich Lewis

Visualize suspense, imbalance or conflict through the arrangement of physical objects or the expression of human emotion.

June 16 – in person at Medford Leas 7:00 PM

Proverbs and Idioms, judged by Chat GPT 

Illustrate a figurative turn of phrase.