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Photo Challenge - Week 1: Simple Subjects

Welcome to the first week of the latest Outdoor Photography Guide Photo Challenge! Over the course of the next eight weeks, David Johnston, contributor at Outdoor Photography Guide, will guide you through eight photo assignments aimed at increasing your creativity. This week’s assignment is “Simple Subjects”. If you haven't officially signed up to receive each week's assignment via email, be sure to sign up here.

Week 1: Simple Subjects

When you think about outdoor photography, an image shot with a wide angle lens that includes a large foreground element might come to mind. It’s important not to forget that telephoto lenses can also be a strong lens to create compelling outdoor photos of nature. Using a telephoto lens to seclude subjects either by placing them against negative spaces, solid colors, or even using a wide aperture can make simple subjects in a scene stand out and give a location context. This technique has quickly become one of my favorites in outdoor photography because it allows me to connect with a place more than a grand landscape would.

Don't forget to share your photos of this week's assignment in the Outdoor Photography Guide Photo Challenge Facebook group! This is also a great place to connect with fellow photographers and share tips during the challenge.

Inspiration Gallery by David Johnston

Here’s what’s coming up next:

Week 1: Simple Subjects
Week 2: Patterns
Week 3: Midday
Week 4: Capturing Motion
Week 5: Natural Designs
Week 6: Distance Compression
Week 7: Telling Stories With Photos
Week 8 (BONUS): Drone Photography



Share tips, start a discussion or ask other students a question. If you have a question for an expert, please click here.

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42 Responses to “Photo Challenge - Week 1: Simple Subjects”

  1. Marijke van den Heuvel

    Can't find the OPG PhotoChallenge Facebook group. How do I submit a photo?

  2. Heather

    Can we post the photos on Instagram as well and # tag you in it?

  3. JOHN

    I’m not sure if I can submit one? Or several? Then you pick,or I pick the better one?

  4. Gail Schultz MacLeod

    When I tap the sign up HERE button, I get this message: The requested URL was not found on this server. I’ve tried it several times.

  5. Kelly Flannery

    Breaking out of my shell!!

  6. Elizabeth Ruby-Cunningham

    Looking forward to this one. Will help me to focus, no pun intended, and enjoy individual subjects.

  7. Peter Mahoney

    Looking forward to looking for pictures in a new light.

  8. Isabel

    Great Group and Challenges.

  9. Bernadette Reeves

    Beautiful to me

  10. EDWARD SURETTE

    a bird at sunset in low light

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