Assignment Details: Nature Friend Contest
Learn from a Past Demonstration Video
Assignment Deadline: Friday, November 20
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Note on Related Blog Post
Although this assignment is not taking place in March, the demonstration video "The Month of March" above covers situations you will most likely be encountering during this assignment. "Stick season" is what most in North America will be experiencing at this time. So enjoy, learn, and incorporate what applies to you for this assignment in the specific categories below!
Who We’re Shooting for
Nature Friend Magazine's Current Photo Contest
What They Need
Quality photos for future magazine issues
Request
Nature Friend magazine is running a photo contest, and you're invited to join in!
Each participant may submit three photos per category:
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- Birds
- Animals
- Macro
- All things nature
Details
Important notes:
- Please do not include people in your photos.
- When participating in this contest, you are competing not only against fellow Lenspiration members but also against Nature Friend subscribers and anyone else who knows about the contest. So, submit only your very best for the highest chance of winning!
- Nature Friend is known for giving out lots of awards . . . some as valuable as $200 or more!
- Winners and awards will be chosen in late December.
Requirements for photo submission:
- Image dimensions: minimum 2100px longest edge; 300 dpi.
- In the photo filename, include the subject, location, and the photographer’s name (e.g. FoxSquirrel-Colorado-Kevin Shank-3041.jpg)
Assignment Awards:
After winners have been chosen, Nature Friend will give out appropriately-valued awards for the categories listed below. Prizes will be anything from simple items on the Nature Friend Store to high-end binoculars worth $200+!
Award for winners who are not active Nature Friend subscribers when the entry is published will receive a subscription with a term length varying on placement. If you want to receive an award that is something other than a Nature Friend subscription, make sure to subscribe to Nature Friend before submitting your photos!
- One Grand Prize for the entire contest
- Four 1st place prizes (one per category)
- Four 2nd place prizes (one per category)
- Four 3rd place prizes (one per category)
- Honorable mentions
In addition to the awards listed above, if you sign up a new Nature Friend subscriber (not your own) at the time the contest submission is made, you will receive a bonus award of no less than $25 value!
Lenspiration Shoot to Serve Database: For this assignment, your submissions will be automatically added to Lenspiration's Shoot to Serve Photo Database. If you would like to opt out, please reach out to us via the Contact page at the same time you submit your photos for this assignment.Â
Submit photos to Nature Friend
Required: Upload your best photo(s) to Nature Friend here.Â
Remember to include the required information in the filename(s)!
Submit photos for Critique
Required: Upload the same non-watermarked, high resolution photo(s) to Lenspiration for critique on this month's photo coaching webinar.
If using Lightroom, export as DNG and upload those.
Join the Coaching Webinar!
Register to attend this month's live photo coaching webinar.
We'll review photos submitted for the assignment, and answer questions asked during the live event.
Not sure how to download or edit your photos? Perhaps you're just getting started in photography. Perhaps you've never downloaded photos onto your computer before. Perhaps you don't have any photo editing software. Don't worry! We're here to help you learn the fundamentals of digital photography. Start with taking the courses Secrets to Photo Editing and How to Share Your Photos With The World. You can also reach out to us on the Q&A Forum with specific needs and we'll help you set up a process that works best for you!
By submitting your photo(s) for this Shoot to Serve assignment, you agree to the terms outlined in the STS Photo Assignment Agreement.
If you would like to opt out from having your photos included in the Shoot to Serve Photo Database for this specific Database Assignment, you must reach out to Lenspiration via the Contact page as soon as possible after you submit your photos for this Assignment.
Related Training
For Lenspiration Members
Wildlife Photography Resources
The Internet is so crowded with information, that I prefer well thought-out, sequentially structured ebooks for learning a brand new topic in photography. However, there are some articles online worth reading that are more comprehensive and precise in their content. Here is a Lenspiration-recommended list of such articles.
For Lenspiration Members
Making a Natural Setting for Bird Photography
Nature Friend magazine has a section on photography in each issue of their monthly Study Guides, and the publisher has graciously allowed Lenspiration members to view the following articles on how to make natural settings for photographing birds.
Free Resource
Video: Photography Equipment Macro
Ever wanted to take macro photos, but didn’t have a macro lens? That’s when it’s time to pull out an extension tube! What if you don’t have an extension tube? You can make one! Follow along with a DIY project when I made my own extension tube, and I still can’t believe how much I learned along the way!