Amateur Photographer Magazine

Amateur Photographer Of the Year 2008

Your chance to enter the UK's most prestigious competition for amateur photographers.
The overall winner will receive a £3,000 Virgin holiday voucher from Samsung
and there are monthly prizes of Samsung's top-end DSLRs, the GX-10 and GX-20, top digital compacts, lenses and more

Appear in AP's brand new Gallery

APOY Round Ten

Round 10 Self-portrait

In our final round we would like you to turn the camera around. It's as simple as that. But to do it well you must think of yourself as both artist and subject. In a small way we do this every morning when we look at ourselves in the mirror. As we primp and adjust ourselves, the critic inside us responds until we create a final image. The same principle applies. When shooting a self-portrait, it is important to consider your posture and head angle, so try several poses. If you can convince him or her that you're not secretly taking their portrait, use your partner as a stand-in. A stand-in will also help you focus and find your ideal focal length. Anything under 50mm will cause distortion, while over 105mm you'll find foreshortening. Background is another consideration. Do you want it stark, like a mug shot, or elaborate, like the Mona Lisa? Lastly, consider your equipment. Tripods and cable releases are your best friends, but so are the self-timer and interval shooting functions. The best thing to do is experiment!

APOY Round Nine

Round 9 Not My Life

In round 9 we are asking you to observe how your fellow man lives. This could take many forms, from travel photography to reportage. Perhaps you captured a stunning example of some faraway culture on a photo holiday abroad. Or maybe you want to explore closer to home. Does the neighbouring village have some strange festival you've always been curious about? Does your grandmother live a life in her care home that is largely unknown to you?
In this round we want you to go back to basics and think about one of the first things you learned as a photographer: spotting a good picture. Keen observation is essential this time, so look for the decisive moment that says it all and make sure you have your camera ready! Wait for the right expression or display of emotion to reveal itself, and you will elevate your image from snapshot to powerful reportage. Tell us the story of somebody else.

New look gallery submissions form

New look gallery submissions form

APOY Round Eight

Round 8 My Life

Round 8, My Life, is perhaps the most straightforward to date of our APOY 2008 themes, but also one of our most challenging. How do you live? That's what we want to know. This should be reportage with a bit of introspection. Think about how the goings-on around you tie into your own experience and how you can express those visually to give us a flavour of your existence.
Composition is key in this round. Perhaps you run a small business and want to place your camera at till level and set a long exposure to record the customers coming in and out of your shop. Maybe you want a wideangle lens to capture the foot traffic on your high street. Or if you're home-bound you might consider different techniques or formats to frame your existence there. Is your home life different from your life at work? Maybe combining two images into one frame could express this point. The options are plenty!


The closing date for APOY Round 8 entries is 26 September. See AP 6 September for an entry form.

The Book of Digital Photography

A book cover announcing, 'Everything you need to know from beginner to pro' is going to grab the attention of anyone who needs to come to terms with digital technology.

Butterfly A Photographic Portrait

If it's butterflies and moths that trip your shutter, then look no further than this inspiring volume. Whether you are a newcomer or an old hand on the wildlife scene, you cannot ignore the incredible work of Swiss-born photographer Thomas Marent.

The Backbone of England

If you are serious about your landscape photography, you'll need to be equally serious about your walking to appreciate this book.

99 Portrait Photo Ideas

Annabel Williams, who made her name with contemporary wedding photography, bears all about the portrait game in her latest book. If you take her advice, and with a little practice, you could turn your hobby into a profitable business.