Technology Explained, Practice
Daniela Bowker
Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! ...

When you hear the term 'high-res' thrown about with such abandon when it comes to images for web use, have you ever stopped to think just how big or how high quality and image meant for the web needs to be?

Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! Saving images for the web
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring

There's an assumption that high-contrast images are more dynamic, more compelling, more inviting. Have a go at some low-contrast photography. You might surprise yourself with the results.

Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring
Feature Articles, Theory
Daniela Bowker
Seeking balance in your photos

Balance doesn't mean symmetry; it means an internal consistency and tension within your photos. And it's a vital element of composition. 

Seeking balance in your photos
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Training your photographic luck

Great photos might be down to a little bit of luck, but most of that 'luck' you make yourself. Don't believe us? Read on...

Training your photographic luck
Feature Articles, Practice
Daniela Bowker
The ups and downs and ins and outs of ...

Photographing buildings doesn't have to mean wide-angle lenses and fretting about correcting for the keystone effect. Any lens, and angle. Don't believe us? Let us show you!

The ups and downs and ins and outs of photographing buildings

earth and space

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011

Blazing Bristlecone, by Tom Lowe

In September last year, I got mightily excited when the results of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition were announced. The winning picture was the rather awesome Blazing Bristlecone by Tom Lowe. Well, now it’s your turn to see if you can top that. The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, together with Flickr and Sky at Night magazine has just opened Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011 for entries.

There are four categories to which you can submit your pictures: Earth and Space, Our Solar System, Deep Space, and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year (if you’re under 16). There are also three special prizes: People and Space, Best Newcomer, and Robotic Scope Image of the Year. So plenty of opportunity, then.

I suppose that you want to know what prizes are on offer? Well, the overall winner banks £1,500; category winners take home £500; and there’s £350 for special prize winners.

If you want to enter, you do so via Flickr, and you’ve until 13 July 2011, but all the details are on the competition website.

And if you’ve not yet been to see the exhibition of last year’s entries, you can still do that until 27 February, at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

(Image: Blazing Bristlecone, by Tom Lowe.)