COMPETITION ASSIGNMENTS
September 2025 – May 2026
For a printable PDF click here.
September 2025 - STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
The capture, in-camera, of candid moments of life in public places, often with a poetic or artistic touch. Street photography can involve random, spontaneous, chance events in public places. It can involve people and how they behave, becoming a document recording life in a specific time, period, and place. (Must be taken on or after September 1, 2023)
October 2025 - OPEN
Any photograph taken within the past 2 years. (Must be taken on or after October 1, 2023)
November 2025 - NATURAL SHADOWS
Shadows created by natural light. May not include flash from a camera or studio lighting. May or may not include all or part of the object creating the shadow. However, the object creating the shadow must be discernable (recognizable) from viewing just the shadow. (Must be taken on or after November 1, 2023)
December 2025 - NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
A photograph capturing images outdoors at night (after sunset and before sunrise). The sun may not be a component of the image, e.g., sunrise and sunset images are NOT permissible. Light from other sources, such as streetlights, moonlight, buildings, monuments, or light-painting are permissible. The use of flash photography is NOT permissible. (Must be taken on or after December 1, 2023)
January 2026 - BLACK & WHITE, OPEN
An image rendered in Black & White (i.e., ALL color has been removed either in the digital process or through the choice of film or camera). The purpose of this assignment is to find interesting subjects in which color does not create the impact. Black & White infrared is acceptable. NO toning. (Must be taken on or after January 1, 2024)
February 2026 - PANNING
Panning involves tracking a moving subject in-camera while using a slow shutter speed. The result must keep the subject in focus while blurring the background, emphasizing motion in a single captured image. There may be some hint of motion in the subject, but it should be noticeably less than the background (i.e., it may not be all tack sharp). Panning can convey emotion and story by showing the movement of a subject in relation to the background. A panning motion is similar to the motion of a person when they turn their head from left to right. Motion may NOT be the result of post-processing manipulation. (Must be taken on or after February 1, 2024)
March 2026 - NATURE
May depict observations from all branches of natural history in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject and agree to its honest presentation. Images including the “hand of man” (such as roads, fences, manicured lawns, etc.) will be disqualified. Any adjustments to the image must appear natural. Color images may be converted to monochrome. Infrared images are NOT allowed. NBCC’s expanded definition of Nature is here. (Must be taken on or after March 1, 2024)
April 2026 - MIXED COLOR AND BLACK & WHITE
A photograph containing both B&W and color elements with either one or the other being clearly dominant. For example, one or more elements in a B&W image may be in color for emphasis or for artistic purposes. The opposite may also be used, i.e., a color image with elements depicted in B&W for emphasis. Post-processing WILL be necessary to accomplish this type of image. (Must be taken on or after April 1, 2024)
May 2026 - OPEN, 5-YEAR (with limitations)
Any photograph taken within the past 5 years which has never been entered in any NBCC competition. It may NOT be the same or similar to others you have entered. (Must be taken on or after May 1, 2021)
Assignment Committee: Steve Lapidus, Peter Dunner, Cheryl Gillerman
September 2026 – May 2027
For a printable PDF click here.
September 2026 - OPEN
Any photograph taken within the past 2 years. (Must be taken on or after September 1, 2024)
October 2026 - GEOMETRIC FORMS
The photo’s composition showcases geometric forms such as triangles, circles, diagonals, or rectangles. The subject can include literal objects with geometric forms, such as architectural elements, or implied shapes found in natural landscapes that create geometric patterns, such as a triangle. The goal is to capture lines, shapes, and patterns that exist, transforming ordinary scenes into visually appealing compositions. (Must be taken on or after October 1, 2024)
November 2026 - STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
A photograph that captures people, animals, or plants struggling to survive. This can include street photography or nature photography. Acceptable subjects also encompass protests, climate change, economic hardships, natural disasters and storms where people or plants or animals are the subject. Nature scenes can include the “hand of man.” (Must be taken on or after November 1, 2024)
December 2026 - LUMINANCE
A photograph where light itself is a central element of the image. The photo may feature sun rays, moonlight, shadows, or artificial light. The source of the light does not have to be shown, but its effect must be key to the picture. (Must be taken on or after December 1, 2024)
January 2027 - OPEN
Any photograph taken within the past 2 years. (Must be taken on or after January 1, 2025)
February 2027 - COLORFUL FOOD
Any food people consume, whether raw, processed, being cooked, cooked or still growing on plants, qualifies as an acceptable subject. Other items such as cooking utensils, plates and bowls, baskets or market stalls may be included in the image; but recognizable food must be the subject. The image has to be in color. Close-up and macros, still lives, multiple images captured in camera, composites or other creative approaches are allowed. Images of graphic slaughtering are not allowed. (Must be taken on or after February 1, 2025)
March 2027 - NATURE
May depict observations from all branches of natural history in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject and agree to its honest presentation. Images including the “hand of man” (such as roads, fences, manicured lawns, etc.) will be disqualified. Any adjustments to the image must appear natural. Color images may be converted to monochrome. Infrared images are NOT allowed. NBCC’s expanded definition of Nature is here. (Must be taken on or after March 1, 2025)
April 2027 - INTENTIONAL CAMERA MOTION
A photo taken where the camera is moved during the exposure (while the shutter is open) to create artistic or creative effects. This technique can result in images that are impressionistic or abstract. It may involve shaking the camera, moving it in a straight line or curved motion or zooming the lens while the shutter is open. This assignment does not include panning, which holds a subject in sharp focus while the camera follows it. Composites and multiple exposures are allowed as long as at least one of the components shown includes camera motion. The motion effect must be achieved in the camera. Creating the effect in post-processing defeats the purpose and is not permitted. (Must be taken on or after April 1, 2025)
May 2027 - BLACK & WHITE, OPEN
An image rendered in Black & White (i.e., ALL color has been removed either in the digital process or through the choice of film or camera). The purpose of this assignment is to find interesting subjects in which color does not create the impact. Black & White infrared is acceptable. NO toning is permitted. (Must be taken on or after May 1, 2025)
Assignment Committee: Jean Solari, Rodolfo Ghirlando, Jill Randell, Sarah Salomon