Picture This

This month’s Picture This! assignment was Color Play, where we asked readers to include as many colors as possible within the frame. Interestingly, the large majority of images we received were of subjects of man-made origin, perhaps showing that as humans we are so taken with color that we see it as an essential element in all the things we make. All in all, this assignment was a colorful one indeed.

And just a quick reminder—we’re switching Picture This! to an online submission process. See assignments and specs at the end of this column for assignments still in “print” and those in the future we are only accepting online. Images we select will still be printed in the magazine, of course.

Important Notice
Picture This! Submissions Now Online
Beginning with next month’s Picture This! assignment we will only be accepting online submission of images. Please read the submission guidelines carefully.

Picture This! – Our Next Assignment
Twilight Time
Perhaps the most intriguing, and challenging, light of the day is right after the sun sets and there’s still enough light to catch details in some of the shadows and a magical light that illuminates the sky. Part of what’s called the “magic hour” for photographers, it’s an apt lighting condition for landscapes, cityscapes (when the lights in the buildings just come on), and even for portraits. For this assignment we’d like you to stay away from using fill flash, though reflectors are fair game.

Update Notice For Online Submissions
We will start taking online submissions only for Picture This! for the February, 2014 issue assignment onwards, which means that the Twilight Time assignment should be submitted online. For those assignments remaining from previous issues, here are the topics and their due dates. Please send in prints for these assignments as usual.

• Going Around in Circles: December 2013 issue publication; September 15, 2013 deadline.
• Stacking: January 2014 issue publication; October 15, 2013 deadline.

How To Submit Online
Go to www.shutterbug.com and register. Scroll down the page and on the right side you will see a box for entering your username and your password. If you have already registered and/or submitted images for the Galleries you can skip this step. Respond to the activation e-mail. Registration is free. You will use your username and password whenever you visit or, with some systems, it will automatically load for you when you visit www.shutterbug.com.

Check the assignment and closing dates in the magazine. When the magazine is printed we will create an appropriate gallery for your images. The limit is two images per assignment.

Select and prepare your images. We only accept files at a maximum 5MB size, JPEG format. Save the JPEG at a quality level of 10 or higher. Note that file size in your image folder directory will determine upload size, not the “opened” file size, as JPEG compresses at 1:4 at higher quality ratings. If your images do not load it probably means you have exceeded the file size or have not used JPEG format.

Click on the Galleries tab on the homepage. In the Category section use the drop-down menu to select the Picture This! assignment. Note that images are simultaneously loaded into the assignment category as well as your own personal gallery. When the Picture This! assignment deadline date has lapsed the assignment gallery will be removed, but your images will still reside in your own gallery.

In the Description box add title, camera, lens, exposure information, and your full name. Also add any other comments or anecdotes you think relevant. We reserve the right to edit comments as needed.

Click the Save button at the bottom of the page. This uploads the image.

You retain copyright on the image.

We will choose the images after close of the due date.

Please feel free to comment on images submitted by other readers.

Scorecard
Send your image and information to:
Picture This! Shutterbug Magazine,
1415 Chaffee Dr., Suite #10, Titusville, FL 32780.
Deadline For Submission: Noveber 15, 2013
Images will appear in our February 2014 issue

Our Next Topic: Architecture/Composition
Deadline For Submission:December 15, 2013
Images will appear in our March 2014 issue

Please Note: By submitting you agree to give us the right to show the image(s) on the web and for publication. You give us publication rights in the magazine and on the website(s) of Source Interlink Media.

Please Note: If you submit images with an enhancement through software beyond contrast, exposure, and simple saturation adjustments please indicate the software and “filter” used to attain that effect.—Editor

Want to see images selected for past picture this! Assignments? Go to www.shutterbug.com and click on picture this! In the “more articles…” box on the homepage.

Please Note: If the photograph includes a minor or a recognizable individual or group you are guaranteeing that you have a signed model release form, and especially a parental or guardian release form for minors. You should keep a copy of that release in your files. Scan that release and keep it handy. If an image is chosen for publication, failure to provide a form when requested will eliminate the image from consideration. You can find release forms at http://asmp.org/tutorials/model-release-minor-child.html and other resources on the Internet. By uploading images you attest that the model release form is valid, that any depiction of a person is with their consent, that you have a model release form available on request, and that all images you submit have been made by you.

If you have any questions or problems e-mail us at editorial@shutterbug.com with Picture This! in the subject line.