The exhibit is held on the third Thursday of the month. The Exhibit will start at 7:00 pm.
The submission of entries into the monthly exhibit is limited to Members
in good standing.
The purpose of the Tampa Bay Camera Club Exhibit is to encourage
expanding each member’s photographic experience, especially through the monthly Assignments, and serving as a medium for improving photographic skills via our extensive Commentary (with Lightroom and possibly PhotoShop work, if possible, and when appropriate) after the Exhibit images have been reviewed and scored.

There are no restrictions on equipment or materials used to produce the entry, only that the entry was photographed by the entrant.

Exhibit classifications, rules, and guidelines

2026 Monthly Exhibit Assignments

January  – Black and White:

Not color monochrome, not tinted, not colorized, not color graded, not sepia, not cyanoptype, not anything but black and white. No restrictions on subject matter, except no nudes, please.

February – Water in Motion:

Rivers, streams, waterfalls, rain, ocean waves, sprinklers, faucets, etc. The subject must be water in motion, not some other subject with moving water simply being present in the image. Fast or slow shutter speed, it is your choice.

March – Long Exposure Landscape:

Present a landscape image that has been enhanced via a long exposure. The effect should be pronounced and obvious to the viewer. Think creatively – streaking clouds, blurred trees, star trails, etc. Do not make water be your subject – no waterfalls, rivers, streams, waves, etc. Those subjects were acceptable in February. Water features are acceptable as an incidental/background element in a scene, but do not make a water feature the primary subject of your landscape for this particular assignment.

April – Panning:

Track a moving subject with your camera and freeze it against a background that is blurred via the tracking motion. ICM-style images should not be submitted. There must be an in-focus, frozen-motion subject within a blurred background to meet this assignment’s criteria.

May  – Abandoned Places:

Submit an image of an environment or structure (interior or exterior) that a viewer will recognize as being obviously utilized by humans for some purpose in the past and now abandoned. Do not engage in trespassing or breaking and entering to accomplish this assignment. Note the title “Abandoned Places”. Do not submit images of abandoned things unless they are incidental to an abandoned place. For example, an abandoned car in the desert does not qualify. A falling-down barn with an abandoned car inside does qualify.

June – Abstract:

Create an image where the subject is not visually represented as identifiable, but instead is represented by lines, colors, shapes, patterns, etc., that may evoke imagery or emotions not directly connected to the actual subject matter.

July – Cityscape:

Create a compelling image of multiple buildings. Not a single building, not an abstract section of a building.

August – Breaking a Pattern:

Present an image that contains a readily identifiable repetitive pattern and that has at least one element that visually interrupts the pattern.

September –  Negative Space:

Present an image that artistically makes use of negative space (space devoid of objects) as an integral part of the composition. Think creatively – negative space is often used compositionally to emphasize a subject rather than balance with it or compete with it. Negative space can be used to create an emotional sense of solitude or loneliness. Negative space is a key element in the art form of minimalism.

October – High-Key:

Images in this category should be mostly mid to bright in tonal value, with few to no dark tones and low in contrast. Colors should typically be pastel shades or muted with low saturation. Images in this category should also typically avoid hard lines, sharp angles, and rectangular or triangular shapes, and instead should tend to represent curved lines or shapes and soft transitions. High-key images are often artistically used to invoke pleasant emotional reactions.

November – Retro 70’s look portrait or group photo:

Create an individual or group portrait using vintage clothing and/or props. Edit with vintage film-look filters and/or color grading. Try looking through some old family photo albums for inspiration and ideas. You may want to try actually shooting with a film camera or a Polaroid-type instant film camera. You can scan or rephotograph your print for submission. Create a new original image for this assignment. Do not go back through your old albums and submit a photo that was actually taken in the past.

2025 Monthly Exhibit Assignments

January – Textures

Using post-production techniques, apply a texture to a photograph in order to enhance the original image visually. Submit the final image for judging as well as a copy of the original image and a copy of the texture file that was applied to create the final version.

February – Multiple Exposures

Create a single image that is the result of superimposing or combining multiple separate images or multiple iterations of a single image so that each individual image is recognizable and with the intent of the resulting combination being an image that can be appreciated and judged on its merits as a single composition. Images may be created in-camera using a built-in camera option, by scanning and combining multiple prints, negatives, slides, etc. created by the artist, or by combining multiple digital images created by the artist using software.

March – Minimalism

Create a photograph that strongly emphasizes a single element of interest that stands on its own within a composition allowing viewers to contemplate the single subject on its own merits. Minimalist images may sometimes be abstract or may have limited supporting elements, leading lines, or framing elements that forcefully direct the viewer’s attention to the contemplation of a single element that does not not dominate the overall space of the composition. Minimalism may also be represented by an image with limited visual elements and no discrete subject at all, thereby forcing the viewer to consider the entire composition as a single element. Sparse, uncomplicated abstract compositions can also sometimes be categorized as a minimalist image. A sample gallery of my own minimalist photography representing many of these concepts can viewed here for reference:

https://.ly/3QIYC1Z

April – Smoke

Create an image in which smoke is the subject of the composition or in which smoke is used as a strong supporting element. Consider abstract images of smoke against a simple background or using colored smoke bombs or fog machines to create atmosphere within a composition.

May – Leading Lines

Create an image in which the subject is supported or highlighted within the composition through the use of elements that visually guide the viewer through the composition to the intended subject.

June – Silhouette

Create an image in which the primary subject has no or virtually no discernable detail and is contrasted strongly against the background within the composition.

July – Still-Life – Lighted

Create a still-life composition that has been lighted by a specifically positioned light or lights. Ambient light or window light may only be used as fill lighting. The key light(s) used in the composition must be discrete lighting (flash or continuous) that has been deliberately positioned by the artist for effect. Be prepared to explain your lighting setup.

August – Food Photography

Create a visually appealing image of food and/or beverages. Your lighting technique will be a strong factor in judging.

September – Portrait Headshot – Toned B&W

Create an image of a person that does not show anything below the shoulders. The image must be black and white and also be color-toned. Warm tone, cool tone, sepia tone, duo-tone, etc are some possible options to consider.

October – Light and Shadow Interplay

Create a composition that is visually supported through obvious contrasting elements of light and shadow, chiaroscuro effect for example.

November – Light Painting 

Create an image in which the subject has been lighted by a moving light source during a slow exposure time or create an image where a moving light source itself is the subject of the composition.