Tips for Success - AmeriCorps Photo Contest

Photos will be judged by the following six criteria:

As you conceive your photo, think about the following:

How does AmeriCorps help America tackle some of its biggest challenges and meet educational, environmental, public safety and other human needs?
How can you show the difference AmeriCorps makes in your community?
What impacts or results has AmeriCorps members' service had on the community?
What impact does the AmeriCorps experience have on its members?
How does AmeriCorps have a transforming impact on one person's life?
Why should someone join AmeriCorps?
If you had to illustrate AmeriCorps' impact in one word or idea, what would it be?

When taking portraits, talk to people with respect and curiosity, and have fun!
Be adventurous with your composition – frame faces off-center, try shooting from different angles, and don't be afraid to get up close.
Be aware of your light source. If the sun is in the background, your subject will most likely be too dark to see in the photo.
Catch places at the best time of day – usually early morning or just before sunset, when shadows are subtle.
Try using a flash when lighting is poor. But remember, if you get too close to your subject with a flash, you'll white-out your picture.

Pay attention to your background – phone wires, fence posts, or street signs could add to your photo or be distracting.
Take advantage of overcast lighting – shadows are very minimal since light bounces off everything.
Experiment – sometimes blurry works! See if you can get a motion shot that is just a little blurry. Or move with a subject to make the background blurry. What seems like a random snap could turn out to be a very dramatic photo.
Try shooting without the flash – Some of the best light of the day happens when the sun is down. You’ll need a tripod in low light.
Photograph reality, not your preconceived ideas. Let each place tell its own story, even a place badly altered by mankind tells a valid story.

AmeriCorps Video And Photo Contest