I had always considered myself a bit of a minimalist when it came to post processing my images, primarily because I wanted to attempt to capture the world exactly how I saw it…\u00a0 Once I realized that the camera does not see the same way that I do I was, at first, disappointed.\u00a0 Then, once I realized the huge artistic potential, I embraced the way the camera see’s the world and tried to take advantage of it.\u00a0 The cameras limitations became it’s strengths.\u00a0 Getting creative means using all of the tools available to you to realize your vision.\u00a0 This can be as simple as increasing the shadows to create more dramatic light or merging multiple photographs together like in the image above.<\/p>\n
2.)<\/span>\u00a0 Photo Contest<\/h3>\nMuch like putting your hard-earned cash to work you can make your photographs pay dividends of sorts.\u00a0 You can win cash, gear, and warm fuzzy feelings by winning a few photography contests.\u00a0 There are literally thousands of photography contests available at any given time all over the world.\u00a0 The great thing about the internet is that you don’t even have to live nearby to join a photo contest on the other side of the world, you can do it from your living room while you sit in your underwear sipping hot chocolate and listening to your favorite tunes.<\/p>\n
The best place to start is on the Google machine, I like to look for local contest firsts and then branch out to contests that look easy to enter.\u00a0 Local contests make sense because there is a pretty solid chance you’ve got lots of photos taken from local areas just waiting to be judged.\u00a0 Start with free photo contests and work your way up to the paid competitions.\u00a0 Usually the paid competitions are more difficult because most people won’t pay the entry fee unless they think they’ve really got a winning photograph.\u00a0 Free contests are a great way to get started.<\/p>\n
If you aren’t sure which photograph to enter you can ask a friend to take a look through your collection and pick out any that look amazeballs.\u00a0 Don’t be discouraged if you don’t win though, there are hundreds of reasons why they wouldn’t choose your photograph that have nothing to do with the quality of your image (maybe they chose a good friend because of their relationship with them).\u00a0 With that being said, if you’ve got a truly amazing photograph this will usually trump any relationship the judge or judges have with other competitors.\u00a0 When we conduct photography contests over at PhotolisticLife.com we use a panel of judges to eliminate bias and I would recommend looking for contests that do the same.<\/p>\n
3.)<\/span>\u00a0 Donate Them<\/h3>\nDid you know you could help a cause without having to pony up large amounts of cash?\u00a0 It’s true.\u00a0 You can spend a little money and have one of your images printed and framed and then donate it to a good cause.\u00a0 Look for a local non-profit that looks good to you and ask them when they will be doing another silent auction, you can offer to donate a photograph for it and weasel your onto someone’s wall that way.\u00a0 You’ll also feel pretty good for helping a good cause.<\/p>\n
Did you know you could help a cause without having to pony up large amounts of cash?\u00a0 It’s true.\u00a0 You can spend a little money and have one of your images printed and framed and then donate it to a good cause.\u00a0 Look for a local non-profit that looks good to you and ask them when they will be doing another silent auction, you can offer to donate a photograph for it and weasel your onto someone’s wall that way.\u00a0 You’ll also feel pretty good for helping a good cause.<\/p>\n
![\"Lunch](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/decisiveshot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/0914_untitled_022.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>