http://www.flarecompetition.com/
If you have been following my blog or even if you’re new and have only read a few posts, you should know by now how important I believe lighting is when it comes to photography. I am a huge lighting “geek”. So when Michelle Black and Jessica Price wrote to me and asked me to be one of the judges for a new competition that they were launching showcasing dramatic lighting, I immediately accepted. Both Michelle and Jessica have been loyal followers of The Fashion Photography Blog and we’ve exchanged a few emails back and forth as well. They are genuine girls, running a photo studio in Ohio, working hard on the studio, it’s business and their individual photography. I admire them both for their determination and hard work. And I see it paying off because both women are great shooters! Michelle Black is driven by her desire to document and conceptualize aesthetic depictions of remembrance, reflection, and existence. She says, “I thrive on inspiring others to create from the heart in any way I can. I am far beyond blessed to do what I do!” To view Michelle Black’s website, go here! She also runs a great blog called Light-Traces! Jessica Price runs her own portrait photography business, Bella Valentina Photography as well as sharing a wedding photography business with Michelle called Allura Modern. Jessica does on location and in studio portrait work offering artistic images for Seniors, Children, Families, Musicians, Models, and commercial assignments.
Together, the two girls have launched The First Annual Flare National Photography Competition. This contest encourages you to examine the way you relate light to your subjects. Images should include dramatic light, use of lens flare, backlit subjects, light or shadow plays. Unusually lit subjects, creative use of natural light and use of quality of light, should be considered as well. The images will be judged based on creativity, composition, technical skill, and overall atmosphere of the image (including the relationship between light and the subject). They will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Children’s Miracle Network, and will be donating directly to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
I will be judging the photos along with 8 other judges to decide which 10 photographers will have their piece displayed at Michelle and Jessica’s studio gallery in Zanesville Ohio. The Grand Prize winner will have 3 featured pieces at the studio along with $500 cash and other gifts over $3000 in value plus other surprises. There will also be a Weekly Top 10 posted on their blog, where viewers vote for finalists for People’s Choice Award.
I encourage you all to participate since the proceeds go to a great cause and the competition will push you to explore different and unusual ways to use light to enhance your photos.
Submissions are being accepted now through 5/24/09. See the following links for more info:
Main Website: http://flarecompetition.com
Blog: http://flarecompetition.blogspot.com
Let me know if you joined the competition and Good Luck!
And who wouldn’t want Melissa Rodwell to judge their images?!!
Melissa and David, you will never know how much I appreciate your hard work in helping us out. It means the world to me!
xox!
Melissa, thank you sooo much for the recent updates and announcements. I love the recent video tutorial! I have been inspired by learning from you and I’m pushing myself into new and unique territories, so this will be a great assignment. I really appreciate your dedication to helping and inspiring us to be better and better every day!
I really like your dedication to helping and inspiring others. Sharing Your Gifts..Thank you
That sounds wonderful Melissa! I’m definitely going to try to flex my creativity and put something together.
Thanks for inspiring me Melissa, i just love your tutorial and it’s pushing me to create great images:)
Pauline
I am SOOOOO in!! Good luck to everyone!!
Hmm…This is a challenge for me…hehehe even though im not really that good yet but ill try to come up with something…
Oh wow! I didn’t know you were friends with Michelle…
She’s one of my fav photographers in the Midwest. She is not only an amazing photographer but an amazing person 
Hi Melissa,
Flare ?! Unsual theme for a photo contest, but interesting though. Actually, I did try to purposedly obtain lens flare on a previous studio shoot, trying to reproduce “dramatic-glam-movie” style pictures with backlit subject. But I struggled… I did find out that having the source just out of the frame is the orientation that produces about the most flare. Any other tip such as effect of focal length, source power, continuous vs flash to produce higher flare?
Tnaks and greetings from Paris
Well done, great post!
If everyone in the world were as smart as you, it would be a much happer place
I love photography, I enjoy taking pictures as well as looking at other portfolios. Thanks for sharing this
Great choice for a name and theme “Flair”, used to spend so much time and effort avoiding it!
thats sounds so intersting , great post
I am going on my second yr in the photography industry & I’m learning new stuff all the time, including this article – many thanks for this blog. Jennifer