APOY round 5 is open: Architecture

Time to enter the latest round of our Amateur Photographer of the Year competition (APOY), the biggest and best contest of its kind…

It is hard to believe but we are on round 5 of APOY already.

With its varied categories, there should be a round for you, no matter what you like to shoot. You might choose to enter just one category or enter them all with the aim of taking home the main prize and, of course, the title of Amateur Photographer of the Year 2021.

The competition is open to all amateur photographers* and we have again teamed up with Photocrowd, who will be hosting the competition on a simple and intuitive platform.

This year we have two new categories. Under-21s can enter the Young Amateur Photographer of the Year, with each category winner receiving a £250 voucher for MPB, and the overall winner being awarded a £500 voucher.

Finally, there’s a camera club category, where you can accumulate points for your society. The most successful club will receive a voucher for £500.

*For the purposes of this competition, an amateur photographer is defined as someone who earns 10% or less of their income from photography or photographic services.

Send us your best architecture shots!

So far we’ve had Black and White, Natural World, Home and Landscapes, and round 5 is on another very popular genre – Architecture.

This round offers huge scope to create all manner of creative, dynamic shots. Whether you’re drawn to grand, traditional structures or sleek, contemporary works of art, the possibilities are endless.

While we fully expect you to explore the buildings and skylines of towns and cities, don’t forget that architecture takes many forms. For example, a bridge can offer many different compositional and framing opportunities.

Don’t be afraid to be a little abstract in your images too. Architecture is filled with curves, lines and other interesting details, and they can all be captured to great effect.

Your guest judge
Your guest judge for Round Five of APOY is David Clapp. A successful landscape, travel and architectural photographer, David describes himself as a jack of all trades. In January 2019, he received a direct Fellowship to the Royal Photographic Society, as recognition for his contribution to photography. He is also a renowned photographic teacher and lecturer. Visit www.davidclapp.co.uk.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Under 21?
If you are under 21 you can enter for free as part of our Young Amateur Photographer of the Year category

The APOY prizes

The winner of each round of APOY receives a £500 voucher to spend on anything at MPB. From top-of-the-range digital medium-format camera bodies, to entry-level DSLRs, telephoto zooms and wideangle lenses, MPB is a one-stop shop for used kit. And, of course, you can use your voucher towards your dream piece of kit, if it happens to cost more than £500.

Ranging from £929 to £1,029, the Nikon PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED is an example of a tilt-shift lens that will transform your architectural shots, as will the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II, at £1,369 (above), helping minimise distortion and avoid converging verticals. Many architectural photographers like to work in low light for increased atmosphere, and a mirrorless camera like the Sony A7R (below) produces high-quality images in challenging conditions.

MPB has a range of A7R bodies in stock that range from £584 to £679. There are second- and third-placed prizes of £100 and £50 vouchers respectively, while the winner of the Youth category wins a £250 voucher. Check out www.mpb.com to take your pick from thousands of items.