Photocrowd

Travel: Travelling is a photographer’s dream – the chance to explore somewhere new and take advantage of ample photo opportunities. With this in mind, Olympus Magazine are giving you the chance to pack your bags, (and camera of course) and head off on a photo trip. From landscapes and cityscapes, to portraits and detail shots there’s so much that comes under the category of travel and we want to see your best shots.

Flora and fauna: Take a step away from portraits and angular architectural shots and instead focus on the natural world. It is easy to forget about the wonders of nature so we want to see your best flora and fauna imagery. Take this opportunity to capture colourful and pretty imagery. Whether it's an image of striking flowers taken in your garden or an insight into animal life submit your best for the chance to win.

Conceal/Reveal: Photo Oxford 2017 is pleased to announce its Open Call for photography submissions that investigate photography’s capacity to both conceal and reveal. The photographic medium is the perfect vehicle for an enquiry of this kind given its unique link to notions of perception and reality, truth and knowledge as well as photographers’ frequent use of the camera to lay bare what would otherwise remain unnoticed.

Wonderful everyday: This is a contest in celebration of the 'Wonderful everyday' - whether it's doing the laundry, brushing your teeth, grocery shopping, making toast, taking out the rubbish, or being stuck in traffic... sharing photos of these common activities elevates them into something out of the ordinary. Are you able to capture even the most mundane aspects of everyday life in a novel and fascinating way? Have a go.

Rush hour: We've all experienced 'rush hour' in one form or another; whether it's the sweaty crush of the daily commute or the dreaded traffic jam. It's that claustrophobic, hurried feeling - but perhaps for some it's one of exhilaration! Have fun capturing the movement and dynamism, and anything else that represents 'rush hour' to you.

Contact sport: 'Contact sport' is an especially exciting subject for any sports photographer since there's the unique opportunity to capture the risk and expressiveness of human reactions and impulses 'in the moment'. There's no posing in contact sports – what you see is the real deal in that precise second. A tiny, truthful, climactic interaction. Get in the game and take your own 'contact sport' shot for a chance to win.

White: White signifies purity, new beginnings and light in most cultures, and is the symbolic opposite of black and darkness. In photography, white can be the canvas or the main subject, although capturing images with 'white' in them can sometimes be challenged by exposure issues or a lack of definition. But the task is not an impossible one. Learn the techniques of shaping light and balancing your composition to create some truly memorable shots with 'white'.

Into the wild: Photographing animals requires patience, skill and a bit of luck, however when you get these three things right the results are worth it! We’re looking forward to seeing your wild creative captures.

Tenba sumo contest!: This Photoshop contest requires you to to insert a specific image into your own work. The images can be downloaded here. You'll find 4 images which might be more suitable for experienced Photoshop users, and 4 pre-prepared cut-outs for those wanting to do less Photoshop work. Byamba is a two-time winner of the Sumo World Championships and has been the face of Tenba bags for many years. When people see Byamba, they think of strong and tough. Which is exactly why he was chosen to represent Tenba.

Photos from a plane!: The classic 'out the window' plane shot is a popular one for Instagram travel snaps, and it's not hard to see why. The model-looking towns, and the shimmering reflections on the sea and from the lights leaves a lasting impression. Landing and taking off are when you'll see the best aerial views, so have your camera at the ready. Good luck!

Dusk till dawn: The hours between dusk and dawn are a favourite for photographers as they're rich with changing tones and shades that add atmosphere and ambient light to your photos. Have a go at taking a few landscape shots during this period, and submit your best for appraisal from our community. The winner will receive some great prizes, so good luck!

Down by the river: Since the beginning of time, rivers have been the epicentre of life and civilisation. Wildlife crowd these areas – water voles and kingfishers, bugs of every variety. People boat and punt along them, stopping off for a drink at riverside pubs. In every culture, river life is full and buzzing, and rich with photographic opportunities. Enjoy!

Fruit and veg: Fruit and veg are staples of any healthy diet, and billions of these crops are harvested, marketed and consumed daily. This is so much more than a still life contest: landscape, agriculture, human interest and much more besides all fall into this category, so don't be afraid to think outside the box (or bowl!). Upload your 'Fruit and veg' photos for a chance to win.

City clickers: The 'City clickers' round offers huge scope to create all manner of creative, dynamic shots. From the early morning sun throwing long shadows onto a skyscraper, to the delicate interplay of light and shape in a grand theatre, the possibilities are endless. While we fully expect you to explore the buildings of towns and cities, don’t forget that architecture takes many forms. For example, a bridge can offer many different compositional and framing opportunities.

Camping: Street photography is a popular subject at any time of the year, but summer is when most people are outside and active – presenting hundreds of opportunities for taking some stellar shots that are full of human interest. The weather's looking good, so don't be afraid to get out into cities and towns across the world and explore your urban surroundings. Good luck.

Masterful macro: Spirals appear in the most unexpected of places. You can find examples of them in architecture, nature, the animal kingdom... Sometimes, their appearance can be far more abstract and unexpected, but they always add a particular brand of visual interest that draws the eye. Take a photo of a 'Spiral' for this contest and you could win the entire Topaz Labs collection!

Summer in the city: Street photography is a popular subject at any time of the year, but summer is when most people are outside and active – presenting hundreds of opportunities for taking some stellar shots that are full of human interest. The weather's looking good, so don't be afraid to get out into cities and towns across the world and explore your urban surroundings. Good luck.

People, culture and stories: Portraiture is a genre that comes in many forms, from intense studies of a person's physical features and form to more candid snaps of a subject living their life. We want to see your best people captures that depict a story, culture or personality. Show use of your studies of a person, not just their physical attributes, but their life and personality too.

Boardsport: According to data, approximately 100 million people worldwide practise some kind of boardsport. Whether that's skateboarding, surfing or even sledding. It's likely that we've all tried one of these sports at some point, so we all know how exhilarating they can be. Sports photographers, get ready! This is one for you.

Causes of climate change: Recent political activities have thrown the effects of global warming well and truly into the global spotlight. There are no effects without causes, and we'd like these to be the subject of this contest. Deforestation, pollution, toxic gases – and even those much smaller scale causes - have a go at photographing the 'causes of climate change'.

Spirals: Spirals appear in the most unexpected of places. You can find examples of them in architecture, nature, the animal kingdom... Sometimes, their appearance can be far more abstract and unexpected, but they always add a particular brand of visual interest that draws the eye. Take a photo of a 'Spiral' for this contest and you could win the entire Topaz Labs collection!

The colour yellow: Vivid and bright colours, such as yellow, automatically draw the eye and lift an image. This makes them an excellent tool for brave and bold photos and photographers, alike. Flowers, wildlife, the golden glow of sunshine; 'yellow' is everywhere. Train yourself to see it and show us your glowing results.

Bad weather: It may go against your instincts to shoot in the pouring rain, however it’s the perfect opportunity to get an atmospheric result. Stormy seas, lightning and thunder, city centres packed full of umbrellas - whatever bad weather comes your way embrace it! Remember to protect your kit.

Sleeping pets: Pets do the funniest things... and sometimes they don't even have to be awake to do them. 'Sleeping pets' are cute and funny in equal measure, and endlessly creative when it comes to finding places to nap. Can you be just as creative in photographing them? Let's see.

Al fresco dining: Al fresco dining, or dining in the 'cool air', is popular in the temperate, summer months when the weather's at its best. Many countries are lucky enough to be able to eat outside all year round, which some communities promote in order to encourage the vibrancy and atmosphere associated with it. This is a truly global photo-contest with heaps of potential. Good luck!

Cityscapes: Cityscapes are every bit as photogenic as naturally beautiful, wild landscapes. In fact, the constant activity and fascinating plays of light that come from the windows, headlights and reflections in a city scene, make urban environments a unique prospect for photographers. Your photo can be from anywhere in the world, and from any angle you please. Good luck.

Broken: Many things can be considered 'broken'; objects, bones, promises... So this is a theme that's open to style and interpretation. Whether you choose to go down the literal or the abstract route is up to you. Don't be afraid to get creative! We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Inspired by... 'Walk to Paradise Garden': 'Walk to paradise garden' is an iconic photo taken by W. Eugene Smith which shows two young children, walking hand in hand through the woods and into a clearing. The image is a celebration of hope and childish wonder, and has held an enduring appeal since it was taken in 1946. Smith was a legendary photojournalist who inspired many people. Let him (and this photo) be your inspiration for this contest.

Transport hubs: Day and night, transport hubs are hives of activity. Their dynamism makes them excellent places to 'people watch' and witness every kind of human interaction imaginable. The people in these places are all at different stages of their journey and have different motivations for being there, but you have the power to bring them together in your photo. Tell a story.

Sea life: There are few more exciting prospects to the avid photographer than having the opportunity to capture the mysteries of the deep blue sea. Although quiet on the surface, beneath the waves is teeming with life and activity that most don't get to see. Cross the threshold and show us some of its wonders in this 'Sea life' contest.

Artificial light: Artificial light is lighting produced by a non-natural source such as a studio strobe, LED light or a camera's flash. Using artificial light means you don't have to rely on the weather or availability of sunlight, and gives you far more freedom in controlling every aspect of your shoot. Some photographers prefer artificial light and some find it a hassle. Either way, it's a good technique to get to grips with. Good luck!

Wide Angle View: This competition just flew wide open! The theme is ‘Wide angle view’, so whatever genre grabs your interest, take a wide angle approach to it. You may even want to experiment with a fisheye lens for the ultimate wide angle effect. Prizes include being published in Digital Camera magazine and a Lowepro backpack.

The Architectural Photography Awards: The Architectural Photography Awards, now in its seventh year, is the leading architectural photography competition in the industry. We invite participation from both professional photographers and keen amateurs over 6 categories.