Photo Contest

Fujifilm SOOC Summer 2023 Photography Challenge

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

I just became aware that Fujifilm Middle East is currently conducting a photography contest just for straight-out-of-camera pictures! Use either the factory-default film sims or Film Simulation Recipes. No editing allowed, only camera-made JPEGs.

The rules, which can be found on Fujifilm’s website, are simple enough:

  1. MUST: Shoot RAW + JPEG
  2. CANT: Post-process outside of camera
  3. NEED: Finalists to submit RAW to verify
  4. ALLOWED: Custom Recipes
  5. COUNTRIES: UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Pakistan
  6. DEADLINE: 23 September 2023

Third prize is a $500 coupon for Fujifilm gear, second prize is a $1,000 coupon, and first prize is a $2,000 coupon… enough for a Fujifilm X-T5 or X-H2! If you reside in one of those 11 qualifying countries, definitely consider entering this competition.

Sentinel & Merced – Yosemite NP, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Color Recipe

One of the judges is Fujifilm X-Photographer Bjorn Moerman. If you’ve ever watched any of the SOOC Live YouTube videos, you’ll instantly recognize him, as he regularly tunes-in and participates in the show. You’ve likely seen several of his phenomenal pictures; a few are found in the latest Viewers’ Images slideshow published just today! Many of his amazing photographs are straight-out-of-camera using Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipes (including all of those seen in the SOOC Live videos). Sometimes in photography competitions you have to wonder about who the judges are and if they’re actually qualified for that role, but not in this case, especially since Bjorn is one of them.

I love the idea of this competition, and I hope that it catches on. Shooting straight-out-of-camera JPEGs is becoming a more and more popular approach, and Fujifilm photographers are on the leading edge of it. Fujifilm North America should definitely do a SOOC photo contest, too—I think it would be a huge hit, while also spreading the word that Fujifilm cameras are capable of capturing incredible pictures that don’t require editing. For many people, that realization is a game-changer, making photography more enjoyable, more efficient, and more accessible.

Photo Contest & Sweepstakes

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

I just wanted to pass along to you two things: there’s a photo contest and sweepstakes that you can enter if you’d like.

I’m not a huge fan of photo contests in general. The idea is great, but the execution is often awful. There are a few different types. Some artist association will have a photo contest, but you find out that the judges have little or no photography background; it’s puzzling why the winning pictures were chosen. There are bigger contests with better prizes and well-qualified judges and prestige to go along with it, and these seem to be on the up-and-up, but they cost money to enter. These are like playing the lotto, except maybe worse, because you find out later that there was some controversy or scandal involved. Unfortunately, good photography contests seem rare, but I was made aware of one that seems to be trustworthy and worthwhile.

This photography contest is called Beyond the Frame and is hosted by Ben Yan, a Fujifilm Student of Storytelling. It’s free to enter, the panel is full of talented photographers, and the winner gets a Fujifilm X100V! November 30 is the submission deadline. Click here for all of the details. I have no affiliation with this contest. I wish you luck!

Incase, in conjunction with Fujifilm, is giving away a MacBook Air and Fujifilm X-T4. This is only open to U.S. residents and closes on November 22. Click here to find out more. Again, I have no affiliation with this, I’m just passing it along to you.

I hope that one of you will win!