NMPC 2026-2027 Salon Season Topics
Printable Version of Topic List
Deadline: September 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Topic: It's all about the light (Hard/High Contrast vs. Soft/Low Contrast)
Hard/high contrast light features a dramatic, significant difference between its brightest highlights and darkest shadows, often with few mid-tones. These images are characterized by bold, intense, and often black-and-white visuals that create a dramatic or emotional effect, emphasizing shapes and textures.
Soft/low contrast light is the opposite of hard/high contrast light with a dreamy, ethereal, or romantic quality. The image is mostly made up of mid-tones with few to no very bright or very dark areas.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: October 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Topic: Out of place
Image of something that does not fit in with or is different from its surroundings. This can be of something based on reality or your imagination.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: November 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Topic: Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)
ICM is a technique where the camera is deliberately moved during a long exposure to create abstract, painterly, or impressionistic images. Movement can be up and down, from side to side, or circular. This will generally cause the entire image to be out of focus.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: December 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Topic: Single primary color (Red, blue, or yellow)
Monochromatic photography uses variations of a single hue (red, blue, or yellow) to create an emotionally powerful, cohesive, and moody image. Restricting the color palette emphasizes texture, light, and composition, often enhancing storytelling by focusing on a specific, dominant, and evocative color.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: January 5, 2027 at 6:00 PM
Topic: Table top miniatures
Tabletop photography is a still-life photography technique where very small subjects are arranged and shot on a table surface. It offers full control over lighting, composition, and styling, often using a tripod, simple backgrounds, and artificial or window lighting to create clean, high-quality images.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: February 5, 2027 at 6:00 PM
Topic: Macro
Extreme close-up photography, typically of very small subjects, where the size of the subject on the camera sensor is life-size or larger ($1:1$ magnification ratio or higher). It allows tiny subjects, such as insects, flowers, or small details to appear very large and detailed in the final image.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: March 5, 2027 at 6:00 PM
Topic: In Motion
Motion photography is purposefully allowing movement to blur, creating streaks or smears across a photo to give the illusion of speed, motion, or activity. Generally, a portion of the image will be focused or mostly focused.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
Deadline: April 5, 2027 at 6:00 PM
Topic: Architecture
Architecture photography is about capturing the form, aesthetics, and details of buildings and structures.
Submission Limits: One in Topic • Two in Open
Image must start from a photograph taken by the submitter
Photographs can be color or monochrome
No Submissions Required
Awards Presentation and Potluck
Presentation of all accepted images for the year with judge presenting their choices for awards and honorable mentions from accepted images.