SILSOE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2026

The theme for our 2026 Photography Competition is

CHANGE

The closing date is 6pm on 30 September 2026

You can enter up to 5 photos, which you must have taken yourself.
Entries cost 50p per photo for 17 & under, £1 per photo for 18 & over.

The photos can be taken anywhere – they don’t need to be taken in Silsoe.

Phone or camera – it doesn’t matter which – just get snapping!

Don’t have a printer?  Not a problem,  we have 3 drop-in sessions when you can get your photos printed – Wednesday 23 September 5 -7pm, Sunday 27 September 3 – 5pm, Wednesday 30 September 4 – 6pm, all in Silsoe Church. Or you can email the files to silsoetreasurer@3churches.uk for printing.  The cost is £1.50 per print (A4 size)

All photos will be on display at the Photography Exhibition in Silsoe Church on the weekend of 17/18 October, when the winners will be announced and trophies presented*. Rev Simon and Rev Louise are our judges.   There will also be a People’s Choice vote at the Exhibition with a medal for the most popular photograph.

*Provided there have been at least 10 entries,  the winner will receive a trophy, with medals for second and third places.

You can download an Entry Form here and check out the Competition Rules here

Ideas and inspiration for your entries

This year’s theme ‘Change’  invites you to look closely at the world around you and capture a moment of transformation.   Change can be dramatic or subtle, fast or slow, joyful or reflective. You don’t need specialist equipment or technical expertise — a smartphone or simple digital camera is perfect. What matters is noticing something shifting and choosing how to show it.

Below are some ideas to help spark your imagination. You’re welcome to interpret the theme in any way that feels meaningful to you.

Change in Nature
Nature is full of constant movement and renewal. You might explore:

Seasonal shifts: new buds, fallen leaves, frost melting, or the first signs of spring.
Weather changes: clouds parting after rain, a rainbow appearing, sunlight breaking through.
Growth and decay: seedlings pushing through soil, ivy spreading, petals falling, moss reclaiming stone.
Water in motion: ripples, reflections, puddles forming or drying.

These moments are often fleeting — perfect for a quick smartphone snap.

Change in the Community
Our surroundings evolve every day, sometimes in small ways we barely notice:

A street at different times of day — early morning calm vs. afternoon bustle.
Buildings being repaired or constructed — scaffolding, fresh paint, new signs.
Local life in motion — markets setting up, shops opening, people coming and going.
Shifts in atmosphere — lights switching on at dusk, a quiet lane after rain.

These scenes can be especially effective when you capture a contrast or a moment of transition.

Human and Personal Change
Change is part of daily life and personal stories:

Generations: hands of different ages, height marks on a wall, treasured objects passed down.
Routines: someone setting off on a journey, preparing a meal, finishing a task.
Expressions: concentration turning into a smile, surprise, or relief.
Personal milestones: new hobbies, new skills, or quiet moments of reflection.

These images don’t need to be posed — often the most powerful ones are candid and simple.

Everyday Transformations
Small domestic moments can be surprisingly expressive:

Ingredients becoming a meal, dough rising, steam lifting from a mug.
A messy space being tidied, laundry blowing dry, a candle burning down.
Light changing in a room — shadows lengthening, lamps switching on, reflections appearing.
Objects being repaired, cleaned, or repurposed.

These scenes are easy to find at home and often tell a gentle story.

Movement and Time
Change often happens in motion:

A bus arriving, a cyclist passing, a dog shaking off water.
Footprints fading, ice melting, leaves drifting on the wind.
Shadows shifting through the day or sunlight catching something in a new way.
A moment just before or after something happens — anticipation or aftermath.

Movement can add energy and emotion, even in a simple snapshot.

Symbolic or Abstract Change
If you prefer a more imaginative approach:

Contrasts — old and new objects side by side, worn textures next to smooth ones.
Reflections in windows or puddles that distort or transform a scene.
Doorways, paths, or thresholds that suggest transition or choice.
Patterns that shift with light, weather, or perspective.

These images can be subtle but very striking.

Wildlife and Pets
Animals offer wonderful, unpredictable moments of change:

A pet waking up, stretching, reacting to something new.
Birds taking flight, insects emerging, animals exploring.
Growth — seedlings in a pot, caterpillars, young animals learning.
Behaviour shifts — play, rest, curiosity.

These moments often happen quickly, making them ideal for spontaneous photography.

A Final Thought
Change doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes the most compelling photographs come from noticing something small — a shift in light, a moment of movement, or a quiet transformation that others might overlook. Use your own perspective, trust your instincts, and enjoy the process of looking more closely at the world around you.

We look forward to seeing your photos