Critique the Community
Outside the Box
Submit Your Most "Clever" Images!
Congratulations to the winners!
A few weeks ago we wrapped up our Critique the Community contest for September, and you, the community, had some unbelievable submissions. This episode is long but hopefully you enjoy the images and our rants as well.
Below are the top 3 images from this critique. Please private message Lee Morris to claim your prize.
Congrats to each of the winners and we look forward to seeing your best images in our next contest!
Rules & Prizes
Welcome to a new Critique The Community! September is usually a month for transition and we want to embrace change. For this month we want to see images that required you to think "outside the box" or use a clever approach that lead you to creating an interesting image.
For the entire month, we are hoping to see your fresh take on a common subject or genre. Whether that means a unique perspective, a complicated or challenging camera trick, a wild post production edit, or even a less photographed subject matter, this contest is going to focus on being creative and pushing your boundaries. Of course the final image needs to pay off and work for the viewer too!
This contest is open to any genre of photography including landscapes, portraiture, weddings, still life, portraiture, conceptual photography, and any style that showcases a clever approach. Each community member can submit up to 3 images for this contest.
Rules
- All images must be submitted from now until September 29th at 11:30 PM Eastern Time.
- Every image submitted must include a short story on how you took the photo, what were the challenges, how you used natural or artificial lighting, what gear you used, and any other interesting insight on the image itself. Photos that do not include some backstory on how it was taken will not be picked to be featured in the Critique the Community episode.
- Each image must feature something that is clearly unique or fairly uncommon. Your story will help sell this creativity but it always helps if the photo screams it on its own.
PRIZES
This month's contest is sponsored by Skillshare. Skillshare is the largest online learning community for creatives, and they offer thousands of creative classes in countless categories. You might already be a great photographer but if you want to brush up on other artistic skills such as design, video editing, or illustration, Skillshare is the perfect platform to learn from respected mentors who can get you up and running quickly! Skillshare also has thousands of other practical classes like entrepreneurship, marketing, wood working, and even music classes which makes it a great resource regardless for your hobbies and general interest. All Fstoppers readers can also get 7 days free and 20% off any Skillshare plan, anytime, without entering the contest.
First Place - The first place winner of this contest will receive a full year's subscription to Skillshare. You will get full access to all the classes and resources offered on the Skillshare platform for an entire year.
In addition to a full year of Skillshare, the first place winner will also win a $500 Amazon gift card. Together these prizes will not only increase your creative knowledge but also help you with some useful tools as you navigate your artistic journey. Total Prize value: $669
Second Place - The second place winner will also receive a full year's subscription to Skillshare. Total Prize value: $169
Third Place - The third place winner will receive a full photography tutorial from the Fstoppers Store Total Prize value: $300
Good luck to everyone who enters and we look forward to seeing images that required you to think outside the box!
Featured image by the talented Łukasz Świtek
BONUS DEAL!
For the entire month of September, we are offering a special discount sale on one of our most popular tutorials: The Well Rounded Photographer. This tutorial features 8 different photography instructors and a wide range of photographic genres. We filmed and created this tutorial to help photographers think outside the box and explore different genres that they might not have considered. The genres included in this tutorial include Headshots, Swimwear, Product Photography, Landscape Photography, Architectural Photography, Editorial and Fashion Photography, as well as a bonus lesson on selling your photography to a large market Art Buyer.
For the entire month of September, you can get this tutorial for 56% off at $129 (normally $299).
Mon, 09/29/2025 - 23:15
This contest has ended.
178 people have cast a total of 7,439 votes on 276 entries from 151 participants
Contest Submissions
Click on the thumbnails below to comment and rate each image.
Click here to learn about the Fstoppers rating system and what each star value means.
27 Comments
I gauge my responses based on a combination of the uniqueness of the technique used, and the result achieved by that technique.
Unfortunately I feel that many vote based more on their own personal preferences than on creativity, and suspect in some cases just to decrease the rating of others.
I take into account the actual contest entered. Whether or not it was followed. Then go into how much uniqueness and thought and technique are used to create. Then if that uniqueness was captured at a high quality or is it something that could use work and balance that into the vote.
A beautiful photo but basic or standard, gets a "Needs Work, or Solid" vote. If it's a fantastic photo and has a unique quality to it (in this contest especially being "out of the box") Then it gets Solid or Excellent...I'm sure there's a World Class one out there, but not posted yet that I've seen or think would be.
For anyone interested in the more experimental/creative genres - try checking out the 'minimalism,abstract,experimental' community group.
We are a group of nonjudgmental enthusiasts who strive to support fellow members and enter into meaningful discussions.
https://fstoppers.com/groups/217887/minimalism-abstract-experimental-an…
So far in this contest, the images that I feel are the most clever or strangely different are the images I like the least. A well executed landscape or portrait, even if quite common, still holds my attention more than weird for the sake of weird. Maybe thinking outside the box is overrated?
That's why, by the end of the month a 3.5 ⭐ rating will drop below a 2.4 ⭐ rating.
So don't worry about it.
Ah, but where would art be if some were not prepared to color outside the lines of normality, and others were not prepared to be open to change.
This has been an argument raging since the days of the pictorialists.
I wouldn’t worry about it, you are certainly not alone in that respect. Enjoy the images you find pleasing, and appreciate that others may have different tastes.
I think it depends on execution. Thinking outside the box isn't necessarily overrated, but a lot of the time the idea is great, but the execution is poor.
Oh wow, seems like a perfect one for me! MWAHAHAAH!))
Hi, I've been a fan of your work for years. I love your creativity.
Awww!!! Thank you so much! ^____^
I find the varying interpretations of the 'Outside the Box' theme intriguing.
Many have seen this as pushing themselves outside of their confined comfort zone, which I feel is great for personal growth.
Others have viewed this as a way to extend the possibilities of photography, which can provide both insight and inspiration.
Both approaches provide benefit, it will be interesting to hear the perspectives of Patrick & Lee.
Hello Mr. Brown.
I chose the second method you stated...which circles around to the first method you stated.
When are you going to publish the results, really want to see who you have chosen as the winners?
They were announced on YouTube.
Can't find it on their YT page. Got a link?
They don't title them the name of the critique most of the time: https://youtu.be/pyuWKziSXa8?si=NMuu75dKKN58EeOU
Amazing! Thank you! I got a mention and a pretty decent critique :)
Just haven't updated the Website.
Hello Fstoppers Team,
I am writing to follow up on a number of messages I have sent previously to both Lee Morris and Patrick Hall regarding the "Outside the Box" contest.
I was the 1st place winner in this competition, and I am still trying to arrange the collection of my prize.
Could you please advise on the next steps and the best person or department to contact to finalize this? I would appreciate a prompt response.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
I have found it very odd that the winners and videos have not been posted to the Fstoppers site. I understand the video for this September contest appears on YouTube, but how hard could it be to link it here? It continues to say above that winners for this contest have not been announced. That's seriously out of date. I have no interest in searching on YouTube for the October results. I can't help you any, but you might contact Alex Cooke... he has always replied promptly to a direct message from me in the past.
When I won 2nd last year, it took about a month or so for me to get my prize. I sent my address the other info they needed, then a month or so later I received it in the mail. They may not have the prize in their physical possession and may have to go through the sponsor to get it sent out since mine was shipped directly from the company.