A black & white image has a certain something that colour photography simply can’t emulate, and the pursuit of a great monochrome picture is something many photographers devote their whole lives to. The joy of this category is that it is completely open – any subject goes, because the medium is equally stunning whether you shoot landscapes, portraits or go down the classic route of street photography. It’s always worth shooting with a conversion to black & white in mind – don’t make it an afterthought. Instead, when taking your images, consider things such as form, tonal range, negative space and shape, as these elements become even more crucial when colour is absent. Try to head out on a shoot with the aim of working only in black & white, and you will start to see images that lend themselves to the medium everywhere.

Always a popular round, this category reflects photographers’ appreciation of and love for the animal world. You’re not restricted to wildlife – images of domestic animals and pets are equally welcome. So whether you’ve photographed the migration of wildebeest across the Serengeti and tigers in Ranthambore National Park or your pet dog enjoying a romp in the local woods, we want to see your shots that celebrate mammals, birds, insects – everything. Don’t assume you have to spend huge sums of money on trips to remote safari locations in order to capture an original shot. There is almost endless scope for photographing wildlife subjects in towns and cities, and even our own back gardens. Try telling the viewer a story about the way in which a creature lives by showing it in context – be that an opportunistic urban fox foraging around dustbins, or a seagull stealing chips from a hapless tourist. Or go the other way and fill the frame with the head of a majestic lion, or even your pet cat.

Some 85% of the UK’s population lives in an urban environment of some sort, meaning that the majority of us have access to inspirational subjects for this category – one which offers huge scope to create all manner of creative, dynamic shots. Whether you’re drawn to grand, traditional structures or sleek, contemporary works of art, the possibilities are endless. And don’t forget that urban life isn’t only about the buildings that make the environment – the people are what make it, too. So you can also enter classic street photography scenes into this round, where humans interact with their environment to create quirky moments that are here one moment, and gone a split second later. While we fully expect to see and welcome images that explore the buildings and skylines of our major cities, this round also encompasses seaside resorts, village life and more. Anywhere that people congregate to live, work and socialise is the perfect subject for this round.

Capturing a fast-moving subject in a fraction of a second is certainly a challenge, but when it comes off, you’re guaranteed a shot that will stand out. And there’s more to a successful image than setting the maximum frames-per-second on your camera and firing away. Anticipation and preparation play a huge part in getting a good shot, so take time to work out where your subject is likely to appear and which direction it will take. This applies whether you’re photographing a motorbike on a speedway track, a gymnast on a beam or a bird taking flight across a lake. For maximum stability when panning, hold your lens firmly from underneath and keep your elbows tight into your body. But don’t forget to try something a bit more creative, too, be that shooting in a variety of light conditions or setting a long shutter speed to give the impression of movement.

There are few greater pleasures than being out in the landscape with a camera. Setting up a composition and waiting – hoping – for the light to come good can be an almost meditative experience. A good landscape shot transports the viewer to the very spot where you were standing when you took the shot, allowing them to drink in the same sights as you. More than almost any other category, landscape is about light, and the two are almost inextricably linked. Good light – whether it’s the sun bursting through a dramatic cloud formation, or the soft illumination that comes just before dawn – has a transformative effect on the landscape, and can lift an ordinary scene to something spectacular. It’s crucial to plan ahead – study apps such as The Photographers Ephemeris to find out the most favourable time to photograph a scene, and be prepared to return to a location several times in order to capture it at its best. But above all, simply enjoy being there.

Whether in the street, at home or in the studio, and be it natural or posed, photographing people will never go out of fashion. A people shot can be either a collaboration between subject and photographer, revealing something about both, or a candid shot taken to capture a moment in time. When choosing to photograph in a more formal style, remember not to overcomplicate either the pose or the lighting – simplicity makes for a far more polished and memorable image. Character is also a hugely important element in any people image; viewers want to have an idea of the sitter’s personality and life experience, and this can be conveyed via clothing and expression, and even light. Whether shooting in natural or with studio light, pay attention to maintaining a catchlight in the eyes, and making sure any shadows enhance, rather than detract from the overall result.

It’s easy to understand why people become obsessive about macro photography. It requires a balance of both technical and creative ability, while providing an insight into the world that is often impossible to appreciate with the naked eye. Patience and understanding of your subject – and ethics, if you are photographing a living creature – are also crucial. If you choose to photograph plants or flowers, we want to see pristine examples (unless their flaws are intrinsic to the composition), and if you photograph animals or insects, then take the time to study and understand their behaviour, so you don’t cause them distress. And don’t feel you have to restrict yourself to plants or living creatures, either. We also want to see abstract landscapes and impressionistic still lifes in the entries to this category. Anything goes, as long as it’s taken in close-up.

Another open round in terms of subject matter, entries should be shot between the blue hour of dusk, at any time of the night, through to the golden hour of dawn. For landscapes, the light at dawn and dusk can give your compositions added dimension; a low sun raking across the scene can bring your subject into sharp relief. Then there’s long-exposure star-trail and Milky Way images to consider, too. And cities can be almost the perfect dusk-to-dawn subject, especially when photographed at that point when twilight and artificial illumination balance so beautifully. There’s a wide range of indoor nightlife to be photographed, too, from gigs to nightclubs to cabaret to theatre. You might even capture a scene in your own home, using only the light from a wood-burning stove or candles to illuminate the setting. Let your imagination run wild with this one, because anything goes, as long as it was shot when the light was low or even non-existent.

The exhilaration of experiencing cultures different from our own is difficult to match, and the sights and colours of new places provide almost endless inspiration for our photography. Distilling such experiences into a single image is a huge challenge, as it’s tempting to include as much as possible in the frame, so try to temper the excitement and only include what really matters. And don’t forget that travel isn’t defined by going to countries other than your own – it can encompass new experiences in a neighbouring county or city, so don’t feel restricted if your passport is out of date. It also goes without saying that showing respect for the people and traditions you might encounter is more important than any photograph, so if someone makes it clear they aren’t comfortable with your camera, walk away.

A new category for 2024, this is where anything goes. You might have an image that doesn’t quite fit into one of our other categories, or you might simply want to save your absolute best shots for this one. Whether you make still lifes or salt prints, create abstracts or fine art, shoot cars or cats, there are no restrictions on subject matter here. Perhaps you even had an image you wanted to enter into one of our previous rounds, but had already uploaded the limit of four? Whatever the content of your composition and whatever your reason for shooting it, all styles and subjects are welcome. Enjoy!