Categories

All categories in this competition close at 5:00pm GMT, 30th September 2008

There are three categories to choose from and there are no restrictions on the subjects you choose to shoot.

10 years and under - Enter now
11-14 years - Enter now
15-17 years - Enter now

Here are some ideas for popular subjects to get you started...

Portraits
Everyone likes looking at pictures of people - it's always a popular category in the main competition. You don't have to just shoot a simple headshot though. Experiment with different zoom settings, try working in black and white, shoot an abstract close-up or take a wider view.

• Be bold. Try unusual angles and framing options. Take risks.
• Unless you're going for a creative effect, always get the eyes sharp.
• Always think about the quality and strength of the light. Side-lighting will bring out the texture and contours of the skin. Overcast conditions can be more flattering.

Landscapes
Landscapes don't run away when you pull your camera out, so there's time to perfect the shot. Don't feel you have to use a wide-angle lens to capture the whole scene - zoom in tighter with a longer focal length to pick out interesting details.

• The right light is crucial for great landscape shots. Look for the golden light of sunrise and sunset.
• Compose to include an interesting foreground or use lines (streams, fences etc) to draw the eye into your composition.
• Use filters to enhance your landscapes - a polariser or ND grad will retain detail and saturate colours.

Animals
You don't always need a long lens for powerful animal pics. Shots of animals in their environment, whether that's your house, at a zoo or in the wild, can say much more about the creature than a tight head shot. Try and capture interesting behaviour as well as portraits.

• Learn as much as you can about an animal before you photograph it, as it'll help you anticipate behaviour.
• Make sure you focus on the eyes and not the nose.
• Try and capture a 'catchlight' or reflection in an animal's eyes to bring the shot alive.

Close-ups
You don't need lots of expensive gear to shoot great close-ups - the macro mode found on many digital cameras will get you in nice and tight for frame-filling pictures of flowers, insects and more. There are plenty of subjects in and around the home which look great when shot in close-up.

• Make sure you support the camera during the exposure for blur-free pics.
• Selectively focus on parts of the subject to isolate interesting details. The entire photo doesn't have to be pin-sharp.
• Scrunched up kitchen foil, flattened out, can make a great reflector to bounce light onto small subjects.

Black & White
Creating great black and white pictures has never been easier. With a little bit of work in computer software, dodging and burning to lighten and darken areas or adding a hint of colour, you can transform a regular colour picture into something more artistic.

• When shooting for mono, choose subjects that have lots of texture and detail.
• Avoid flat lighting conditions: the best black and white shots rely on contrast - you need both light and dark areas for impact.
• Try to Dodge and Burn mono pics in imaging software - it can give your images oomph.

For more picture-taking advice, visit the Top Tips section.