CATEGORY X: PARANORMAL THEMED CATEGORIES​

POSTER ART BY MCKENNA CAO

Other, Non-Themed Categories

Photo Contest Category Breakdowns

*Students may submit entries for all categories

*Maximum of two entries per category


General Category Guidelines

  • All photographs must have been taken between August 2025 and April 2026 (unaltered exif data MUST list the creation date within the above parameters).
  • All categories, unless specifically noted in the category below, must be 100% original and consist of 100% photographic content. No graphics/text added or pictures of pictures.
  • All entries can be “Photo-Composites” as long as all elements in the composite are original photographs by the entrant. No use of stock images, AI generated elements, graphics, or text.


Photo Contest Category Breakdowns

*See Below for Full Explanations

CATEGORIES

Category X Paranormal Themed Categories:
Paranormal Activity
Submit your best attempt at capturing a ghost on “film.” These can be genuine attempts at “ghost-hunting,” or photographs meant to simulate captured paranormal activity. In the case of the latter, the photographer is attempting to create a “photo-realistic” scene, whether it is created “in-camera” or in editing.



Ghost Towns
Northern Nevada has a rich history of abandoned mines, settlements, and other “ghost town” areas. Visit these sites to capture the history and the mystery of these dilapidated and sometimes preserved buildings and sites.



Tiny Terrors
Paranormal-based miniature scenes. Using a standard or Macro lens, create a spooky, paranormal scene. Scenes can be created using mini-figurines, legos, hot-wheels, clay, cotton and other translucent material. Use creative lighting to make your scenes pop, create mist/fog-like effects and turn ghostly terror into tiny masterpieces.




Other Categories not based on the Paranormal theme:

Portraiture
A photo with a single, human subject. The approach to the portrait must attempt to represent the subject in some way, their personality, or specific aspects of a single person’s character. Portraits can be full color or black and white.


Straight (Abstract) Photography
In the spirit of “Straight Photography,” made popular by Paul Strand in the early 1900s, take photos of ABSTRACT imagery. Focus on using light, shadow, lines, patterns, created by moving in close on a subject to capture just PART OF THE WHOLE to create an abstract image. Often, with these kinds of photographs, the viewer cannot tell what the original objects were as the photo should be focusing on parts of the whole and light/shadow patterns to create a new, abstract image.



Long Exposure/Light Art
Photographs taken with long shutter speeds to capture motion blur created by various light sources.





Street Art
Street art is a colorful and dynamic subject to photograph. Look for vibrant details of public art: displays, statues, memorials, murals, graffiti, signage, store fronts, posters, etc. in your city that are examples of either sanctioned or unsanctioned street art. Use creative angles and perspectives to capture the details, textures, and mood/tone of the subject material.

Macro-Photography (Extreme Close-Ups)
Macro-Photography is extreme close-ups using specialized Macro lenses. Use macro to isolate tiny objects, texture details, and other things that are not immediately visible to the naked eye.


Monochrome Magic
Any single-color dominant image. These photos can be all black and white, a single color-cast of the whole image, or use a single color plus black and white selective coloring technique. Choose subject(s) that would benefit from the attention created by isolating color(s).


​

~ Abstract ("Straight Photography")​​
~ Street Art
​~ Macro-Photography (extreme close-ups)

​~ Long Exposure/Light Art
~ Portraiture​

Reno FFX Presents the 2026 FFX Photo Contest

  • Open to WCSD HS Students Only
  • 8 Categories, 9 Winners
  • A winner will be named for each category plus Best In Show
  • Top 3 in each category will be named "Finalists" and their photos will be printed and featured in a Reno FFX Photo Contest Gallery Showing @ the Reno Public Market, where entrants can sell their photos.
  • Entries can be emailed to renonvffx@gmail.com
  • *All entries must have been taken between August 2025 and April 2026 and must contain ALL original photographic elements (see below for more info on submission guidelines)
  • *Maximum of Three Photographs per Category
  • *Photographs for submission must be .jpg or .png files @ Resolution of 300 ppi.
  • INCLUDE your Full Name, Your School, Your Grade, and A Teacher/Advisor from your school in the email submissions.
  • *Note: WCSD student emails may be blocked by the District from using external emails. Alternatives: Send submissions while using a device outside of school, submit them to your teacher, or contact Bob Zorn at rzorn@washoeschools.net 



Image Plagiarism will result in all entries by the individual being disqualified. ALL IMAGES MUST BE ORIGINAL PHOTOS TAKEN BY THE ENTRANT

~ Paranormal Activity

~ Ghost Towns

~ Tiny Terrors