What types of photography do you like?

I have entered several photo contests, and I have learned something. Most of the time it really doesn't matter how well the picture is taken, it is more the content of the photo.

Children an animals seem to do best. 

When I have looked at the entries of a photography contest, I see some beautiful work. I call it technique, maybe because I am a dancer, and when you see a good dancer verses a bad dancer, it is usually their good or bad technique that shows what kind of dancer they are--good or bad.

But anyway, back to photography. In good photography, one will notice the lighting, the position of the subject, the clarity, color, etc. A lot of winners of many photography contest I have observed, are just snap shots. It is not necessarily how the picture was taken but rather the content; which I find very interesting. 

I love taking photography and I don't do it to win any contests, although it would be nice. I take pictures because it is fun. Just before entering a photography contest a few weeks ago, I asked one of my photography buddies what types of photos usually win. One of the photographers told me, that the winner is usually not the one that most people would have picked. He said that many times he has looked at the entries and then looked at the winner and wondered why they picked that photo to win. 

I have often wondered what type of picture to enter into contests. Would they like a sports type, like the one above of my son kicking around a soccer ball on the beach?

Or would they like something like this of my daughter dancing on the beach?

Some might like something a little on the eerie side,

or maybe some colorful sunsets,

or maybe some wildlife.

Maybe they would just like a snapshot of something fun,

or of someplace they would like to be.

In the end, I believe the winner just took that special picture that touched someone. So if you decided to enter your photo into a photography contest, remember, it probably won't win, unless that picture is something they are drawn to. Or who knows, you might have a fun snap shot that would be the wining picture.  Whatever, the outcome is, it really doesn't matter. It was just a fun thing to do to get your photos out there. You might be surprised as to who or how many love your work, whether you won or not.

So....what types of photography do you like? I'd like to hear from you. I think it is quite interesting to hear what other's like. Besides, it might help me next time I decided to enter a photography contest...