Calendar Contest Galleries

Announcing The 2020 TCM Calendar Photo Contest

2020 submissions are now open for the 13th annual Truck Camper Magazine calendar contest.  Here are the competition details, contest rules, and six proven ways to win.  The 2020 contest is on!

2020 TCM Calendar Contest

Welcome to the 13th annual Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Contest.  There will be thirteen winners, one for each month of the year, plus one more winner for the calendar cover.

All thirteen calendar winners will have their winning photograph and the story behind their photograph featured in the magazine.   The thirteen winners will also receive a free 2020 Truck Camper Magazine Calendar.

All submitted photographs will be placed into a 2020 Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Contest Gallery.   By sending in a photo for the contest, you give Truck Camper Magazine the right to use your photograph in future posts, social media, in the magazine, etc.

The 2020 calendar deadline has expired.  Click here to vote, and then to see the winners.

Calendar Contest Rules

1. All photographs must contain a truck camper.

A truck camper is a camper that can be demounted from a truck.  If it doesn’t demount, it doesn’t count.

2. Only minor color correction and cropping is acceptable. High dynamic range images (HDR) are also acceptable. Any other alternations via software, apps or special filters will render your photo entry ineligible.

3. All photographs must be taken between October 20th, 2018 and October 18th, 2019.

4. Submitted photos must be taken by the person submitting the photo. Do not submit a photo taken by someone else.

5. Along with your photographs, please include the following information: your first and last name(s), the location the photo was taken, and the year, make, and model of your truck and camper.

6. All photographs must be submitted digitally.  You can send all entry photos at once or one photo at a time up (with a limit of 3 photos per person/camper). Enter the contest by clicking here!

7. You can submit up to three photographs for the calendar.  That’s three photographs per truck camper rig.  Choose carefully!

8. All photographs must be submitted by 11:59pm PST, Friday, October 18th, 2019.

9. All photographs must be horizontal.  Please make your shots wide, not tall, like a calendar page; 11-inches wide by 8.5 inches tall.

10. Do not enter panoramic photographs as they are too wide for the calendar format.  The final cropping will be 11-inches wide by 8.5 inches tall.

11. All photos must be taken with a three-megapixel digital camera, or better. Smartphone images are acceptable.

12. Submit photos in their original resolution.  Please do not downsize your photos before submitting them.

Six Time Tested and Proven Ways To Win:

If you want to win the calendar contest, here are six pointers:

1. Capture the Golden Hour

The moments immediately after sunrise or just before sunset will give your photographs a beautiful soft warm glow. You may have to wait patiently for this moment in the evening or wake up early to capture this moment in the morning, but it’s worth it.

2. Take Many Different Perspectives

If you’ve found an amazing place, park your rig and take pictures from many different positions and angles.  We will often walk in many different directions looking at the camper and how it appears in the scene.

Often times we need to move the camper a couple times, and move the camera a few times, to get it right.  Sometimes we climb a ridge and shoot down, or get on the ground and shoot up.  The trick is to try lots of ideas, experiment, and see what looks best.

3. Avoid Most Man Made Stuff

Do what you can to avoid man made objects in your photographs, unless they are the subject.  For example, an interesting bridge or a red barn are often great, but random trash cans and power lines are not.  If there’s a man made object in your picture, make it’s great.

4. Include Your Entire Truck and Camper Rig

Almost without exception, calendar winning photographs feature the whole truck camper; bumper to bumper, cabover to ladder, tires to roof top – the whole rig.

5. It’s All About Location, Location, Location

Don’t even think about photographing your camper at a campsite, unless the campsite is incredible.  This contest is all about finding amazing places, and photographing them with your camper.

More often than not, this means finding a pull-off, and getting the shot.  If you wait until you park for the night, chances are you drove by the interesting places.  Always be on the lookout for the calendar winning spot, and have your camera ready.

6. Learn Your Camera

As a camera buffs, we make sure to read camera manuals and watch YouTube videos on photography, and our cameras.  This knowledge, coupled with experience, often leads to much better photographs than would otherwise be possible.  Automatic mode on most cameras is often good, but knowing how to fully utilize your camera will pay dividends.

Get Inspired By Past Winners

We absolutely love looking at the calendar entries, especially the winners and runners-up from years past.

These photographs not only wow us with their beauty, but also remind us of the possibilities and adventure the truck camping lifestyle offers.  Then we find ourselves thinking, “Let’s take pictures like that this year!”

We are inspired!

2019 Calendar Contest Winners
2018 Calendar Contest Winners
2017 Calendar Contest Winners
2016 Calendar Contest Winners
2015 Calendar Contest Winners

Good luck everyone!

 

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