AP “Christmas Lights”
23 October 2026 @ 17:00
Enter the Algarve Plus “Christmas Lights” Photo Challenge for December issue
The “Christmas Lights” Photography Challenge – By the time this issue arrives, the Algarve’s towns will be dressed for the festive season. Strings of lights will hang above narrow streets, Christmas trees will stand proudly in the praças, and market stalls will cast a warm glow against whitewashed façades. This challenge is about capturing the distinctive atmosphere of Christmas in the Algarve—where familiar streets and architecture are transformed by light, colour, and the spirit of the season.
Participants may interpret the theme through
- Decorated main streets and squares in towns such as Faro, Lagos, Tavira, or Loulé.
- Christmas markets, stalls, and food traditions.
- Illuminated churches, monuments, or waterfronts.
- Long-exposure or bokeh studies of festive lighting.
- Local families and communities enjoying seasonal events.
- Contrast between traditional Algarve architecture and modern festive decoration.
Both literal and imaginative interpretations are encouraged.
Rules
- Photos must be your work and not previously exhibited or displayed in APG Activities.
- New 1-Year Rule applies. (this means taken anytime in 2025 to date)
- Photos can be colour, black & white or any monochrome colour.
- Photos image size (MB’s) should be as close to the original as possible as images will be printed if selected.
- Only one image per Member.
- Entitle your image “Image Title by Firstname Lastname.jpg” For example “Christmas Lights by Joe Blogs.jpg” AND PLEASE ENSURE YOUR IMAGES HAVE THE TITLE IN IT WHEN YOU SEND IT. (NOT THE CAMERA NUMBER, OR CAMERA BRAND!!)
- Please also ensure that you send the following info:
– Where Photo was taken
– When photo was taken
– Camera used to take the photo
– Settings used (e.g.): Shutter Speed (1/500), Aperture (f/2.8) and ISO (100)
Order of Merit
- All Images Submitted for this Challenge will accrue (5 – five) Merit points each.
- The new placing system 1st to 5th will be in place (selected by Guest Judge) and will accrue (25,20,15,10,5) Merit Points each
- All images will be given a critique by guest judges.
Deadline for Entries
- The deadline for entries and delivery of digital images is 17:00 on Friday, 23rd of October 2026
How to Submit your Entries
- Please send your images to the following e-mail “info(at)theapg.org” with the Subject: “Christmas Lights ”
Only use WeTransfer.com or FromSmash.com to send files digitally to safeguard original file sizes
Exhibition Go-Live
- The Online Gallery will be available as follows:
- For checking that your image is available in the gallery for judging bewteen Monday, 26th and Tuesday 27th of October 2026
- Judging then take place untill the end of the month.
- Final gallery is Published at 9:00 on 1st of December 2026 in line with Magazine Release.
We look forward to seeing your entries.
