Break out your cameras! I thought it would be a good idea to hold this photo contest earlier this year. It gives me more time to put the 2020 calendar together, and since it’s summer, it’s probably the best time to get out and snap some photos of your Cougar! Cue the graphic:
By now, most of you are probably familiar with this contest and the WCCC Calendar (see 2019 version), which features only 1967-73 Cougars. The goal of this calendar is to be a high-quality piece of wall art that showcases a variety of classic Cougars. Anyone with a good eye for photography and a classic Cougar has a chance. Some past entrants have even hired photographers for this contest, which is fair game as well.
WHAT DO I WIN?
The winners will be featured in the 2020 Calendar published by WCCC. You’ll also get a free copy of the calendar itself, and all the bragging rights that go along with it. We also reserve the right to use your pictures for future marketing materials.
WHAT ARE THE PHOTO REQUIREMENTS?
- Minimum resolution: 12 megapixels (4200x2800) - but bigger is better. I shoot 24mp.
- File Type: RAW or JPEG (You can either send in the original unaltered files, edited versions, or both. I’d like to be able to touch up your photos to match the overall style of the calendar, but kudos if you have editing skills.)
- Camera type: DSLR, mirrorless, or point-and-shoot. No smartphones unless new models from 2018 or newer, 12mp resolution or higher. Phone pictures will still be at a significant disadvantage compared to “real” camera photos.
- Obviously, photo subject matter needs to be a 1967-1973 Mercury Cougar.
- For best chances, include exterior glamour shots, interior and engine bay shots. Please also include written details about your car and its story.
HOW DO I ENTER?
Send photos to media[at]cougarpartscatalog.com (change [at] to @). You can send as many as you like, but please limit it to your best few shots. If your files are too large to email, write in and I’ll set up a Box folder for you to upload to, or you can use your own favorite file hosting service, such as DropBox, Google Drive, etc. If you’re a finalist, I may ask you for additional shots (engine, interior, wheels, other details) to use alongside the main one, so keep this in mind when shooting. Entries must be received by 7/31/19 to qualify.
No repeat submissions - You can enter again if you entered in previous years, but please submit new material, not the same pictures as before.
Note on smartphone pictures: I’ve stuck to my guns in the past on not accepting cell phone images, but I’m cracking the door open this year. Smartphone cameras keep getting better and I think MAYBE we’re at a point where the newest, best phones can produce printable images. Still, they are at a significant quality disadvantage compared to regular full-size cameras. Be advised that if you choose to use a smartphone instead of a camera, you are taking a risk that your photos won’t make the cut.
PHOTO TIPS
- The Whole Package: If you’ve seen our calendar before, you may have noticed that we include a couple of smaller pictures below each main one. These usually show the interior, engine, or alternate angles of the car. Please keep this in mind, and include multiple shots for us to consider. We also write a short paragraph about each car, so if you include some interesting information about your car, that gets you brownie points.
- Environment: Location is pretty important. It should be somewhere scenic or interesting to compliment your car. Yes, you should leave your driveway to take these pictures! Avoid clutter as much as possible (i.e. other cars, power lines, porta-potties, etc). One tip is to go somewhere at a higher elevation, or to the middle of nowhere so that you have open sky and horizon all around, and reflections in the paint will be very clean. You may have to get out of town and into the countryside to find enough open space. Try to stay on pavement if you can, since its the natural habitat of the car. Grass, dirt, or gravel can look odd in some cases.
- Staging: For wheels, the rule of thumb is to either keep them perfectly straight, or turn the wheels away from the camera, so that you see the wheel and not the tire tread. Make sure windows are either all the way up, or all the way down. For convertibles with the top down, always roll all the windows down. Make sure any personal items are hidden from view.
- Lighting: The important thing here is that it’s consistent. The car should either be completely in sun, or completely shaded. Partial or blotchy shade doesn’t look good (parking under a tree usually doesn’t work out too well). You’ve probably heard of “golden hour” - it’s true that when the sun is low (early morning or late evening) the lighting is more compelling than it is at midday.
- Composition: The main point here is that the car needs to mostly fill the frame, but with enough “breathing room” around it. This is partially aesthetic and partially practical. When this goes to print, some of the edges get trimmed away in the process. If the car is too close to the edge of the frame, it won’t look right, and may even get cut off. Also, try to look at the whole scene when shooting your car. Include interesting background elements, but be strategic about avoiding undesirable clutter and unsightly reflections.
- Focal length: When shooting car exteriors, it’s generally best to stand further back and zoom in, rather than standing close to the car and zooming out. Being too close causes a “fisheye” effect that makes the car look bulbous and out of proportion. Standing back and zooming in will give the car truer proportions.
I think that’s all for now, I look forward to seeing some great pictures! Let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll update this if I think of anything else. Thanks for looking, now get those cameras out!
Oh well maybe next year 
