Water Power Technologies Office is launching a photo contest and looking for pictures that capture the incredible potential of water power.
Water Power Technologies Office
July 5, 2018
minute read time
High-impact images tell a story by transporting viewers to places they have never been before. They inspire. That’s why the Energy Department’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) launched the Make a Splash Photo Contest this year. WPTO is looking for pictures that capture the incredible potential of water power to provide increased energy security, economic vitality, and grid reliability in the United States.
Pete Johnson of Gemini Rope Access Solutions inspects the blades of a 3-MW GE wind turbine by rappelling down the blades at the National Wind Technology Center at NREL in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder/NREL)
This subject can be challenging, so WPTO reached out to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) staff photographer Dennis Schroeder to get some tips for taking the best pictures of water. Dennis has won two Pulitzer Prizes for his coverage of two breaking news stories—one for covering the 2000 Columbine High School shooting and another for capturing the Colorado wildfires in 2003. He’s also earned countless other accolades, including recognition by the Energy Department for a photo of a towering wind turbine with an insect-scale man hanging from gossamer threads while inspecting the blades. The guy knows how to take a high-impact photo.
“Water is a fluid thing to shoot, pun intended,” Dennis says. “But that opens up a lot of creative interpretation for the photographer.”
Here are a few of Dennis’s pointers for anyone who wants to enter the contest and maximize their chances for winning up to $2,000 in cash prizes:
Find a spot
The first step is to locate a hydropower or marine energy facility near you. WPTO sponsors an ongoing effort by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to map existing hydropower facilities through the National Hydropower Asset Assessment Program. Download the most recent national dataset to find operational plants across the entire country. Identifying an opportunity to photograph marine renewable energy is more difficult as these technologies still face significant barriers to testing. However, WPTO’s partners include marine energy and hydropower technology developers across the United States.
Plan your shoot
To gain access, reach out to the facility in advance. They can outline any restrictions, approve a date and time, and maybe even provide a staff guide for you. “The magic hours that tend to make the best images are the first hour of sunrise and last hour of sunset,” says Dennis. “Because this can be outside of normal operating hours, it’s best to have your access approved beforehand.”
Gear up
From cell phones to drones, it’s possible to get great quality shots with a range of camera technologies. Just make sure everything works, and you know how to work it. “Some people shoot the water with high speeds to grab every detail, while others blur with slow speeds,” says Dennis. “Both approaches can be effective.”
Melting snow flows from rooftops, through downspouts, into containment structures, and then into drainage systems to maintain the landscape around NREL’s sustainable campus. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder/NREL)
Capture what you love
It’s important that your passion shows in your photos. Whether you’re energized by technology, nature, energy, or adventure, allow your lens to connect with something that speaks to you. “I am very involved with charities. Some of my favorite photos are those taken on behalf of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, capturing the humanity of these resilient people,” says Dennis.
Edit with a discerning eye
When reviewing footage, find the shot that gets you the most excited. “We’re so visually bombarded every day, so it’s really important to edit to just the cream of the crop,” says Dennis. “Sometimes one image goes so much further than four similar photos. Edit down and just have fun with it.” While Dennis appreciates the value of cropping and image adjustments, he never uses Photoshop to alter a photo’s true depiction of a subject.
Transcend time
This is what makes an image special. “You’re clicking that shutter in a fraction of a second, but you can capture something that really holds your attention. Your eye normally wouldn’t see it,” says Dennis. “Look for a moment that freezes time and allows you to study something that you wouldn’t typically be able to look at it in depth.”
With those tips in mind, any amateur or professional photographer can go out and capture our country’s water power resources. Entries should be focused on the following seven categories:
1. Overall Hydropower – grand prize
2. Overall Marine Energy – grand prize
3. Recreational Hydropower
4. Community/Local Hydropower
5. STEM/Educational Opportunities of Water Power
6. Jobs/Economic Development of Water Power
7. Research and Development of New Water Power Technologies
The deadline for entering is 11:59 p.m. MDT on July 16, 2018. You can find a full set of rules and instructions for submitting photos on the Make a Splash Photo Contest website. For more information, contact [email protected].
Inspire us!