Photographic competitions occur monthly and are focussed toward pre-selected categories and within three different member groups. Descriptions of our competitions can be found within our Competitions Page. Our competitions are a means for members to expand and improve their photographic art and stimulate discussion within our membership

Our most recent competiton was an open Creative challenge. It was judged by Craig Mohr is an educator and photographer with over 30 years’ experience shooting Advertising, Annual Reports, Catalogs and Portraits. His company, Catfish Farms Studio has created imagery for Farmers Insurance Group, Fox Broadcasting, Allergan, City National Bank, The Walt Disney Company, K-Swiss, Vans, Sony Electronics and Kenwood USA. Craig's comments and awards were presented on Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

There are three competition groups within Padre Trails Camera Club labeled Red, Green and Blue. Each Club member is placed within one of these competition groups in order to fairly distribute members into competitive peer-groups. This is intended to level the competition field, giving everyone a more equal opportunity to succeed in our monthly competitions. At the beginning of each new Club year, members are grouped into competition peer-groups based on their adjusted average star score from the preceding year. Prospective new members may select a peer group placement where they may feel most comfortable in competing.