Brief Challenge – Spirit Level

For this brief you are assigned to create an image for the cover of the highly respected magazine ‘Time’.

The cover title and main article of this edition is ‘Finding Balance in an Unbalanced World’ and the publishers have decided they would like a highly detailed photographic image representing a spirt level, either close up on the bubble or with more of the level showing but the bubble still visible in the centre of the magazine cover.

The proportions of the spirit level to the magazine cover space are entirely up to the photographer based on the aesthetics of the spirt level and their vision.

Image
  1. The choice of spirt level, the colour, the look, style etc will be left entirely up to the photographer.
  2. The spirit level must be the only item in the photograph.
  3. The background can be white, black, grey or a gradient glow and the art director will leave this decision to the discretion of the photographer by using the Time Magazine cover template as a reference for space.
  4. The sprit level must obviously be level in the photograph meaning that the bubble must be positioned precisely between the level markers.
  5. The image must be lit stylishly and the product be pin sharp throughout.
  6. No Ai generated images are permitted and RAW files will be requested from any final selections

This getty images link might provide some ideas but should not be taken literally as the style requirements: https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/spirit-level

A mystery bonus will be provided by the art director to the best image submitted

Please download and utilise the PSD of the Time Magazine cover for your layout and creative decisions.

The art directors mock up image is for reference only and should not be indicative of the final requirement.

Download Time Magazine Cover Template PSD

DEADLINE: 20th May 2026

Spirit Level Brief - Members Gallery

Comments

  1. zhoulightandshadow

    Great learning experience through participating the challenge and watching the review.

  2. I prefer to see the Gallery. I’m very new to still life, and I honestly have only my instinct to tell me what I need to focus on. Seeing others, as well as going over the briefs, I now know exactly how I could have done to improve my work.

  3. Vladimir Ladev

    Always great to see your perspective on the briefs Karl and I agree with your remarks. There are always ways to do better work, not giving up and pushing through is the way to go. Thank you!

  4. KHoinke

    When you scroll fast through the spirit images, looks pretty cool. Actually loved doing this brief. I so want to do the 60 minute magazine with the stop watch. That would be fun, or a fashion magazine like ” W ” magazine…. Vogue, or made up product photography magazine (watch, immersion blender, toaster). Cocktail magazine (cocktail mixer in the background, with cocktail as the hero) or cigar magazine (cigar is the hero and whiskey as the supporting cast.) :0) Water, dropping can’s, fruit, or waterproof items. Dive magazine – water goggles, waterproof drivers license holder, or something similar. Fishing tackle/lure. Ok, bye for now. I was wrapped up in ideas, thought I share. :0)

  5. DougHowell

    Wow, there are a lot of people that entered and a lot of good photographs.
    If I could just say one thing, Karl and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you have influenced a generation of photographers.

  6. My image is only 976kb and it still says my image is too large, any advice for a way around this, i have even tried exporting for web and lowering the quality and still the same error message.

    1. Hi, It should be working ok, can you check that it’s under 3840×2160 pixels too? if there’s still any issues just let us know and we’ll see what we can do 🙂

  7. Brian R.

    Is the deadline by time / timezone? I’m still working on this in United States (EDT), and want to make sure I have this uploaded in time. My best guess would be midnight your time (BST)?

  8. DougHowell

    Hey, I’m having problems uploading my submission. I select the file and it tells me that it’s too big even though it’s only 5 MB a little under actually. Can anyone help me with this please? I don’t know what to do.

    1. Hi Doug, I don’t know what’s going on there but I’ll let one of the web guys no on Monday morning. Cheers Karl.

  9. SaraFdez

    Hi! Will we be disqualified if we modify a bit the cover template? For example, if we add the white frame that Time Magazine uses along the red frame, and we change the text (all in caps or mix different sizes), while maintaining the layout of the brief. Thanks!

    1. Hi, I’m afraid the magazine cover supplied needs to remain the same as supplied so that it is fair for all entries.

  11. Question to the “Art Director” 🙂 , is it acceptable to just show part of the spirit level, or is it required to see the top edge and bottom edge of the spirit level, i.e., is a visual band from left to right absolutely essential?

  12. Hello from Germany,

    I’m a non-native English speaker and therefore I’m not really sure about the term „gradient glow“.
    And overall I do not want to get disqualified by the Art director 😉 by an accidential misunderstood.

    Do you mean with „gradient glow“ a (onyl radial?) gradient which is produced by a studio/flash, whatever light.
    Or does the wording also allow and artificial gradient mask like it is available in the layers & masks tool of C1 (I suppose the naming and location is the same in PS).

    Thank you
    Joerg

    1. Hi, a gradient glow is a background light that changes from a brighter spot to a darker tone gradually. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a radial gradient it could be just a gradient from bottom to top (brighter at the bottom and fading to darkness at the top)

  13. 1. Are basic touch ups allowed like healing brush to remove surface imperfections or even specks of dust from the sprit level?

  15. What is really annoying is taking a good-looking image and then, on enlargement, seeing dust, smears, scratches and manufacturing imperfections.

  16. Patrick Durocher

    I get a message that my image has been submitted, yet I have a warning that my image is too large. And I can’t seem to be able to repace it. Not even sure it uploaded.

    1. Hi Patrick,

      We’ve updated this, if you could please try uploading again and let us know if there are any issues 🙂

      Emma

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