Freelance Photography

A Stunning Photography Book Chronicling International Medical Corps' 25-Year History

2009-10-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

International Medical Corps and Three Hawks Press have released "A Thousand Words: Photos from the Field," a stunning coffee table photography book documenting the humanitarian crises to which we have responded in the last quarter century.

Written and edited by Stacy Twilley and with a Foreword by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, the book is a collection of award-winning images chosen by renowned Los Angeles museum curators and noted collectors including Mario Testino, Richard Gere, and Anjelica Huston that show International Medical Corps' long-term commitment to healing, training, and self-reliance.

"I first became aware of the extraordinary work International Medical Corps was doing after the tsunami in Indonesia," Twilley said. "I started volunteering with International Medical Corps and that's when I discovered their archive of more than 10,000 photographs. The images were extraordinary. Some were taken by famous photographers and others by aid workers in the midst of crisis. I realized that I had stumbled onto an unprecedented account of history."

The book was more than two years in the making. Those involved worked on a pro bono basis–donating their time, talent, photographs, and in some cases, dollars. "I think the result is an incredibly compassionate and remarkably moving photography book that raises awareness for an organization we passionately believe in," said Twilley.

While the images captured in the book reveal the devastation of war, famine and natural disaster, they also are a testament to the power of compassion, strength and innovation in helping people recover from crisis and rebuild their lives.

"I have witnessed some of our generation's worst human tragedies–and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit," said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO of International Medical Corps. "Each photograph in this book is a profound reminder of the incredible journey of International Medical Corps, and the exceptional efforts of our colleagues who have cared for hundreds of millions of people in these fragile, often dangerous environments."

"A Thousand Words: Photos from the Field" is available at Amazon.com (http://tiny.cc/1000words) and makes thoughtful gift for all those with a compassionate humanitarian spirit.

Net proceeds from the book sales will be donated to International Medical Corps. More information and a preview of the images can be seen at http://www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx?pid=736.

Somerset Photographers Create the Art of Science

2009-10-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

Most people would struggle to name more than one or two living British scientists. Thanks to Somerset-based professional photographers Anita Corbin and John O'Grady this could be about to change. Portraits of nine British scientists, commissioned by The British Council and taken by Anita and John, have recently been acquired by The National Portrait Gallery, London for its Collection and will be displayed for the first time from 26 August 2009 to 17 January 2010.

Anita Corbin from Corbin O'Grady Studio in Wellington, explains, “The colour portraits were taken in 1989 for the series “Science in Profile" commissioned by The British Council. The pictures were taken by my partner John O'Grady and me over a three month period. There were 24 in total and the resulting set of portraits was exhibited in the early nineties all over the world but never in Britain. The large colour prints will form part of the photographic archive of significant Britons at The National Portrait Gallery and will be exhibited for the first time in the UK in August."

Helen Trompeteler, Picture Librarian at the National Portrait Gallery, says that the Gallery is delighted to obtain these nine portraits which will be displayed within its new Science in Focus display.

Anita remembers each portrait session clearly, "These guys are highly intelligent, but they were easy to talk to and we even understood most of what they were saying! They were all absolutely passionate about their subjects and we enjoyed capturing that passion in their pictures." Anita singles out Joe Farman, an environmental scientist, whose discovery of the ozone 'hole' has had consequences of far-reaching and global importance, describing him as “very intense and very straight talking regarding the troubles of the ozone layer."

One particular scientist, who will ring a bell with many people, is Robert Edwards who pioneered In vitro fertilization techniques at Bourn Hall Clinic at the time he was photographed in 1989 his work had helped to create over 2000 babies.

Anita and John, of Corbin O'Grady Studio, have been working together since 1984 and moved their business from London to Wellington in 2001.

FotoMuse IPhone App Inspires Publishers And Photography Hobbyists

2009-09-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

In an age where Photoshop users routinely manipulate photographs to perfection, the thought-provoking depth and artistic value of imperfect "reality" images is often lost.

Now, thanks to FotoMuse ($2.99 in the Apple App Store), anyone with an iPhone can infuse snapshots with artistic depth in just a few simple steps.

"With FotoMuse, we've created a new category in photography - where street glamour meets fine art via the iPhone," said photographer and fitness expert Kris Gebhardt, who developed the app in partnership with WebUrban LLC. Gebhardt initially used his iPhone when an unexpected camera jam threatened to ruin a photo shoot, but he now regularly takes fashion, glamour, beauty, and figure shots with the mobile device. "It allows me to quickly capture real time and unrehearsed moments, without having to lug studio equipment around, pay staff, and deal with the ruckus of a shoot production," he said.

In FotoMuse, Gebhardt's signature effects - grunge, uneven borders, scratches, light leaks, toner stains, bleach, and overlays - are provided to iPhone users so they can apply them to their own images.
The result? Both publishers and hobbyists are transforming photographs into fine art.

Gebhardt notes that online publishers are weary of using the tired images found on stock photography sites. "Online editors and webmasters are embracing FotoMuse's unique filters, borders, and fine art effects to create eye-catching images that pop off of a web page and differentiate their sites from those of their competitors," he said. "They can literally snap a picture, edit it, and upload it in about five minutes."

But it was the reaction from amateur photographers that took Gebhardt by surprise. "When we built the app, we'd assumed that picture resolution was inconsequential, since most people would want to email their photos," he said. "We couldn't have been more wrong. It turns out that FotoMuse users want to print, frame, and hang their images on the wall." As a result, FotoMuse's upcoming release will include a high-resolution option that brings iPhone snaps to life.

Gebhardt is thrilled that both publishers and amateur photographers are using FotoMuse to its full advantage. "So-called 'imperfect' photographs are much more visually interesting than stock images or those that have been Photoshopped to perfection," he said. "I'm glad that FotoMuse is helping to infuse an artistic edge into personal snapshots, and that it's giving online publishers an easy-to-use tool to create visual interest on their websites."

Travel Photo Contest 2009 by Open Travel

2009-09-28T06:00:00.001-07:00

Open Travel announces the first edition of its travel photography contest, where visitors to Opentravel.com - at least 18 years of age and planet Earth residents - will have the opportunity to upload and share their works with other traveling and photography aficionados.

While the core idea of photography is not about competing, but rather about capturing the infinitely diverse beauty of the world and the satisfaction that comes from unveiling this to others, Open Travel has prepared two fantastic cash prizes in the amount of $1000 and $500 for Best Travel Photo and People's Choice Best Travel Photo respectively.

As of September 21, 2009 participants are invited to upload unlimited photos taken during their voyages throughout the world, be it a weekend outing to the French countryside, a holiday in the Caribbean, a shopping spree at a souq in Morocco, or an African safari. Focus your cameras on just about anything you feel worthwhile.

Photo submissions will be accepted at http://opentravel.com/photo_contest until October 23, 2009. From the pool of all submitted photographs, a panel of experts will choose one that excels in terms of photographic quality and the extent to which it captures the essence of a travel experience, place or event. Additionally, a separate prize will be awarded for the photograph that is voted best by the users. Winning photos will be featured on http://www.opentravel.com/

Photographers Invited To Submit Favorite Ontario Photos

2009-09-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Copp Communications, a marketing agency in Waterloo, is looking for photo submissions for a high quality calendar that celebrates the beauty of Ontario, Canada.

This is the fourth year that Copp Communications has created a calendar on behalf of one of their clients. However this year it was decided to release an open call for photo submissions to both professional and amateur photographers across Ontario.

Photographers featured in the calendar will receive payment, credit for their photo, and will be acknowledged with a brief bio and web address on the contribution page, included in the calendar. Approximately 7,000 copies of the calendar will be printed and distributed to businesses across Ontario.

"We have received great feedback from photographers who have contributed to past calendars, and we are really looking forward to seeing the photo submissions we receive this year", says Chris Copp, Director of Creative and Consulting.

Copp Communications is looking for photos from anywhere in Ontario; however, there is a particular need for photos specifically from Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Hamilton, Barrie, York Region, Peterborough, Ottawa, Cornwall and surrounding areas of Ontario. Photos from these geographic areas will be given first priority.

The photo submission deadline is October 8, 2009. The selection process will occur at the end of October. Only photographers whose photos have been selected will be contacted.

Deadline for photos is October 8, 2009
Requirements:
* Beautiful, striking nature shots with a sense of place in Ontario
* Looking for wide range of seasonal shots
* Photos must be horizontal
* Maximum submission 6 photos per photographer
* Please include the location of each photo
* Low resolution jpeg photos no bigger than 500kb
Submission Instructions:
* Please title your subject line: Photo Submission for Calendar
* Please email photos to calendar@coppcomm.ca

Please feel free to visit www.coppcomm.ca/calendar to see a PDF version of last year's calendar.

BC Council for Families Announces Online Family Photo Competition

2009-09-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

No one knows how to have fun like your family! Now, you could even win a prize for it.

This fall, to celebrate Canada's National Family Week, October 5 - 11, 2009, the BC Council for Families is inviting families to show off their fun side with the I Love My Family Online Photo Competition. The Council will be giving away great prizes for the best photos of family fun. To enter, all you need is a photo of your family and a 100-word story telling us what fun means in your family.

"We want to celebrate the incredible diversity of families in BC. Every family is different, but every family is built on love," said Glenn Hope, Executive Director of the BC Council for Families. "This contest is a chance for everyone to share what makes their family unique and wonderful. Families are all about caring for one another, spending time together, and having fun. We're looking forward to some terrific photos and stories of family fun!"

Each day during National Family Week, one winning photo will be chosen by the BC Council for Families as a great example of why We Love Families. The grand-prize winner will be announced in November. The deadline to enter is October 16, 2009. For complete details, visit http://www.bccf.bc.ca/. Join us on Facebook to enter your family fun photos today.

"This is a great time to encourage everyone in BC to enjoy the simple things in life," said Hope. "Having fun with family can be as simple as sharing a joke or taking a walk. That's what makes it so wonderful."

"Show Us Your National Parks" Photo Contest

2009-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

From September 1st through September 30th, visitors to Fodors.com will have the opportunity to upload and share their favorite photos and experiences of America's National Parks with other travelers. Ten winners will receive a copy of The National Parks by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns as well as a Fodor's guide of their choice. Photographs will be considered for inclusion in upcoming editions of Fodor's National Parks guides and all winning photos will be featured in an online gallery at http://www.fodors.com/.

Said Tim Jarrell, Publisher, Fodor's, "With bigger-than-life panoramas, bubbling mud pots, shooting geysers, raging rivers, black bears, big horn sheep, and spectacular flora and fauna that barely scrape the surface of offerings, the National Parks are a photographer's delight. We are excited to see these sites through the eyes of our travelers."

Photo submissions will be accepted at http://www.fodors.com/ through September 30th, 2009. Fodor's has previously run photo contests for Ireland, Argentina, Turkey, Israel, Maryland, New Mexico, Costa Rica, California, Florida, and Alaska. Winning photos from these contests can be seen on http://www.Fodors.com .

Student Photography Competition

2009-09-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

Sony is once again working with the Advertising & Illustrative Photographers Association to run the Sony / AIPA Assistant & Student Photography Competition.

The annual competition aims to encourage photographic excellence and originality amongst up and coming photographers.

To qualify for entry, candidates must either be a photographer's assistant or a photography student currently enrolled at a recognised tertiary institution anywhere in New Zealand.

Sony and the AIPA invite interested photographers to visit www.aipa.org.nz to download an entry form with submission guidelines and competition terms. Submissions will be judged by a panel of photo industry professionals including Sony New Zealand's Marketing Manager for Digital Imaging Products Sam Williams and AIPA's Executive Director, Aaron K.

Prizes include a top-of-the-line Sony Alpha 850 D-SLR camera and lens kit for the winning photographer's assistant and a Sony Alpha A380 for the winning student.

Last year's competition had a number of high caliber entries making it a difficult task for the judging panel. Photographers assistant Kristian Frires was named the winner of the assistant category with his striking series of photographs of cataracts patients from the Solomon Islands.

Rebekah Robinson was named the winning student. Her portfolio consisted of a series of seven well considered and beautifully captured images that cleverly revealed the care given to domestic pets.

This year Sony and the AIPA expect the quality of entries to be just as high and both organisations are excited to see the talent entering the industry.

"We see a great synergy between Sony Alpha and the AIPA and we are proud to be supporting the competition once again" said Sam Williams.

"I am particularly excited to see all the entries as I know there is some great talent out there."

AIPA's Executive Director Aaron K is equally excited. "It's great that we can work with an organisation like Sony to encourage and promote emerging talent in the industry. This competition is unique in that it allows us to reward outstanding photographic achievement while also better educating young image-makers about the profession itself."

Entries for the competition open on 7 September and winners will be announced on 23 November.

ILFORD Photo Kicks Off Film Photography Competition

2009-09-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

Calling all ILFORD PHOTO enthusiasts. HARMAN technology - the company behind the traditional black and white photography brand, ILFORD PHOTO - is delighted to announce the launch of a new photographic competition that gives you the chance to see one of your images on the front of the iconic ILFORD PHOTO box.

The "Image on a Box Photographic Competition 2009 – North America" is open to all residents of USA and Canada. Entries must be shot on ILFORD DELTA 400 Professional film and printed on any ILFORD black and white photographic paper. The closing date for the competition is June 30, 2010.

Entries have to be submitted under one theme: 'Fine Art'. Arguably a very broad and interesting category, HARMAN technology is excited to see entrants’ interpretation of the theme. As Steven Brierley, HARMAN’s President of Marketing explains:

“There are countless definitions as to what exactly constitutes 'Fine Art' photography and the debate periodically rages within the photographic fraternity and website forums. Some say it is 'art for art's sake'. Some say it is a one-off staged composition or is simply an expression of beauty. There is also a school of thought that believes it is a combination of things: original composition, technical skill, artistic interpretation and the quality of the photographic products used to capture the image.”

"With that in mind our ILFORD DELTA 400 Professional film competition is quite simply themed 'Fine Art'. We are hoping this will inspire the many fine photographers out there to present their own interpretation on this often discussed genre and that it will add to the general debate."

HARMAN technology has launched special promotional packs of ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC Paper to include two free ILFORD DELTA 400 Professional films. These promotional packs, available while stocks last, act as an incentive to get potential entrants looking for image opportunities to then have a chance to win one of three prizes:

First Prize
US $1000 worth of ILFORD PHOTO black and white products
The winning image will be printed on the iconic ILFORD PHOTO box.
The winner will also receive a silver gelatin fine art mounted print of their image.
Second Prize

US $500 of ILFORD PHOTO black and white products
Third Prize

US $250 of ILFORD PHOTO black and white products
For further information on the ‘Image on a Box Photographic Competition' visit http://www.ilfordphoto.com/imageonaboxna09

Developing Skills Through Photographic Storytelling at the Yellin Center

2009-09-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Everyone can take photographs and develop "visual" literacy. With the camera as the technological tool of choice in the 21st Century, students can capture what they see and imagine and describe their photographs in their own words too.

The process in the workshop Myself, My Family, My Community, My Dreams, taught by professional photographer and teaching artist Roberta Fineberg, is a simple one: write, shoot, write; and then begin again. Kids are encouraged to retain their natural sense of play to build upon their strengths so that they can share their lives with others through words (narrative) and images (point of view). Effectively using two languages of imagination, photography and writing, participants learn through art education to communicate emotionally, visually, orally, and in writing; mastering even more complex learning skills.

Ms Fineberg believes that "getting personal--creating a space in which students are comfortable with the realities of their lives, problems, worries, fears, hopes, and dreams"--positively affects the learning process. With a focus equally on task completion, the final project is a professionally designed and printed group book of participants’ writing and photography. "Readers of the group book ultimately bear witness to the world that tweens and teens inhabit," says Fineberg, "fortuitous eyewitnesses to kids' dreams and plans for the future."

Roberta Fineberg is an award-winning photographer, published writer and author, and teaching artist based in New York City. Her interdisciplinary workshops include: Literacy through Photography (LTP), ESL through Photography, Autobiography through Photography (her creation), and signature program, Myself, My Family, My Community, My Dreams.

The 6-week workshop for kids, Myself, My Family, My Community, My Dreams is being offered on Wednesdays from 3:45-5:15, beginning Sept. 30 at The Yellin Center for Student Success (104 West 29th St., 12th fl, NYC 10001). For more information, please call: 646.775.6646.

"Show Us Your National Parks" Photo Contest

2009-09-07T05:34:00.000-07:00

Fodor's Travel and Knopf announced the co-sponsorship of a travel photography contest, "Show Us Your National Parks."

From September 1st through September 30th, visitors to Fodors.com will have the opportunity to upload and share their favorite photos and experiences of America's National Parks with other travelers. Ten winners will receive a copy of The National Parks by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns as well as a Fodor's guide of their choice. Photographs will be considered for inclusion in upcoming editions of Fodor's National Parks guides and all winning photos will be featured in an online gallery at www.Fodors.com.

Said Tim Jarrell, Publisher, Fodor's, "With bigger-than-life panoramas, bubbling mud pots, shooting geysers, raging rivers, black bears, big horn sheep, and spectacular flora and fauna that barely scrape the surface of offerings, the National Parks are a photographer's delight. We are excited to see these sites through the eyes of our travelers."

Photo submissions will be accepted at www.Fodors.com through September 30th, 2009. Fodor's has previously run photo contests for Ireland, Argentina, Turkey, Israel, Maryland, New Mexico, Costa Rica, California, Florida, and Alaska. Winning photos from these contests can be seen on www.Fodors.com.

About The National Parks by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
The companion volume to the twelve-hour PBS series from the acclaimed filmmaker behind The Civil War, Baseball, and The War. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, on sale September 8th, 2009, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world's first national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.

Photography Scholarship Opportunity to Onondaga County High School Students

2009-09-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

Green and Seifter Attorneys, PLLC is excited to announce the "Impressions of Syracuse" Photography Contest for Onondaga County High School Students in grades 9 through 12. Inspired by the upcoming "Turner to Cézanne" exhibit at the Everson Museum of Art, young artists will have the opportunity to express their impressions of the beauty and unique character of our city or region through photography.

The contest is open to all Onondaga County high school students in grade 9 through 12. Entries will be judged on composition, creativity, and effectiveness in conveying the beauty and/or unique character of our region. The deadline for entries is October 16, 2009. The selection of the top twenty finalists and grand prize winner will be made by a panel of artists, teachers, and photographers. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship and have his/her photo featured on the 2009 Green & Seifter Attorney holiday card. A special section will highlight the young artist. In addition, a $500 donation will be made to the winning school's visual arts department to be used for further art education.

The top twenty finalists will have their artwork on display in a special week- long exhibit at the Redhouse Gallery. The winner will be announced during a private reception for finalists, their families and teachers on October 29.

"Green & Seifter Attorneys has been a long-time supporter of the Everson Museum and the Redhouse and values their contributions to our community," said Larry Bousquet, a Managing Member of the firm, "Sponsoring a scholarship to students in the community to promote art education was the logical next step. We hope to help spread the word about these outstanding art institutions that are right here in our backyards."

More information and entry forms can be found at www.gslaw.com. Any inquiries can be directed to Kathy Ryan at 315.701.6458 or at kryan (at) gslaw (dot) com.

How to Create an Effective Marketing Copy For Freelance Photography Services by Gina Nuqui

2009-08-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Writing your marketing copy is a crucial part of your advertising campaign, because it should be compelling enough to motivate clients to hire you. While the design of your printed materials captivates people's attention, your marketing copy sells your services to them. Think of your marketing copy as your key to gaining your customer's trust, respect, and approval. This should be well-constructed, informative, and persuasive in order to achieve your goal.

* Effective Text Formatting: Text formatting is often disregarded in many marketing campaigns. The truth is, this can either make or break your campaign. Come to think of it, clients won't read your message word-per-word. They will most likely to skim over your printed materials. So, you must pay attention to proper text formatting to make sure that the most important information gets read. Use headings to make your copy more organized. Write the most important information in bold letters to make them more noticeable. Make use of bullet points and summarize features or benefits to make them easy to read.

* Call to Action: Give clients an unbeatable offer that they will find difficult to refuse. Use words that convey excitement to spark their curiosity and interest. Clients should know what to do after reading your marketing copy. Should they visit your studio? Check your website? Or take advantage of your discount? Telling clients exactly what you want them to do helps elicit a positive response from them.

* Personalized Sales Message: Talk to clients like an expert, but in a friendly and conversational manner. This will engage them to read the rest of your promotional material. Clients will most likely respond to you if they feel that you are communicating directly to them.

* Testimonials and Reviews: Adding testimonials and reviews on your marketing copy helps build your credibility; which helps convince customers that you are the right choice. Contact recent customers and ask them to give their feedback about your service. But, if you are still new in the business, you can offer free services in exchange of reviews.

Aside from your photographer portfolio, your promotional materials also contribute to the success of your profession. You have to ensure the quality of your marketing copy and your printed materials. So, whether you are printing business cards, posters, or brochures, it would be best to opt for professional color printing services. Professional online printing companies print full-color promotional materials that aid in your campaign.

More topics on Print Full-Color can be found at Color Printing.

Top 5 Tips For Perfect Wedding Photography

2009-08-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

Internet journalist Matthew Connors caught up with the amazingly talented Wedding Photographers from Precise Moment Photography in Melbourne to find out just what it takes to get those perfect Wedding Photographs.

There response was amazingly simple yet very informative. "Wedding photography is not just our job it's our passion. Getting the perfect shot for our clients wedding memories is the goal, but it must be done in a natural and fun way that adds to the enjoyable memories of the wedding day".

When asked how that is achieved they said that "while every wedding we do has different people, lighting issues, weather and a number of other variables to deal with, our focus on capturing the natural expressions consistently delivers amazing results".

They went on to explain that there are several really great tips that can help achieve the perfect shots and a more enjoyable wedding day for all Brides and Grooms.

Precise Moment's Top 5 Wedding Photography Tips For Brides and Grooms

1. Just relax and enjoy yourself. Be your yourselves and your true personality will show through. If you are relaxed you will enjoy yourself more, the smiles will flow and the memories will be genuinely happy ones.

2. Make sure you let your wedding photographer know in advance what style of photography you prefer. Some couples prefer traditional photos, some like candid or contemporary. It's entirely your choice, but letting the wedding photographer know is paramount to getting the perfect results you're after.

3. Wear comfortable shoes. It's hard to genuinely smile when you're uncomfortable or your feet are killing you. In fact it often pays two pairs handy for various situations, especially in wet weather.

4. For the ladies, make sure you have matt looking make-up so you don't have shiny faces.

5. Don't be afraid to have a cuddle or a kiss at any time. These spontaneous emotions make the best photographs. A great wedding photographer will always be watching and ready and it's important you feel comfortable to be yourself and express your love in front of your photographer.

While these tips seem straight forward and simple to implement it takes a true expert to be able to implement them under the pressure of a wedding day and capture all those exact moments for your cherished memories.

Website: www.WeddingPhotographyMelbourne.info

International Photography Contest for Best Erotic Tribal Art Image

2009-08-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

Healing Research Institute announces the 2010 competition for the Hertzberg Prize for best image in the erotic tribal art category. The 2009 winner "Mayan Breasts" won the unanimous nod of all three judges and is featured on href="http://www.erotictribalart.com/">www.erotictribalart.com for sale for a limited time. The 2009 winner created an intense sensuous image of decorated breasts with a complex Mayan overlay which produced a remarkable and striking image. The winner wished to produce a picture which honored the female breast , but which was not lewd or offensive.Those interested in the photography competition can view this image and gain some idea of the winner's image, but it is not designed to be limiting in any way Entries are to be sent to HRI PO Box 1968 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504.

"River to Well" Worldwide Photography Competition

2009-08-17T04:55:00.001-07:00

A Lawrence, KS, community group has organized a worldwide photo competition called River to Well. The entry fee to submit a photo is $15, two photos for $25, or three photos for $30. All of the money from the entry fees will go to building a well in South Africa.

Any person can submit entries to this competition. There are three divisions for this photo competition: 1) Students 2) Amateur Non-Students 3) Professional photographers.

"We want people who are passionate about the campaign of bringing clean water to people who don't otherwise have the 'luxury' and actual photographers who want to get their name out, enter a photo competition, and at the same time give to a great cause," said Ken Chang, one of the River to Well organizers.

Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2009. The Entry Form and more information about the competition can be found at: http://www.rivertowell.com/.

"Best Of Summer" Travel Photo Contest

2009-08-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles-based Tours4Fun is taking entries for their "Best of Summer" travel photo contest. Photos must be originals and of landscapes, not people, and prizes include a shopping tour of Niagara Falls, a Washington, DC tour, or Grand Canyon helicopter or airplane highlights tours. The entry period begins today and voting will start on September 1st. Winners will be announced in October.

The contest is being promoted as an opportunity for travelers and tourists to submit their best photographs and share their unique views of the wonders they have seen. It is hoped that sharing these photos will not only benefit the winners but offer a chance for all to see locations they may not have visited before.

Tours4Fun is an industry leader in travel that specializes in tour packages to North American and European cities, landmarks, and national parks. Last month they introduced their "Circle Line" European tour packages of Western, Central and Eastern Europe. Tours4Fun also offers affordable tour packages to Asia, Australia, Africa, South America and the Middle East.

The "Best of Summer" travel photo contest is the latest in a series of incentive contests that have been offered by Tours4Fun. In order to be eligible, contestants must register and each vote will be credited to a specific email address. Only three votes per email will be allowed. The deadline for final votes to be cast will be September 30th.

"By offering North American tour packages as prizes we hope to spark a renewed interest in travel within the United States," said Maggie Lang, Co-Founder and Product Development, Tours4Fun, Webeez, Inc. "The Department of the Interior has done their part by offering fee-free admission weekends to our national parks this summer. This is our way to keep the ball rolling into the Fall."

North American numbers are already rising with increased admissions at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the American side of Niagara Falls. Travel to Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York is also up with many Americans choosing not to stay home for vacation this year. This contest should help to keep those numbers rising.

National Geographic Announces Fourth Annual International Photography Contest

2009-08-10T06:04:00.000-07:00

National Geographic readers around the world are invited to take part in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest. Readers of National Geographic's English-language editions in eight countries as well as readers of 20 of the magazine's international local-language editions are eligible to participate. The international grand-prize winners will receive a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and their winning entries will be published in all participating editions of National Geographic magazine. Winning entries from each territory will be featured in their local editions of National Geographic magazine.

English-language-edition readers in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom are eligible to enter up to a total of six photographs across three categories: People, Places and Nature. Entries should be submitted electronically to www.ngphotocontest.com. The contest began Wednesday, Aug. 5, and ends Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET). Photos can be black-and-white or color, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film, and must be submitted digitally. Each entry consists of an entry form, a single image and an entry fee. The entry fee is U.S. $12 per photo for entries received before 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2009, and $22 per photo for entries received between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31. For details and official contest rules, visit www.ngphotocontest.com. Void where prohibited.

English-language-edition entries will be judged at National Geographic headquarters by a panel of three judges: National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen; design editor of the international editions of National Geographic magazine Darren Smith; and White House photo editor Jenn Poggi. First-place category winners of the English-language-edition competition will win a digital camera kit.

The participating international local-language editions will submit their winning entries in each category to National Geographic headquarters to be judged alongside the winning English-language entries by Thiessen, Smith and Poggi. The judges will announce three international grand-prize winners in December 2009.

Photo and Essay Contest

2009-08-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

PIC Corporation (PIC), a multi-national provider of insect and rodent control products, is now accepting entries for its Healthy Home Photo and Essay Contest. One winner will be awarded a prize of $500 (U.S. dollars) for submitting the most original and creative essay and photo showcasing the use of PIC Corp. pest control products – including the mosquito coil, a popular deterrent since 1953.

To enter, visit and http://www.healthyhome-smartsolutions.org/Aug09Contest provide your contact information and a short (no more than 500 words) essay about how you use PIC Corp. products responsibly. When we receive your entry, we will send a confirmation email asking for a photo of you using the product mentioned in your essay.

Providing both a photo and essay via email completes your submission. There is only one entry per person. The contest begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time Wednesday August 5, 2009 and ends 11:59 PM ET September 5, 2009

Contest Seeks Photos of Most Epic Adventures for Chance to Win Ultimate Surf Trip

2009-08-07T05:12:00.000-07:00

Pacifico beer is asking fans of the authentic pilsner to upload photos of their adventures for the chance to live the Pacifico lifestyle and win an "Epic Adventure" of their own. The contest, which launches on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com, enables consumers to submit photos for the opportunity to win a surf trip for four with professional surfer Joel Tudor, along with other great prizes.

Pacifico has always been a beer for the adventurous, fond of off-the-beaten-path destinations, especially given that the beer was originally discovered by west coast surfers on trips to Baja California, Mexico.

Prizes for the Pacifico Epic Adventure Contest include:

* One grand prize winner will win a trip for four to the Moana Resort on Waikiki Beach in Oahu for five days and four nights and surf lessons from professional surfer Joel Tudor, considered one of the best longboard surfers in the world

* Five first prize winners will receive their choice of a shortboard, longboard or stand-up paddle board from Surftech

* 50 second prize winners will receive a one-year subscription to Surfer Magazine

To enter, consumers can submit up to three photos of their own epic adventure on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com from July 8 to September 15, 2009. Upon completion of the submission period, the photos will be judged by a panel of experts including a Pacifico representative, professional surfer Joel Tudor and Grant Ellis, photo editor of Surfer Magazine. Photos will be judged on aesthetics as well as the degree of epic-ness of adventure, but Pacifico is leaving it up to consumers to decide what they consider an epic adventure.

World's Worst Photographers Wanted

2009-08-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Southern California photography instructor, and founder of PhotoWalkingTours (www.photowalkingtours.com), Ralph Velasco seeks the World's Worst Photographer and is offering a Grand Prize Photography Learning Package as bait.

Valued at over $1,000, the package consists of two private classes, five One on One PhotoWalkingTours, and much more. People are encouraged to nominate any who they think has most room for improvement and would most likely benefit from his services.

"Do you call your husband 'Henry VIII' because he cuts the heads off of everyone in his pictures? Does your girlfriend insist on taking pictures with telephone poles sprouting from her subjects' ears? If this is a common occurrence in the photographs of someone you know, then surely you're obligated to nominate him or her for my World's Worst Photographer contest," said Velasco.

He has a mission: Rid the world of bad photography, one image at a time. "I'm confident that I can help improve the photography of even the most self loathing 'photographer' out there, so I'm challenging spouses, friends, and all others, to nominate one person that they think could most benefit from one on one time spent with me in my photo classes and on my PhotoWalkingTours, Velasco continues.

"With the explosion in digital photography, there are more and more good people taking bad photographs, and I'd like to be a part of reversing that trend."

Velasco has spent the last 30 years photographing his travels to more than 35 countries on 5 continents, and he currently teaches photography in classrooms from San Diego to Santa Barbara, as well as guides people on a series of what is now 18 unique PhotoWalkingTours that he's developed. Needless to say, he doesn't agree that one must be born with a photographic eye to capture great images, but that it can be learned.

The winning entry will receive the Grand Prize Photography Learning Package valued at over $1,000, which includes participating in any 5 of Velasco's 2-hour One on One PhotoWalkingTours in Orange County; 4 hours of One on One classroom instruction including his "Improve Your Travel Photography" and "Capture the Essence of a Place" private classes; as well as several other prizes to be announced later. In addition, the winner will take home a limited edition, autographed, 16" x 20" gallery wrap of one of Velasco's photographs.

Three runners up will each receive a single 2-hour, small group PhotoWalkingTour in Orange County and participation in both of Velasco's classes with a small group, a package valued at over $135 each.

In order to nominate someone for these prizes, one must explain, in 50 words or less, why the nominee most deserves the Grand Prize Photography Learning Package and include this in the body of an e-mail sent to PhotoWalkingTours at gmail dot com, no attachments will be opened. Deadline for entries is October 31, 2009. Only qualified entries (those of 50 words or less) will be considered and the winner and runners up will be announced by 12/31/09. All entries will be judged by Ralph Velasco and the decision of the judge is final and in his sole discretion.

Pacifico Beer Launches Epic Adventure Photo Contest

2009-07-31T05:24:00.000-07:00

Pacifico beer is asking fans of the authentic pilsner to upload photos of their adventures for the chance to live the Pacifico lifestyle and win an "Epic Adventure" of their own. The contest, which launches July 8, 2009 on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com, enables consumers to submit photos for the opportunity to win a surf trip for four with professional surfer Joel Tudor, along with other great prizes.

Pacifico has always been a beer for the adventurous, fond of off-the-beaten-path destinations, especially given that the beer was originally discovered by west coast surfers on trips to Baja California, Mexico.

Prizes for the Pacifico Epic Adventure Contest include:

One grand prize winner will win a trip for four to the Moana Resort on Waikiki Beach in Oahu for five days and four nights and surf lessons from professional surfer Joel Tudor, considered one of the best longboard surfers in the world
Five first prize winners will receive their choice of a shortboard, longboard or stand-up paddle board from Surftech
50 second prize winners will receive a one-year subscription to Surfer Magazine
To enter, consumers can submit up to three photos of their own epic adventure on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com from July 8 to September 15, 2009. Upon completion of the submission period, the photos will be judged by a panel of experts including a Pacifico representative, professional surfer Joel Tudor and Grant Ellis, photo editor of Surfer Magazine. Photos will be judged on aesthetics as well as the degree of epic-ness of adventure, but Pacifico is leaving it up to consumers to decide what they consider an epic adventure.

"Pacifico drinkers tend to live life to the fullest and find adventure wherever they are," said John Swiatowiec, director of off-premise national accounts retail marketing for Crown Imports, the U.S. importer of Pacifico. "Whether it's a photo of someone scaling a mountain top or celebrating a big night on the town, we're interested in seeing adventures from all fans of Pacifico."

Consumers must be over the age of 21 to enter the contest. Due to legal restrictions, residents of California and Utah are not eligible to participate.

ASMP Receives Funds from Authors Coalition

2009-07-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) has announced that the association has received $263,000 from the Authors Coalition of America (ACA), an organization which distributes money collected for copying non-title-specific works abroad, primarily in Scandinavia and Europe. Non-title-specific works are those that cannot be identified individually or by copyright owner.

Distributions are made periodically by ACA to visual arts organization members on the basis of an established formula, and funds are designated for use solely in industry education and advocacy. ASMP is the premier trade association for photographers who create images primarily for publication, and the association is a leader in providing professional photographers with business education and protecting their rights.

According to ASMP President Richard Kelly, of Pittsburgh-based Richard Kelly Photography, "We are pleased that this distribution enables our association to continue to support the needs of photographers at this pivotal time of change in the profession and the world." ASMP Executive Director Eugene Mopsik added, "This funding allows ASMP to further our educational outreach to the photography community by providing training in vital skills and fostering new ideas for our 7,000 members and many others." ASMP recently announced the development of educational tools for the industry which are available free of charge to all interested photographers at http://www.asmp.org/strictlybusiness/.

DSLR Short Film Contest Seeking Entries

2009-07-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

StudioDaily's Dailyfilm.tv has announced the DSLR Short Film Contest, seeking to benchmark the top narrative short, documentary or music video. The winners will be showcased in an online film festival in the fall.

Sponsored by Redrock Micro and presented by StudioDaily, filmmakers will be challenged to create a video using a DSLR camera (such as the Nikon D90, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II or the Panasonic DMC-GH1). Video entries will be judged based on the following criteria: originality, technical ability, creativity, and appeal to worldwide audience. The call for entries deadline is September 18, 2009.

Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of photographers, cinematographers and filmmakers including Vincent Laforet, Michael Grecco, and Rodney Charters from the Fox television series 24.

All participants can enter online at http://www.dailyfilm.tv/festivals/dailyfilmtv-dslr-short-film-contest

The Dailyfilm.tv competition includes more than $10,000 in prizes - awarded weekly. Prizes are professional accessories for DSLR cameras in each of the three categories (narrative, documentary, music video).

First Place Prize: Redrock Micro eyeSpy Deluxe Bundle DSLR rig (retail $1,445)

Second Place Prize: Redrock Micro Captain Stubling rig (retail $975)

Third Place Prize: Choice of a Redrock Micro microMatteBox Deluxe ($735) or microFollowFocus v2 Indie Bundle ($675).

Additionally, each week accessories from Redrock Micro will be awarded.

Winners will be announced in early October. The winning videos will be hosted in the Winners Circle on Dailyfilm.tv and highlighted on StudioDaily.com, as well as promoted by Redrock Micro. PLUS videos will be featured on CableFAX.com - seen by top executives from all major cable networks.

Last Call for Entries: American Humane Association's Pets & Pals Photo Contest

2009-07-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

Time is running out to enter photos in American Humane's 2009 Pets & Pals Photo Contest to compete for two $1,000 grand prizes and four $500 category prizes. This popular annual competition encourages photographers of all skill levels to send in shots of companion animals and farm animals, as well as photos portraying the bond between people and animals. There is no limit on the number of photos each participant may submit, but entries must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2009.

2009 Pets & Pals Photo Contest Categories:

1. Pets -- Whether they're dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds or lizards, they're your pets and you love them!
This category is open to pictures of one or more pets or companion animals of any species.

2. People & Pets -- What are we without our pets, and what are our pets without us? Honor a special human-animal bond.
This category is open to pictures of one or more companion animals with one or more people.

3. Down on the Farm -- Take your pick of the many animals found on a farm and capture a unique shot.

This category is open to pictures of one or more farm or ranch animals.

4. Shelter Life -- At an animal shelter, amazing, devoted people take care of homeless animals waiting to be adopted. Snap a shot honoring both the animals and the professionals.

This category is open to pictures of shelter staff, volunteers, veterinarians, and animal control professionals and/or animals, in shelter settings.

Entries, including Official Application and Release Form, should be sent to American Humane at 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colorado, 80112. All entries must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2009, and received no later than Aug. 7, 2009. Visit www.americanhumane.org/petsandpals for submission guidelines, the required form, and rules.

Vistek launches "Capture Canada" summer photo contest

2009-07-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

As photo contests go, they don't get any bigger than this: Vistek's Capture Canada Contest - the challenge to capture a country as big and as beautiful as Canada.

In this photo shoot that goes on until September 13, photographers are given the whole country to work with and are challenged to digitally capture an image that smacks of Canadiana. And that image can be of a famous landscape, an individual, a scenic site, a city, or a shot of Canadians enjoying summer. The options are wide open.

Vistek's Capture Canada features tons of prizes AND chances to win. In addition to a GRAND PRIZE WINNER there are a total of 16 incredible prize packages - worth over $12,500. Packages include Louis Garneau touring bikes, a Nikon camera, Epson printers, and paper packages from Moab. The contest is open to photographers 18 and over.

Full contest details and rules are available at www.vistek.ca/marketing/contests/photo-contest

Seeking Best Original Pet Photo Book

2009-07-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Bark Avenue Press, the publisher for pet lovers, is launching a Dog Days of Summer promotion, looking for the best original pet photo book designs. Each new photo book entered between June 22 and September 22, 2009, using the free BAP!t software, will be eligible. The Top Dog and two runners up will receive cash prizes, and have an equal amount donated to a pet-related charity.

"Dogs will share the stage as we encourage pet owners of all kinds to participate. We want to show people just how easy and rewarding it is to create a custom, professional quality book. Animals are a special part of the family and photo books make beautiful keepsakes to showcase special occasions, share vacation memories, or just for fun," said Linda Kush, President, Bark Avenue Press. "At the same time, this is a great opportunity to give back to the pet community to help animals in need."

Bark Avenue Press helps pet owners unleash their creativity and design beautiful and unique photo books, pet calendars and other printed products through its easy-to-use BAP!t software. Simply download the free software. Use the templates and backgrounds provided, or create a unique design. Add photos, text, then, when finished, hit the "send it to BAP!t" button. The design is professionally printed and mailed in about five days.

Contestants are not required to purchase a product for the Dog Days of Summer promotion. For any photo books designed and purchased, Bark Avenue Press will donate 25% of the sale price to charity. Complete rules, guidelines and a list of charities are available on the BAP!t site at: http://www.bapit.com/s-29-contest.aspx.

Viewbook PhotoStory Call For Entries

2009-07-06T01:17:00.001-07:00

Viewbook PhotoStory, a new contemporary photography contest opened its submissions today, encouraging all documentary and conceptual photographers around the world to submit their most compelling series of photographs; photo stories that are judged by the public and an internationally renowned jury.

Viewbook PhotoStory 2009 challenges documentary and conceptual photographers around the world to create compelling stories with a linear series of photographs in an online gallery. Every professional photographer or emerging talent can easily submit their series free of charge using a 60 day, no obligation, Viewbook Pro account. ’With this competition we aim to inspire each other with photographic creativity and generate international publicity for the most talented entrants.’, says Peter Bas Mensink, publisher of GUP magazine and co-initiator of the competition.

An international jury consisting of Marcel Feil, (curator of FOAM museum) Lauren Heinz (Editor Foto8.com) and Alison Zavos (editor Featureshoot.com) and other industry professionals assess the photo stories on their overall impact and photographic excellence. The first price winners receive international publications & lifelong subscriptions with a value exceeding $12,000. The best photo series get published in the Viewbook PhotoStory 2009 book.

All pre-selected entries appear on the viewbookphotostory.com website, where everyone can view the photographic narratives and vote on their favorites. ’We want this to be an online event that everyone can be part of, says Peter Bas. The public decides which photographers win the special public prices.’

Viewbook PhotoStory is initiated by www.viewbook.com and GUP magazine, backed up by Blurb, Workbook and many supporters. The organization encourages photographers to submit their work as early as possible to get the most out of the public voting. Submissions close on 1 October 2009.

For more information and to submit, please visit http://www.viewbookphotostory.com/

Real Kids Photography Launches New Site with Free Report

2009-07-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Real Kids Photography has launched a new website at http://realkidsphotography.com/ and are offering a free report via an E-book titled, The 6 Essential Tips Everyone Should Know When Photographing Children. The E-book is written by Real Kids, LLC owner and life-long child photographer, Betty A. Muscott.

"We recognize that many parents are not satisfied with the traditional posed studio portraits," said Ms. Muscott. "Instead, more and more parents want to learn about photographing their own children. With today's digital cameras parents can take hundreds of photos of their children and simply choose to keep and print the ones they want."

The free E-book can be obtained by visiting Real Kids Photography and clicking on the appropriate box.

John White, spokesman for Real Kids Photography, notes that "Within minutes parents will have all the information they need to educate themselves on how to improve their photography skills and get the natural expressions they want for quality photos of their children." Totally free, the only thing necessary to receive the E-book is to complete a simple form and press the "Send it Now!" button. Once the request has been confirmed download of the book is immediately available.

"This free E-book provides valuable lessons learned over the years" said Ms. Muscott, who has been taking children's photographs for many years. The oldest of five children growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan, Ms. Muscott earned money babysitting in order to purchase the first thing she ever really wanted in life - a camera. At that very moment, a young aspiring photographer was born. Ms. Muscott has taken thousands of children's photographs since then and has learned something new with each one. Her free E-book will assist parents in doing the same.

Twenty first century technology and digital photography have given Ms. Muscott new avenues to create, educate and share the art of photographing children. Both the free E-book and child photography blog available on the new website are just a couple of those new avenues. Also available is a bi-weekly email feature that will provide photography tips to help increase parent's ability to make better pictures of their children.

"This free E-book will assist people in making quality photographs of their children now, so they can enjoy them in the future," said Ms. Muscott. "Learning how to photograph children is an excellent way to preserve generations of fond memories and family history, and this makes for a great deal of joy."

The new website offers, in addition to the free E-book, information on ways for parents to share, protect and display photos of their kids. Also included is information about free photo contests, ways to use these precious photographs to create personalized gifts, and tips on finding the right digital camera equipment for parents to use in photographing their children.

Ms. Muscott also recommends an excellent digital photography course which can be previewed with a free demonstration of the digital interactive photography course. Mr. White notes that this new website "is a one-stop shopping venue on how to photograph children."

In business since 2005, Real Kids Photography is located in "The Cozy Forest" at 4234 Driftwood Drive, DeWitt, Michigan. To receive the free E-book and learn more about the services Real Kids Photography offers call toll-free 1-866-440-2461or visit their website at Real Kids Photography.

Real Kids Photography Launches New Site with Free Report

2009-06-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

Real Kids Photography announced today that they are launching a new website and offering a free report via an E-book titled, The 6 Essential Tips Everyone Should Know When Photographing Children. The E-book is written by Real Kids, LLC owner and life-long child photographer, Betty A. Muscott.

"We recognize that many parents are not satisfied with the traditional posed studio portraits," said Ms. Muscott. "Instead, more and more parents want to learn about photographing their own children. With today's digital cameras parents can take hundreds of photos of their children and simply choose to keep and print the ones they want."
The free E-book can be obtained by visiting Real Kids Photography and clicking on the appropriate box.

John White, spokesman for Real Kids Photography, notes that "Within minutes parents will have all the information they need to educate themselves on how to improve their photography skills and get the natural expressions they want for quality photos of their children." Totally free, the only thing necessary to receive the E-book is to complete a simple form and press the "Send it Now!" button. Once the request has been confirmed download of the book is immediately available.

"This free E-book provides valuable lessons learned over the years" said Ms. Muscott, who has been taking children's photographs for many years. The oldest of five children growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan, Ms. Muscott earned money babysitting in order to purchase the first thing she ever really wanted in life - a camera. At that very moment, a young aspiring photographer was born. Ms. Muscott has taken thousands of children's photographs since then and has learned something new with each one. Her free E-book will assist parents in doing the same.

Twenty first century technology and digital photography have given Ms. Muscott new avenues to create, educate and share the art of photographing children. Both the free E-book and child photography blog available on the new website are just a couple of those new avenues. Also available is a bi-weekly email feature that will provide photography tips to help increase parent's ability to make better pictures of their children.

"This free E-book will assist people in making quality photographs of their children now, so they can enjoy them in the future," said Ms. Muscott. "Learning how to photograph children is an excellent way to preserve generations of fond memories and family history, and this makes for a great deal of joy."

The new website offers, in addition to the free E-book, information on ways for parents to share, protect and display photos of their kids. Also included is information about free photo contests, ways to use these precious photographs to create personalized gifts, and tips on finding the right digital camera equipment for parents to use in photographing their children.

Ms. Muscott also recommends an excellent digital photography course which can be previewed with a free demonstration of the digital interactive photography course. Mr. White notes that this new website "is a one-stop shopping venue on how to photograph children."

In business since 2005, Real Kids Photography is located in "The Cozy Forest" at 4234 Driftwood Drive, DeWitt, Michigan. To receive the free E-book and learn more about the services Real Kids Photography offers call toll-free 1-866-440-2461or visit their website at Real Kids Photography.

Website: http://www.realkidsphotography.com/

Freelance Photographer - It's a Career Worth Pursuing by Roelof Kiers

2009-06-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered if you've got what it takes to be a freelance photographer?

You've been told your photos are good, even great. You've likely earned some money shooting a handful of assignments, but you're not quite sure if you can make it as a freelance photographer. And you've likely got a lot of questions. Questions like: "where will the assignments come from", "how much should you charge", and "how much equipment do you really need?"

These are just a start. Once you jump in and become a freelance photographer, you quickly understand that there's a big difference between the creative side of the business - taking photos and the business side, where you actually have to go out and find the work.

Two of the biggest factors influencing your future success, will be how well you manage your new business and the skill you apply at marketing yourself.

Because once you decide to become a freelancer, you're in business. It's no longer a hobby. Every decision you make, from the field of photography you pursue, to how you position yourself in the market, to promotion becomes a business decision.

Seeking input from others in the business prior to making those critical decisions is important. You want to really understand what's involved before committing months, years and perhaps even your entire career to the path you choose.

First steps would include finding out what other photographers earn in your preferred niche. Fashion, advertising and corporate photography pay far more than photo journalism, family, stock or wedding photography. Fine art photography is a very tough area in which to make a lucrative living. So choose wisely. Photography stops being fun, when you're starving and the bills keep piling up.

The geographic area you choose to live and work will also influence how much work you are likely to find. As expected, the larger the metropolitan center, the more likely it is you'll attract the clients wanting to hire you.

Some fields of photography require frequent and extensive travel. If that's what you want, you'll want to know what's involved.

You'll also want to find out what clients expect of you as a freelance photographer. Each client will have different expectations and experience in dealing with photographers. This is something you'll learn and gain knowledge in as you pick up more and more assignments. Best to be flexible and be ready to negotiate.

Knowing what to charge for an assignment, preparing quotes, copyright, licensing and usage fees are just a few of the new areas you'll quickly need to become familiar with.

The type of equipment you'll need will depend on the photographic niche you've chosen. Again do the research necessary to make sure you've got at least the basic equipment. You can always rent what you don't have as assignments come in.

A marketing plan and budget is a necessity. Without one, you'll be going off in all directions, chasing prospects and likely spending hard earned money on promotional tactics that often don't work. There are multiple methods you can use to promote yourself, from websites, to directories, postcards, direct mail and personal presentations.

Assuming you're shooting decent quality photos, how well you market and sell yourself will often define your level of success. These are two skills you'll want to master, along with managing the financial side of the business.

Add it all up and the hurdles to earning a lucrative living as a freelance photographer can be formidable. Each can be overcome. But it does take preparation, research, some soul searching and a commitment to succeed.

Like any business, those that work hard, do their homework and are prepared to ask questions and learn from others will quickly move up the ladder of success, while their colleagues who think they can do it all on their own, will often stumble and struggle to survive. There's no sense in "reinventing the wheel", when it comes to becoming a freelance photographer.

Talk to other freelancers and find out what's working and not working for them. Also don't overlook all the other resources you can quickly access to help you not only in making the right decision but also growing your freelance photography business.

Click here to access your free e-Course on building your own profitable freelance photography business -> http://www.photobusinessblueprint.com/

Roelof Kiers has over 25 years of experience as a successful photographer and marketer.

For your FREE exclusive step-by-step blueprint explaining EXACTLY how to succeed as professional photographer - please visit http://www.photobusinessblueprint.com/

Children’s International Photography Contest Focuses Worldwide Lens On Biodiversity

2009-06-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Youngsters around the world are invited to enter the "See the Bigger Picture" photography contest by submitting images illustrating plants, animals or anything else that captures biodiversity to www.seethebiggerpicture.org. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will meet with renowned photojournalist Joel Sartore, a contest judge. Entries must be received by Sept. 8, 2009.

"See the Bigger Picture" is a joint project of Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity in support of "The Green Wave" — an outreach program that promotes the goals of the United Nations biodiversity treaty and that will contribute to the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010. As part of "The Green Wave" project, children and youth in schools worldwide plant a local tree species on May 22 each year, uniting to send a "green wave" across time zones from east to west.

The organizers hope the "See the Bigger Picture" contest will encourage children around the globe to snap and submit a photograph illustrating biodiversity in their community or from their travels and help to create the world's largest biodiversity outreach program.

"I am thrilled that Airbus is getting behind the biodiversity photo contest" said Sartore. "If we stand a chance of preserving the delicate balance of life and protecting the future of the fragile planet I've been photographing for 20 years, big business must be involved. It's great to involve kids, too, and to motivate them to take notice of the environment around them. I hope this will be a fun summer project for them"

Sartore, one of National Geographic's best wildlife photographers, suggests a few photo tips to get the perfect shot.

-Shoot early in the morning or late in the day for the best light. This is also when many kinds of animals are at their most active and interesting.

-Work all the angles; walk around your subject 360 degrees to find the best background, then also go from a bird's eye view (up high) to a worm's eye view (low to the ground) to get photos that are fresh and unexpected.

-Study your subjects, and have patience. While nature can be unpredictable, some animals have routines just like people. Spending a little time observing what your subjects do and when they do it can pay off with much better photos.

-You don't have to travel around the world to view and photograph wildlife. The variety of animals in your own back yard - from insects to birds to amphibians - may surprise you.

"See the Bigger Picture" contest rules can be found on www.seethebiggerpicture.org as well as in the July and August issues of National Geographic magazine and in the June/July and August issues of National Geographic Kids magazine. In the United States the contest is open to kids ages 6-14, and internationally to kids ages 6-16.

Wildlife Conservation Society Photographer To Share Photo Tips And Experiences In Free Bogen Imaging

2009-06-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, announces a free webinar titled "A Budget Safari - Wildlife Photography at Your Local Zoo: Roundtable with Julie Larsen Maher." Part of the company's Bogen Café series of free instructional webinars, the seminar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, June 19th. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Staff Photographer Julie Larsen Maher, and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging's Gitzo, Metz, Gossen and Litepanels Product Manager, will discuss the best practices, gear, and times to visit when shooting wildlife at a local zoo.

Maher was named Staff Photographer for the WCS in 2005 and has since traveled the world, using digital photography to capture the beauty and diversity of the animal residents and their caregivers at WCS wildlife parks. She works with leading scientists and animal experts to create breathtaking photographs that reveal the wonder and importance of wildlife conservation. During this Bogen Café webinar, Maher will share experiences from her recent trip to South America and will report on the ongoing conservation photography efforts of the WCS.

Topics for Discussion Include:

-- The best practices for shooting through fences, wires, and glass
partitions
-- Selecting the best gear for a day trip
-- The best times to visit when shooting at a local zoo
-- How to develop a unique perspective when capturing wildlife

Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive benefits, including one-on-one interaction with the guest speaker, and will be automatically entered in a chance to win one of three National Geographic Walkabout Medium Satchels, each valued at $195. Winners will be announced at the end of the webinar, so participants must attend the event in its entirety to be eligible to win. A free recorded version of the webinar will also be available to registered participants within 24 hours of the event. Winners must be US residents.

To register for the free Bogen Café webinar and for additional information, please visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/webinar/

Additional information about the Bogen Café as well upcoming webinars can be found at www.bogencafe.us.

A New Photography Social Network Grows Both Domestically and Internationally

2009-06-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

The photography network (www.picturesocial.com) is buzzing with activity from over 10,000 members adding photos, videos, blog posts, discussions and more every day. The site is now attracting over 100,000 visitors every month and has grown in membership by over 15% for the last two months.

PictureSocial is dedicated to creating a friendly gathering place for photographers of any experience level. It offers many more features than other photo sharing sites including profiles that are fully customizable, slideshows that can be embedded on other sites, video functionality, blogging platforms with tools, email, special interest groups, and more.

The amount of photos now uploaded to the site is staggering - more than a quarter of a million. The network now contains more than 2000 discussions, 1,000 blog posts, and 200 special interest groups.

"The feedback we have been receiving is very exciting," says Richard Schneider, a Community Administrator for the photography network. "Members have been thrilled to find such a vast engaging site where all the features are free of charge."

The membership pool is extremely diverse with photographers joining from around the globe. The range of talented members on the site provides a valuable resource to photographers at any experience level. Some members are just starting out with their new digital cameras while others are highly recognized professionals in various areas of photography.

The future looks bright for this rapidly expanding photography resource. To join and setup a personalized profile to showcase your work, visit www.picturesocial.com.

Freelance Photography As a Living by Murray Edwards

2009-05-25T04:50:00.000-07:00

So you have purchased a digital camera and now you are ready to go out and make a living as a photographer. Easy you think, take a few pictures, sell them and you are off to the races. Not so quick my friend, unless you are extremely lucky, the road to success is a difficult one. Let us face it, making a living in the amazing world of photography can be fun, but there are many difficulties along the way.

First off, what type of photography are you going to perform? Weddings, portraits, events, editorial or commercial have you given that any thought? Are you going to be one of those who will upload your photographs to a micro-agency and be ecstatic when you receive twenty-cents when someone makes a purchase and downloads an image? Oh boy, you are on your way now!

Wedding and portrait photographers must have the ability to deal with a group of people who are stressed and at times, not very rational. Do you have the right personality to ease a bride to be as she breaks down, or smile while a mother attempts to gather the children for that special family portrait?

Looking to do event photography? You will need to form relationships with the local the baseball and softball leagues, golf courses, racetracks, chamber of commerce, and any form of organization that has or performs civic activities. The ability to review and print on-site is almost a must these days. Be sure that you can accept credit or debit cards for those who do not have cash and desire to a purchase on-the-spot.

Now for editorial and commercial side of things, make sure you understand when and where releases are required. In most cases, the use of an image to tell a story, used in a newspaper, textbook or magazine article, does not require a model or property release, however in some cases a publisher will require one. For any commercial usage of an image that has a recognizable face or facility, get a release. Carry a handful of releases in your camera bag; it will save you much aggravation

Understand your licensing options. If you do not care how the image is going to be used and as long as you have the proper releases then you can provide your customers with a Royalty-Free license, just know that they may, for the most part, reuse the picture as many times and in any manner they desire. You have basically given up your rights to how your hard work is going to be presented.

A Rights-Managed license provides you and your client more control of image usage. Basically, the client agrees to use your picture based of a selection of criteria. An example, suppose a magazine wants to use your image for a inside ¼ page spread with a production run of 25,000 issues and they want exclusive usage of that images for six months, then you charge appropriately.

Having fun yet? You are just getting started, just wanted to begin to educate those who believe that the business of photography is as simple of picking a camera and taking a picture. There is money to be made, just be sure you have a good understanding of the industry before you make the jump and do not leave your daytime job to soon.

Murray Edwards is a freelance photojournalist covering the Southern United States.
http://www.freelancephotog.com/
http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/murrayed

Call for Entries:First Asia Focused International Photographic Competition

2009-05-24T04:38:00.000-07:00

Amateur and professional photographers from around the world are invited to enter the 2009 'Asia Without Borders' Photography Competition, the first internationally-promoted online photography contest organised by the award-winning ASIAN Geographic Magazine.

"We are looking for extraordinary photographs from both amateur and professional photographers that capture the striking images of Asia's land, people, architecture or wildlife," explains ASIAN Geographic's Business Development Director, Leslie Quek.

Entries will be judged over three rounds announcing thereafter, one winner and one runner up in each of the four categories. In addition, an overall grand prize award will be up for grabs. Over S$20,000 worth of prizes await the victors of ASIAN Geographic's first online-delivered international photo contest.

Eligible adult participants may enter the contest by submitting up to 15 photos in any or all of the three open categories: Faces of The Earth, Faces of Asia and Faces of The Wild. There is also a Young Photographer's category - Faces of Freedom - for 21-year-olds and below. Entries should be made online at: http://www.awbphotocontest.com/

The closing date for entries is 30 September 2009 at 23:59 hours, Singapore time (GMT +8)

A selection of the best entries will be exhibited at a public show in Singapore where the final shortlist of 20 images will be judged by a panel of professional photographers from around Asia.

All winning and runners up images will also be published in the December Photo Annual Edition of the ASIAN Geographic Magazine.

The grand prize winner will receive a Canon EOS 5D Mk II, a Jet Airways ticket from Singapore to Delhi and a Lowepro equipment. Each category winner will receive a Canon EOS 50D camera, a Jet Airways return ticket from Singapore to Delhi and Lowepro equipment. Each runner up will also receive Lowepro equipment.

New and existing subscribers of the ASIAN Geographic Magazine can enter the contest for FREE. Non-subscribers are required to pay an US$8 fee to submit up to four images to any eligible category or US$15 to submit up to 15 images.

Photos can be black-and-white or colour, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film. For details of official contest rules, visit: http://www.awbphotocontest.com/rules.php

Fourth Annual Photography In The Parks Photo Contest

2009-05-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

As springtime rolls in, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is encouraging Americans to visit their national parks and photograph their beauty with its fourth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest*.

The contest invites photography enthusiasts, from May 15th to September 30th, 2009, to enter by submitting their "Inspirational Nature Images" the theme for this year’s contest. Photos taken at any park or monument in America can be entered through the Canon Digital Learning Center Web site at: www.usa.canon.com/parks.

New this year, Canon will have two contest divisions for photographers between the ages of 13 and 17, and a separate division for adults ages 18 and older. This will enhance the contest experience by allowing aspiring teen photographers to compete amongst their peers.

After entering their photos through the Canon Digital Learning Center, potential contest winners will have the opportunity to forward an e-postcard of their submitted images to friends and family as a fun way to share their photographs. Winning photographers from the Photography in the Parks Photo Contest will receive some of Canon’s hottest photographic equipment. Along with some of Canon’s hottest equipment, the Grand Prize winner will receive a trip to a National Park.

As part of Canon’s Parks Program, a team of photographers will be touring four National Parks from June through August. At each park, the Canon team will host free photography workshops and provide Canon’s top-of-the-line camera equipment for participants to use at no charge. Each class will teach various photography techniques and explore many of the camera functions as participants take a walking tour of the park. Visit www.usa.canon.com/parks for details and a schedule of workshops.

Online visitors and Web surfers are encouraged to browse the Canon Digital Learning Center and take advantage of the various educational resources that Canon has to offer for novices and advanced photographers alike. The Canon Digital Learning Center provides a schedule for a wide variety of Live Learning classes across the country with renowned photographers as well as online resources and tips. The site also features online tutorials for beginners and professionals to learn their way around a digital SLR camera and inkjet printer and unlock the full creative control of digital photography.

Photo Contest to Showcase Work on the Mission Field

2009-05-18T04:57:00.000-07:00

Adventures In Missions (AIM), a nonprofit organization based in Gainesville, GA, launched its first Missions Photo Contest in a quest to gather photographs of ministry in action from around the globe. The purpose is to cast a vision for what God is doing in the mission field through a collection of compelling photographs that tell the stories.

AIM founder Seth Barnes was inspired to start the Missions Photo Contest after seeing an image taken of an orphan at a care point in Nsoko, Swaziland. "I saw this photograph and was so taken by it. It captures a soul, a moment, a place and a ministry. It's like visual poetry," he says. Barnes wants to share this experience with more people -- and he wants more photos. "As I continued to stare at it [the photo], I thought, 'We have so many good photographers...we need to showcase their talent.'"

The ultimate goal is to publish a book of the winning photographs that shares the stories and images of reaching out to people in need. "I think it will help cast a vision for what God is doing," says Barnes.

Anyone is allowed to submit a photo of ministry in action for consideration in the contest. Prizes are $3,000 for first place, $1,000 for second, $500 for third, and $250 for fourth and fifth place. Judging will happen in three rounds, and contestants must enter a photo by June 15th to be considered in the contest. For complete contest rules and submission instructions, visit http://www.adventures.org/.

Profoto $10K Call for Entries for Photo Assistants

2009-05-17T04:27:00.000-07:00

Profoto has launched an international photo contest for assistants. Each month a winning photograph will be selected and that assistant will receive international exposure through a full-page ad in photo magazines, be featured in a new web site (http://www.profotoassistant.com/), as well as having his or her work published in web and print articles, blogs and Podcasts. Grand prize, chosen from the monthly winners, is $10,000 in Profoto lighting equipment. Second and third prize winners receive $2,500 and $1,000 worth of equipment, respectively.

"Our objective is to celebrate the creativity and hard work assistants experience every day," said Anders Hedebark, President of Profoto. "In many studios the assistant is responsible for specifying, renting and setting up lighting equipment, so we feel it’s time to provide a community for recognition and exposure."

In addition to the contest, assistants are invited to attend a reception and studio shooting session where they can use and learn about the latest Profoto gear, the Pro-8 Air. The events will be held in many international cities, including Stockholm, Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Assistants can send up to four photographs each month to www.profotoassistant.com/gallery/. The contest ends on the last day of each month and winners will be announced the 15th of the following month.

Tips For Breaking Into Freelance Newspaper Photography by Peter Phun

2009-05-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

So you've honed your skills to the point where you are confident you can get a good picture in any situation.

Have you thought about freelancing for a newspaper? Photojournalism is one of the most challenging, exciting types of photography.

As a result, it is also the most competitive fields to break in to. So what do you need to start?

Reliable Transportation

This should be obvious, but it's intentionally high in this list. All the skills and the best gear in the world without the ability to get on scene is pointless.

Decent photo gear

I consider these minimum requirements:

2 bodies is a minimum requirement. Though you may use one, the other is your backup. (at least 8 megapixels)

a wide angle, a telephoto, a fast 50mm lens, and at least one flash. As to the exact focal lengths, that would depend a lot on what you plan to shoot. Sports shooters need upwards of 300 mm, sometimes even longer lenses depending on the sport.

a good number of memory cards. If all you're shooting is jpegs, then you might be able to get away with 4 to 6 4GB memory cards. They're cheap compared to the past, so don't sweat it. Exactly how many is hard depends on what you're shooting. Again sports shooters will require more of this as well.

a laptop with a WiFi card. The platform Mac or Windows doesn't matter. Just like for your camera, Nikon or Canon, it's just a tool.**optional Mobile broadband card for laptop**

Photoshop Elements is a minimum, the full version is nice but unnecessary. Most of the time, all you have time for is saving your jpegs to the newspaper's specs, attaching captions and then transmitting it to the paper via the internet by either an FTP client or emailing.

cellphone for communicating with editors at the paper.

Optional but not vital is a police scanner. I don't advocate running off and chasing fire trucks and ambulances but sometimes being at the right place a the right time with a camera is all it takes.

Writing, reporting ability

Writing and reporting go hand-in-hand. You may not need to write a full blown news story, but you do need to be able to write accurate descriptive captions.

So proper grammar and ability to gather accurate caption information like names and ages is very important.

If you consistently provide wrong information and the newspaper has to print a correction each time, they won't be calling you back.

Good knowledge of current events and sports

If you're looking to shoot sports, then good all round knowledge of a variety of sports is important. Since popularity of different sports are very regional, I'll leave it to you to figure that out.

Obviously expect to know Australian Rules football and cricket if you're Down Under, baseball, hockey and American Football if you're in the US and etc. In sports expect to know quite a bit about all types of sports even if you've never played it.

If you're covering a tennis match, for instance, do you know how the players change sides on the tie-breaker? And how do they score the game? If you don't understand how the game is scored, how do you know when the last point of the match is coming up?

Keeping up with news is especially important. When big names come through your community and you're on top of it, this is a great way to get your foot in the door. The newspaper may or may not have the personnel to cover everything so your contribution may be welcome.

Even if they don't use your pictures, you've made first contact. Although it takes years of hard work and dedication to get into the business and there are college degrees offered in photojournalism, starting out as a stringer at a newspaper is achievable if you study publications.
If you're interested in sports, then subscribe to Sports Illustrated. In my next post, I'll discuss how to get your foot in the door at a newspaper.

Read a more detailed article on how to start freelancing for newspapers.

Peter Phun teaches photography at Riverside City College. He does portraits, weddings and editorial work. He writes about photography, Macs and the internet. He also designs websites and is a stay-at-home dad.

Previously, Peter worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. He is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire. For more information about this Riverside based photographer, visit http://www.peterphun.com/

Freelance Digital Photography - Simple Tips On How To Get Started Fast by Terry Edwards

2009-05-11T04:13:00.000-07:00

Photography is considered a hobby for many people. It just takes a good camera, a vivid imagination, and a great subject to capture to be in the field of photography. Even little ones can be interested in photography because many cameras nowadays are just as easy as point and shoot. You can even see the image before it actually comes out in print through a tiny LCD at the back of the digital camera. But did you know that if you love photography and are very enthusiastic about it, you have the opportunity to make money from it? Yes, you certainly can and you can even do it online.

One way to earn money from your freelance digital photography is to sell your photos to stock photography sites. This is the first step that you can take to earn money from your photos. This may not give you a big amount of money overnight but in time you will benefit from selling your photos to these sites. You do not even have to quit your day job to upload photos to these sites. Treat this like a second income opportunity and you will do just fine.

Most stock photography sites will pay you a fixed rate based on your photos' sales and there are some that give you entire copyright to your photos so you can charge your buyers with your own rate. You find out much more on this lucrative business at the end of this article.

To achieve effective sales of your photos online, you have to keep some things in check. Since the photos you will be submitting to online stock photography websites, you have to keep in mind the things that the buyers might want to buy so that you can take photos that will be appropriate for their use.

Regarding image quality, your photos must have no noise and be in focus. The colors should also come out sharp and balanced. And since these photos are to be used for a variety of purposes, you should not put a logo signifying ownership to you. You should also be able to categorize your photos correctly with the right keywords so that buyers will have an easier time looking for your photos which can give you impressive sales in the end.

If you are a newbie to photography but would like to try your hand at producing outputs for stock photography, there are certain things that you have to take note of. Of course, you must know how a digital camera works and investing in a good one is probably the best you can do especially if you want to make this a career. To make sure that you are able to update and upload your files as fast as you take your pictures, an internet connection is required.

The most important thing to do when planning to be a provider of stock photos is to take hundreds of relevant digital photos. Signing up with stock photo websites must also be done as well as learning things like coming up with the proper keywords, etc. so that you can start providing photos for your account on these websites.

Now that you have an idea of how to earn money from freelance digital photography, why not try your hand at it? Who knows, it could be the start of a more profitable photography business.

You can find out more about Freelance Digital Photography as well as much more information on everything to do with making money with photography and DigiCamCash at http://www.digicamcashreview.com/

Freelance Photography: How to Begin Your Career by Colin Hartness

2009-05-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

Photography is a vast world. There are many different types of photography and many different kinds of people that enjoy it. It’s a hobby that be relatively inexpensive or one that you can invest a lot of money on. Photos are so special because they give us memories of times and places and events in our lives. We can hold onto these memories forever with a photograph.

As much as people love photos, many people love taking them even more. Whether it’s a mother who takes photos at every of her children’s moments in life (first smile, first step, first spaghetti meal) or maybe it’s the father who never forgets his camera for a football or basketball game, or maybe it’s the young girl who loves nature hikes with her camera; these people are not exceptions. They all have an eye for those special moments and they all appreciate the camera’s ability to capture that moment and freeze it in time forever.

- What is Freelance Photography?

What if you love photography so much you wish you could do it for a living? I mean, you actually get paid for your photographs! But you work solely for yourself, selling each photo or series of photos individually. You don’t have a boss. You work sometimes on assignment and you may sell to magazines. That is freelance photography.

Freelance photography may be your entire career or it may start out as something you do in your spare time but begin making money from it. It’s just like freelance writing in this sense that many people turn it into a career and enjoy the freedom of working essentially for themselves on their own time and making money doing something they love doing anyway.

- How to Build a Portfolio

To start getting jobs as a freelance photographer, you need a portfolio. A portfolio will show samples of your work. Even if you have never had photographs published or publicly displayed, you can start a portfolio of your best work and then add onto it if you win photography contests or start receiving paid work.

- How to Get Jobs

As we mentioned, building a portfolio is the first step in submitting your work for pay but when it comes right down to it, it’s the quality of the photo that will determine if you get paid for it. Some people have more of a natural talent for taking great pictures than others but it is a skill that anyone can learn. There are schools dedicated to the art of photography and you can even get a degree in it. If you are just getting started, you can look into classes provided by your local community center or community college. Some cities have photography groups that meet to share photos and tips. There are also many groups online dedicated to photography and freelance photography.

You need to view as many famous photographs as possible. Take a look at what is getting published and compare it to your own photos. This allows you to compare and learn from other’s work. It takes more than just point and shoot to get a great photo. You need to learn about focus, lighting, colors and backgrounds and much more.

Once you start learning about photography and creating a portfolio, you can start submitting your photos to contests and magazines. Get a list of photography markets and start submitting to ones that accept your type of photos. Don’t expect to make it to the big times right away. Few people actually achieve this but you can start small and eventually make your way into a nice living from freelance photography.

Looking for information about Photography? Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com/
'ASA Photography' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Photography! Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

Second Annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest

2009-05-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

National Geographic magazine has long-represented the "Ultimate" in photography for professional and amateur photographers. Now, through the second annual "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest," photographers from coast-to-coast will again have the chance to have their photograph grace the pages of the magazine in an ad for Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. The winner will also be awarded a trip of a lifetime -- a National Geographic Expedition for two to the Galapagos Islands.

Beginning today through Tuesday, June 30, aspiring photographers can visit www.nationalgeographic.com/lithium to enter a photo in one of six thematic categories: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people and cultures, weather and inspiration/Keep Going(r). Whether you are a digital photography novice, a proud picture-taking mom or a long-time photo enthusiast, all skill levels are encouraged to enter.

"You don't have to be a professional or have professional equipment to take the perfect photo," said National Geographic photographer and contest judge Jim Richardson. "I've seen a lot of great pictures that were taken with perfectly ordinary digital cameras, just because the photographer happened to be in the right place at the right moment."

After the entry period closes, Richardson will review all of the entries and select two finalists in each category. Then, starting on Aug. 14 and extending through Sept. 15, Americans will be asked to go online and review each of the Category Finalists and vote for their favorite in each category. Once the Category Winners are determined, Richardson will help choose a Grand Prize Winner, who will be announced on or about Oct. 15.

Visitors to the Web site can also take advantage of a number of "photographer-friendly" features including a list of photo tips developed by Richardson. They can also submit photography questions to Richardson who will provide the answers and respond when he is in between travels.

Picture Yourself on Maui at the 2009 Maui Photo Festival and Workshops

2009-05-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

Digital photography has changed everything. The instant feedback in the camera and the creative flexibility of the digital darkroom have spawned a medium with limitless educational potential. Thousands of digital photographers -- novice to pro -- share a passion and a desire to take their skills to the next level. The 2009 Maui Photo Festival and Workshops will take them there.

The Maui Photo Festival and Workshops will bring world-class pro photographers to one of the world's most photogenic destinations: Maui. This event is scheduled for September 16-20, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa on Kaanapali Beach. The event presents a blend of classroom sessions, location shoots, real-world assignments and hands-on photo excursions led by professional photographers. Organizers plan a series of event-long photo competitions for both amateurs and pros. Each evening at the MPF&W's Paradise Cinema (an outdoor big-screen theater on Kaanapali Beach), attendees will view the images and hear the stories of presenting photographers; learn the latest digital darkroom techniques from the sponsors; and check out the images shot that day and entered into competition. Complete details (and online registration) are available at the Maui Photo Festival website.

Presenters for this Maui Photo Festival & Workshops include Canon Explorers of Light Jack Reznicki, Rick Sammon and Eddie Tapp; former aerial combat photographers Stacy Pearsall and Andy Dunaway; award-winning portrait photographer Judy Host; Senior Creative Director at Adobe Systems Incorporated Russell Preston Brown and Adobe Senior Digital Imaging Evangelist Julianne Kost; international fine art photographer and founder of the Pacific Center of Photography, Michael Gilbert; Maui's own fine art photographer Randy Jay Braun; advertising, fashion and architectural photographer Lou Freeman; commercial, editorial and fine art photographer Tony Novak-Clifford; celebrity portrait photographer David Rose; Waimea Bay shorebreak surfing pioneer and photographer Clark Little; international underwater photographer David Fleetham of Hawaii; and more to come. The most up-to-date listing of presenters can be found at the Maui Photo Festival Website.

This sort of festival could happen anywhere. That's why the organizers intend to have Maui be just as big a star as the presenting pros. Each day will start with optional golden-hour excursions to some of the most beautiful landscapes and seascapes in the world -- including a trip to the top of a volcano -- to shoot some of the most spectacular sunrises.

The morning keynote presentations, in the Monarchy Ballroom, are meant to inspire. Then we'll break out into three tracks -- Digital Photography Basic Training, Prosumer to Pro, and The Digital Darkroom -- for a series of three one-hour morning classroom sessions.

Extended afternoon sessions will allow time for demonstrations and hands-on opportunities as well as optional excursions: Underwater photographers will take attendees to explore Maui's reefs; local ocean-going catamarans will pick attendees up from the beach to shoot Maui from the sea; or for the fearless, hop aboard a helicopter with a former aerial combat photographer and get a doors-off island photo tour -- including a rooftop landing at the Hyatt -- for the ultimate photo adventure.

But organizers warn that for this first festival, attendance is limited to 350 photographer attendees. The four-day festival registration fee of $695 includes an opening reception with pupu (appetizers) and no-host cocktails; three full days of morning keynotes, classroom sessions, and extended afternoon sessions; three more evenings in our outdoor Paradise Cinema on Kaanapali Beach, and a special Sunday wrap-up session. (Check the website for early registration discounts.) Registered attendees will also be able to choose from a list of optional golden-hour and afternoon excursions.

2009 Event Sponsors include: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Canon, Epson, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Graphic Authority, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the County of Maui.

For complete information, including a list of presenting professionals, go to the Maui Photo Festival Website. The Hyatt Regency Maui is offering special Maui Photo Festival room rate (that is too low to publish). Sign up for the email newsletter on the Maui Photo Festival & Workshops website to find out the attendee room rate at the Hyatt, special discounts, and when new presenters or excursions are added. For more information call (808) 283-8438.

Professional Photographers Can Now Gain Customers From Around the World

2009-05-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

A photographer's life is a busy one. Before they know it, the open schedule that they once had is far behind them, leaving no time to handle the specifics of printing and shipping. But with the help of Nations Photo Lab's imageQuix image hosting and online ordering service, this problem can be solved at the drop of a hat.

Nations Photo Lab's imageQuix allows photographers to become a one stop shop with online proofing and easy ordering for their customers. With the imageQuix software and a pay as you go system, photographers simply shoot an event, upload the images to their custom shopping cart, alert their event attendees and watch as the orders come streaming in.

The best part is the order fulfillment is taken care of by Nations Photo Lab. There are many great options included in Nations Photo Lab's version of imageQuix; such as the photographer can choose his or her level of involvement with the process. They can choose whether they want to be in Full Control, where all orders can be reviewed by them, before they are placed to NPL or they have the option of Full Service, where all orders bypass the photographer completely and head straight to NPL for printing and shipping.

Nations Photo Lab's imageQuix is a perfect solution for photographers seeking simplification for their business and an added revenue stream. In today's world- who wouldn't like that combo? Visit http://www.nationsphotolab.com/image_hosting.htm for details or to get started using this online photo hosting service.

Photography Information About Freelance Photographers by Bobby D Strunk

2009-05-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

I thought that I could share some photography information about freelance photography. The life style of a freelance photographer can be a dream come true for a lot of photographers. You have the luxury of working for yourself and you get to pick your own hours, plus you get to photograph what you have a passion for. With the right photography information just about anybody that has the desire to get paid to take photos can do so.

One way that someone could get started in freelance photography is to start out part-time. A lot of photographers begin this way. When you start to make money with your photography you should reinvest some of your earnings back into your business. You may be needing new equipment or more knowledge about freelance photography. Any investment that you would make should increase your profits considerably. There is always something new to learn in any photography, I think that for this reason so many people are drawn to freelance photography.

One week you may be shooting photos for your stock photography and the next week you can be shooting a wedding. You could even be taking some pictures for a magazine or travel publication.
Freelance photographers are simply photographers that are self-employed. They create images that are sold as individual images or as collections. The photographer will sell there work to publications, individuals or organizations.

Freelance photographers are usually people that choose to work independently, also these people are people that are creative in nature and they have the ability to capture unique moments and expressions with there camera.

One of the most important tools of the freelance photographer is there portfolio. The portfolio is almost as important as the camera. This is how people will see your work and decide if you are the photographer that they need for the type of photography they have in mind. Even if you have not sold any of your work you will need to get your portfolio together. Start out by putting your best work together and add to it as you go. You can find plenty of photography information that will show you how to put together an impressive portfolio.

Being able to start Shutterbug-Photobiz was a dream come true for me. I'm an internet marketer that can use my love for photography to make a very nice living for myself. Shutterbug-Photobiz has also giving me a great way to help others take hold of their future and live the life that they desire. You can visit at http://www.shutterbugphotobiz.com/ and enter our camera give-away and also get the free photography information that can help you get to where you want to be.

Top 10 Tips For Better Vacation Photos From Travel Writers and Photographers

2009-04-27T04:52:00.000-07:00

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world's largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to come up with the "Top 10″ tips to help travelers take better vacation photos.

"With digital cameras, it has never been easier or cheaper to take top quality vacation photos," states SATW president and broadcast travel journalist, Bea Broda. "However, there are still some things that travelers can do to help them come back with stunning images of their vacation," she said.

Listed in order of votes with comments from SATW writers and photographers, the "Top 10″ tips for better travel photos are:

1. Shoot photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the sun is overhead and the light is flat. Shooting in early morning and late afternoon will add more color and shadows to your photos, giving more definition to the subject.

"Although morning and late afternoon are considered the best light for making photographs, some exceptions apply. In the Caribbean, for instance, to capture the water at its most electric aquamarine, shoot the seascape from on high, preferably at noon."– Patricia Borns, maritime and travel writer/photographer

2. Move in close to your subject for impact (too far back and your photo can be too busy). Get close, and then get closer! Fill the frame with your subject.

"Use your camera to record details you would like to remember later such as street signs, place names and menus." — Shelly Steig, freelance writer and photographer

3. Don't shoot every photo at eyelevel. Don't be afraid to get low to the ground or climb up to get a better vantage point.

"Shooting a scene at other than eyelevel can add drama or perspective to an otherwise static setting. Even if you can't peer through the lens, hold your camera overhead or at waist level and experiment."– David Swanson, freelance travel writer/photographer

Carry a rubber mouse pad in your camera bag. It will make it easier on your knees and clothing whenever you kneel down for a low camera angle." — Michele & Tom Grimm, photographers and authors

4. Pay attention to details and distractions in the back of the photo or behind the heads of your subjects. Frequently, a telephone pole or tree is sticking up behind your subject. Move around until there are fewer distractions in the background.

"Don't rely on your zoom lens to compose your images. You have two feet. Move about for the best angle and composition." — Dennis Cox, travel photographer, director of Photo Explorer Tours

5. Shoot lots of photos and edit and erase at night. Digital space is cheap. Shoot in the highest res possible.

"Bracket your exposures and remember that if the light is low, you can increase your ISO (the equivalent of being able to change film speed) for every shot."– Catherine Watson, freelance travel writer

6. Always show a sense of place as to where you are. If in the tropics, frame the photo with palm trees; if in the mountains, frame it with pine trees.

"On cloudy, dreary days, try to include bright colors such as red (a person's jacket, an umbrella, a sign) in the photo, since reds, oranges, yellows and fuchsias can make a washed-out rainy scene pop with liveliness."– Susan Farlow, freelance travel writer

7. Shoot important subjects from several different angles and vantage points and with different lens and at different exposures. Take an overall wide shot, a medium range shot and a close up detail shot. Check your photos on site to make sure you have your shot.

"When shooting with a slow shutter speed and no tripod, shoot three quick frames in a row, making a better chance one will come out sharp." — Michael Ventura, freelance travel photographer

"Remember to shoot verticals as well as horizontal shots. Verticals work best for covers or full single pages." — Susan Farlow, freelance travel writer

8. Wait before you click! Wait for the clouds to clear, the truck to move away from the front of the cathedral or other distractions to pass.

"Look around you and see what's happening. If a child with a red balloon is coming around the corner, wait until she runs into your frame."– Mary Love, freelance travel photographer and writer

9. Put local people in your photos. Ask permission first and try not to pose them. Put people in your photos to give a sense of size and scale.

"Learn the phrase for ‘Smile, please' in the language of the place where you are traveling, and smile before, during and after you click the shutter." — Maxine Cass, freelance travel photographer

"After photographing a local, turn your digital camera around and show the image to your subject. Everybody is happy to see what a great photo you just took." — Annette Thompson, associate travel and livings editor, Southern Living

10. Use fill-flash, even outdoors, to "fill-in" shadows.

"Sometimes you don't have the option of waiting for the right light. The fill flash will light up a person's face and remove shadows when the sun is overhead."– Laurie D. Borman, editorial director, Rand McNally
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is a non-profit professional association that works to promote responsible travel journalism and to provide professional support for its members, including travel journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media, film lecturers, television and film producers, and public relations representatives from the travel industry.

For more information on the Society of American Travel Writers, visit http://www.satw.org/

Free SEO Toolkit for Photographers

2009-04-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

PhotoShelter today released the first comprehensive, free guide to getting photography websites listed on search engines and achieving top results with search engine optimization (SEO). The PhotoShelter SEO Toolkit is essential internet marketing guidance for serious photographers looking to grow their businesses online. It can be used by photographers to understand, plan, and carry out a complete SEO effort. The toolkit can be requested here: http://pa.photoshelter.com/mkt/seo-kit-for-photographers. PhotoShelter also today released an SEO Grader tool - an exclusive feature that scans photographers' websites and rates their progress along 30+ factors within PhotoShelter that can be customized to improve search engine rankings.

The free PhotoShelter SEO Toolkit includes several multimedia components. The primary content is PhotoShelter's SEO Cookbook - a 30-page, step-by-step e-book covering every tactic, on and off the photographer's web page, that can be employed to garner better search engine results. The Toolkit also includes video tutorials and downloadable worksheets to assist photographers in optimizing their websites. No technical experience is required to benefit from the expert advice assembled in the Toolkit.

Photography Workflow - Pre-Production For New Photographers by Murray Edwards

2009-04-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

Okay - you have decided to do some work as a stock photographer. We have talked about what you believe to be a good topic or specialization, compared Royalty-Free versus Rights-Managed licensing and discussed the proper releases that may be required. Now let's talk about your workflow. We will need to address both pre and post production, so let's get started.

Pre-Production - "Be prepared" is the Boy Scouts motto, so you should be prepared for whatever might throw you a curve while performing a photo shoot. In many cases, as a freelance stock photographer, you will be shooting on spec, so make sure that you have camera equipment in your vehicle at all times. You never know when a situation will arise that creates an opportunity for a unique image, it would be a shame to miss it. Once traveling in central Alabama, a F3 tornado hit 5 miles from my location. I was one of the first photojournalist to capture the aftermath. Many of those images, were used by area news agencies and three were licensed and published in textbooks.

Here is an idea of the equipment I carry on a normal road trip: Three digital bodies, four lenses of various sizes, flash, batteries, ten compact flash memory modules, rain suit, tripod, monopod, batteries, protective rain shields for gear, gps, light meter, cleaning kit, batteries, releases, portable hard drive and a laptop. By the way, did I mention batteries? You can never have enough batteries. I would also suggest that you get insurance, some homeowners policies may cover your equipment, however, there are companies that will provide policies that not only protect you against thief, they will also cover damage to gear.

Now you are ready to go, you've got camera in hand, selected the correct white balance and exposure and you are ready to make that first shot. Here is your first decision what format do you shoot? RAW, JPEG or TIFF - make this decision wisely, for this will determine how the post-production proceeds once you get back to the comfort of home or hotel. RAW is the natural format used by each camera manufacturer and will provide the most image information. You will not be able to store as many images per module, but the additional benefits it provides in post-production far out way any drawbacks. Everyone is familiar with JPEGs and in most cases this is the format of choice for amateurs, since nearly any image viewer allows you see what you shot without any conversion. You will be able to shoot and store many more images per module, but image quality will suffer as you save and re-save the image in post. The third most poplar format is TIFF. Like RAW, the TIFF format provides a much larger file, so once again, the image count per memory module will be reduced, however TIFF is a loss-less format, good benefits when you start working with the image, but as in JPEG you will lose some adjustment freedoms that you get in shooting RAW.

So when it really counts, shoot RAW, if you are just shooting for practice or experimenting, the JPEG format will work fine.

I'm going to make an assumption here. Most people starting out do not have more than one camera and that is the case, I would like to make a suggestion. Make sure you have numerous memory modules with you. They have gotten rather affordable, so the out of pocket expense will not be to great. Here's where I'm gong with this. When on a shoot, I always have two completely outfitted cameras and will take similar images of the same subject on both cameras. Why? As reliable as these modules are, they do fail. If you have everything on one module, then you have lost all the work you have put in for that project. If you have multiple modules, then you can split your work across multiple chips, thus protecting all that hard work. It only takes a moment to do a switch out and it could save you pain, agony and money should a failure occur. Just keep track of your, naming nomenclature when you transfer the files over to your system, so you won't overwrite an image.

What do you now that you have taken all these photographs? We will discuss this in the next article.

Murray Edwards is a freelance photojournalist covering the Southern United States.
Website: http://www.freelancephotog.com/
Portfolio: http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/murrayed

ASMP Provides Photographers with Free Education Resource

2009-04-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Eugene H. Mopsik, Executive Director of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) announced that the association has developed new education tools for the industry which are now available free of charge. All interested photographers now have access to the ASMP daily blog as well as the popular and acclaimed Strictly Business 2 series covering topics such as copyright, pricing, negotiating, and building a photography business. ASMP, the premier trade association with more than 7,000 photographers who create images primarily for publication, is a leader in providing business education for professional photographers.

According to Mopsik, "ASMP has created these resources to provide a forum for training in critically important skills and fostering new ideas. Our goal is to continue to support the needs of photographers at all career stages, and to build an informed and savvy professional photography community."

"We are very excited to be able to present videos on topics which are vital to photographers," said Susan Carr, ASMP Education Coordinator. "In addition, we will have featured daily blog posts and links to relevant on-line resources. Our future plans include instructional podcasts and a calendar of ASMP's programs - making this the 'go to' business resource for photographers."

Contributors to the video lecture series include ASMP members Richard Kelly, Judy Herrmann, Blake Discher, Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua and Carr. The videos also have interviews with preeminent member photographers Barbara Bordnick, Paul Elledge, Steve Grubman, Chase Jarvis, Lou Jones, and Paul Lerner. The videos can be viewed at www.ASMP.org/strictlybusiness.

Clive Barker masters another creative medium… Photography

2009-04-19T05:07:00.000-07:00

Visionary. Fantasist. Author. Poet. Painter. Photographer. No one word is adequate to describe Clive Barker, who for more than twenty-five years has expanded the reaches of human imagination as a novelist, director, screenwriter, dramatist and artist.

An inveterate seeker, Barker traverses between styles with ease, from lucid dreamscapes to visceral horror to existential drama to pan-sexual erotica. Barker also has a hand in a range of projects that reflect his grasp of the creative potential in contemporary media. Some arise from his own literary terrain; others are evolving out of his uniquely progressive production company Seraphim Films, whose most recent release, The Midnight Meat Train, garnered high praise from fans and critics alike.

Barker's photography combines narrative imagery, symbolism of ancient and modern cultures, eroticism, religious iconography, vibrant color and dramatic lighting. He demonstrates his intelligence and talent in creating work that is provocative, disturbing, erotic and titillating. Few will be able to view these images and not be stirred – some may be offended, some provoked, some stimulated and others frightened. But for those captivated few that are capable of looking deep into each image and even deeper into themselves, they will discover Barker's wicked genius, unique and original vision of man.

Barker shot 60,000 photographs for a series of books and various media all celebrating the nude male; his vision putting a fantastical edge into the images, transporting his subjects (Barker abhors the word 'model') into a world of dreamscapes and demons. The first volume is to be called Imagining Man. A large exhibition in Los Angeles, featuring hundreds of Barker's photographs, is planned for the autumn of 2009.

Four images were recently previewed at the 10th anniversary show Dirty Detroit an international erotic art exhibition last month. The photographs sold out. View Clive Barker's photos.

ABOUT CLIVE BARKER

Barker's past achievements are as eclectic as his current slate. In 1998 he executive produced Bill Condon's God's and Monster's, which garnered three Academy Award nominations, wining the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The following year, Barker joined such illustrious authors as Gabriel Marquez, Annie Dillard and Aldous Huxley when his collection of literary works was put into the Perennial line at HarperCollins Publishers. At the same time, HarperCollins published The Essential Clive Barker, a seven hundred-page anthology of selected fiction, with an introduction by Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City).

At its core, Barker's work has always shown an unswerving commitment to spinning a good yarn. He began his odyssey in the London theatre; scripting original plays for the nomadic theatre group he founded, The Dog Company. These works include "The History of the Devil," "Frankenstein in Love" and "Crazyface," and were published in two compendiums entitled Incarnations and Forms of Heaven. They still consistently appear in productions, usually by non-profit or university companies, all over the world. [CONT]

Realizing that a career in writing highly imaginative but immensely challenging plays wasn't going to support
him, Barker turned his hand to writing intensely visual horror stories. They were published in six volumes, and their contents have provided the raw material for several immensely popular movies, including The Midnight Meat Train, Candyman, and the soon-to-be-released Dread.

In 1987, Barker took on a whole new challenge by adopting his novella The Hellbound Heart and turning it into a film he could make for a tiny sum of money. It was called Hellraiser, and it was to become a cult classic, spawning eight sequels, several lines of comic books, and an array of merchandise which elevated the demonic torturer Pinhead to a figure now recognized worldwide. It was followed in 1990 by Nightbreed, which Barker adapted and directed from his novella "Cabal." Here, in a prophetic reworking of horror's conventions, Barker turned the monsters into tragic outcasts, prefiguring the same devices later used by Tim Burton and those paid homage to his style.

But it was his debut novel, The Damnation Game – a modern reworking of the Faust myth – that really put Barker on the literary map and widened his growing international audience, bridging the gap between popular genre writing and the work of British literary figures, such as J.G. Ballard, who was, with Stephen King, an early champion of Barker's taboo-busting, sexy, yet sophisticated and electrifying prose.

As a writer, Barker persisted in defying expectation winning a new generation of fans with such best-selling fantasies as: Weaveworld, Imajica, Everville; The Thief of Always; Sacrament, and Galilee, and Coldheart Canyon. The first in his most ambitious project to date -- the Abarat series -- was published in October 2002, to resounding critical acclaim, and is currently published in 42 languages. A five-volume series, Abarat will eventually be a million-word journey into the fantastical with over one thousand oil paintings by the author. Next on the Abarat horizon is Abarat III: Absolute Midnight, waiting to delight readers across the world in 2010.

As much a visualist as a wordsmith, Barker frequently turns to the canvas to fuel his imagination. He has had hugely successful exhibitions across America, and his neo-expressionist paintings have been showcased in three large format books: Clive Barker, Illustrator, volumes I & II, and Visions of Heaven and Hell.

What gives Barker's work its strength bringing audiences across the world back to his alchemical cosmos over and over again is his passion: for colour, for words, for life; and his belief in the collective unconscious, its power to inspire, terrify and ultimately heal.

Copyright Registry Benefits ASMP Members

2009-04-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Copyright Registry will provide free upgraded participation in the registry for members in good standing of the The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP).

ASMP members can use The Copyright Registry at C-Registry.us to display their contact information, to link each image to its official registration at the U.S. Copyright Office, and to connect potential licensors to the e-commerce or licensing process of the photographer or their agent for each image. The registry also locates online uses of duplicates of each photographer’s images.

With a single click of a browser bookmark, The Copyright Registry enables users to find the copyright owner of images and other content from any web site, regardless of language. This is useful for publishers and other users who want to do a reasonable search for the copyright owner of content. The Copyright Registry reduces the risk that a photograph might be mistaken for an “orphaned work”, which is a creative work for which the creator or copyright holder might be unknown or known, but who cannot be located. By using The Copyright Registry to find owners of images that are thought to be orphaned, users create sales leads for creators and owners who have identified their copyright claim in The Copyright Registry.

At C-Registry.us, photographers can also add the Veripixel copyright notice to their images, a visible mark that announces that an image is copyrighted and enables a link to information in The Copyright Registry.

This free upgrade for ASMP members, which includes the ability to prevent changes by locking records and to access bulk user functions, can be initiated from within the members only login area at ASMP.org. Founded in 1944, ASMP is the leader in promoting photographers' rights, providing education in better business practices, producing business publications for photographers, and helping to connect purchasers with professional photographers. ASMP has 39 chapters across the country and more than 7,000 members, including many of the world's foremost photographers.

The Copyright Registry launched its beta web site in 2008 in anticipation of passage of an Orphan Works Act by the U.S. Congress. The registry provides easy public access to ownership claims by creators and rights holders of specific creative works, as well as general advocacy and education on the importance of copyright.

Destination Halifax Launches Halifax, Nova Scotia Photo Contest

2009-04-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

A perfect moment in Halifax, Nova Scotia, captured in a photograph, could lead to many more photo opportunities -- in the form of a $2,500 vacation package prize. From HH the fall colours in Point Pleasant Park to romantic sail around the Halifax Harbour or an outdoor concert on Citadel Hill, perfect moments abound in this beautiful destination.

Destination Halifax launched its year-long Perfect Day Photo Contest, and the grand prize is a fully-customized and personalized Halifax vacation package. Favourite snapshots representing a special day or moment in Halifax may be uploaded to the contest website. Finalists will be chosen monthly by a panel of judges, with first, second and third prizes awarded quarterly. The grand prize will be drawn on March 31, 2010. Photos may be submitted at http://aperfectday.destinationhalifax.com/.

The Perfect Day Photo Contest launch coincides with Destination Halifax's incorporation of social media tools into its marketing mix, starting with a Facebook page for Halifax. The Halifax facebook page allows fans to post their own videos and photos, and will include links to the Perfect Day Photo Contest as well as information on quarterly winners and new finalist photos. The winning photos will be featured on the Facebook page, and the Destination Halifax website as e-postcards.

For more information about Destination Halifax or the Perfect Day Photo Contest, visit http://www.destinationhalifax.com/.

UNCCD International Photo Contest Seeking Entries

2009-04-13T04:46:00.000-07:00

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCDD) has issued a call for photographers to participate in the Second UNCCD International Photo Contest – part of a global effort to raise awareness about the issues of land degradation and desertification in drylands, and their social consequences.

“Without proper action, both in developing and developed countries, some 50 million people could be displaced by desertification and land degradation within the next 10 years,” UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja warned at an international conference on these issues late last year.

UNCCD works with other UN agencies, scientists, non-governmental organizations, civil society and local communities – as well as the governments of the 193 parties to the Convention – to prevent and reverse the encroachment of deserts in once-fertile regions, and to mitigate the effects of drought.

Contest rules and guidelines

To highlight the urgent need for action, UNCCD’s photo contest seeks images that depict the efforts of people conserving soil, land or water in drylands, which cover some 40 percent of the world’s land surface and in which nearly 2 billion people live. Photos can also illustrate the relationship between affected communities and ecosystems in these areas.

The contest jury includes, among others, Mali’s Minister for the Promotion of Women, Youth and Family, Maïga Sina Damba; world-renowned photographer Michael Martin; National Geographic Germany editor Jürgen Nakoff; and French environmentalist Nicolas Hulot.

The first-prize winner will receive a prize of 1,500 euros and will be invited to participate in an award ceremony during the UNCCD’s Convention of the Parties, to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in late September. The second- and third-prize winning contestants will receive 1,000 and 500 euros, respectively.

Photos should be submitted by e-mail by 17 June 2009, the World Day to Combat Desertification. Click here for complete contest rules and submission guidelines.

Renowned Photographer to Conduct Free Wedding Photography Webinar

2009-04-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, announces a free webinar titled "Fashionable Wedding Photography: Roundtable with Claudio Basso." Part of the company's Bogen Café series of free instructional webinars, the seminar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, April 17th. Seasoned fashion photographer Claudio Basso and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging's Metz and Gossen Product Manager, will discuss new techniques and what photographers need to know when it comes to capturing stunning and fashionable wedding photographs.

Internationally renowned in the fashion-photography industry, Claudio Basso's work has appeared in magazines including American and Italian Vogue, New York Woman, French Elle, Vanity, and Grazia. Basso's remarkable images have also been featured in high-fashion catalogues, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bonwitt Teller. With over 20 years of experience, Basso currently shares his talents and knowledge with others as the primary trainer for Renovance.tv (http://www.Renovance.tv).

Topics for Discussion Include:
-- The importance of understanding the concept of fashion and how it is
created

-- Making the most of one's environment

-- Avoiding the "cheesy" image

-- What is "Fashion Flair" and how to successfully add that style to your
photography

Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive benefits, including one-on-one interaction with the guest speaker, and will be automatically entered in a chance to win one of three Metz 45 CL-4 Digital Handle Mount Flashes, each valued at $474. Winners will be announced at the end of the webinar, so participants must attend the event in its entirety to be eligible to win. A free recorded version of the webinar will also be available to registered participants within 24 hours of the event. Winners must be US residents.

To register for the free Bogen Café webinar and for additional information, please visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/webinar/.

Additional information about the Bogen Café as well upcoming webinars can be found at http://www.bogencafe.us/.

Adobe Announces Free Lightroom and Photoshop CS4 eSeminars for Professional Photographers

2009-04-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Adobe has announced a series of free online seminars for professional photographers who want to learn more about Adobe Lightroom 2 and Photoshop® CS4. In these eSeminars you learn from Adobe software experts how to use Lightroom to create amazing results from every shoot, the advantages and new features found in Photoshop® CS4 and how they can significantly enhance productivity, and how using the two applications together for the ultimate in flexibility.

Getting started with Adobe® Photoshop Lightroom® 2

Thursday, April 9, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Thursday, May 7, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Learn more ways to pursue your passion for Photography with Lightroom 2 software. In this demonstration you’ll how to use Lightroom to create amazing results from every shot and also import, manage and share your photographs using a simple, intuitive and yet powerful tool

Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 for photography

Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Learn about the top 10 NEW features relevant to Photographers in Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 software. This demonstration will highlight the more intuitive user experience, greater editing freedom, and significant productivity enhancements included in Photoshop® CS4 that help you achieve desired effects more efficiently.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 + Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 – The pro photo solution

Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Learn how Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2 software work together so you can efficiently manage thousands of images. In this session discover how using Lightroom 2 for developing images, together with Adobe Photoshop CS4 for retouching, provide digital photographers with the complete and essential photography software toolkit. Adobe’s product experts will showcase a complete software solution for importing, processing, managing, and showcasing your images, as well as pixel-level editing and compositing. Register now.

This series is designed for professional photographers and photography enthusiasts.

What Do You Need to Participate?
Online live seminars are scheduled events simulcast over the web via Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro. You'll need a computer with a browser, Adobe Flash player and Internet connection. Voice-Over IP will broadcast over your computer if you have audio. Alternatively, audio is available via telephone. Access details will be provided once you register.

To register you need your Adobe.com membership login and password. If you need to create a membership, or do not remember your login and password, please go to the Adobe.com membership page.

Freelance Photography - Making Your Hobby Pay by Steve L Thompson

2009-04-05T05:12:00.000-07:00

Freelance photography is an exciting way to make a living. Are you passionate about photography? Do you take your camera everywhere you go and never miss an opportunity to take a picture? Are you proud of your photographs?

If the answer is yes, and you possess some skill at camera work , then you probably have what it takes to do well in freelance photography .

Many people successfully turn their hobby into a thriving full time business, or simply make a lot of extra cash doing something they would be doing anyway!

Photography is a good example of this, and if it is your hobby and passion, then there are numerous opportunities out there for you to pursue. If you have the motivation, this is an area that has plenty of room for new talent.

From the very start of photography, people have always loved pictures, and almost any occasion has been an opportunity for a photographer to earn some extra money .

These days, cameras are so user friendly, you don't even have to be an expert, just able to read and follow directions. Of course, having some basic knowledge about composition, depth of field, aperture settings and shutter speeds etc, is always going to give you the edge over someone using a "point-and-shoot" camera. But this information is easily gained, and once learnt can be practiced without cost, thanks to the digital revolution.

But running a successful photography business is not just about taking pictures. You will also have to have other skills such as marketing, promotion, advertising, accountancy and possibly web design ! Again, these are all things that can be easily learnt at evening classes. Or maybe you have a friend or family member who could take on these jobs, while you concentrate on taking stunning photographs.

Established photographers in your area could have expensive studios and staff to finance. Chances are, you already own most of the equipment needed to start, and by keeping your overheads low, you can pass those savings on and still produce the quality images your customers will love.

Whether it's weddings, portraits, stock shots, greeting cards, newspapers, magazines or some other form of photography, the opportunities are endless for the person willing to have a go. You may even find a certain type of photography that you enjoy best, and stick to it almost exclusively.

Photography is here to stay, and the demand is growing - even during these tougher financial times.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve Thompson is a professional writer/photographer living in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon. He contributes to leading UK agencies, magazines and local businesses, as well as running a successful website http://www.focus-on-dartmoor-in-devon.com/Photography-basics.html

Photographer Turns Pixels into Nickels

2009-04-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Jim DeLillo a long time freelance photographer has turned to micro-payment stock photography to supplement his income. A fulltime Project Manager in the medical devices industry, DeLillo regularly uploads photos to iStockphoto.com . Each photo is inspected and if approved, is posted to his portfolio. There, the photos may be searched by keyword and if one of DeLillo's photos matches the need of a designer, it is downloaded for a few dollars. DeLillo gets a percentage of the sale.

While this may not sound like much, since 2004 DeLillo has uploaded over 1100 photos that have been downloaded nearly 10,000 times. DeLillo has chosen to be exclusive to iStock, upping his royalty percentage slightly.

To contribute to iStock you only need a camera and some basic knowledge of digital photography. Each contributor is required to pass a short quiz on digital photo quality. To be accepted, the photographer must submit a sample of three photos that undergo scrutiny by the inspectors. Approval does not guarantee that photos will be accepted, approved or for that matter, downloaded. The scrutiny continues, as every uploaded photo must meet strict standards.

"The real trick isn't producing pretty pictures, but pictures that sell...pictures that meet the needs of designers." says DeLillo "To that end, I look for stock situations in everyday life, and if I can't find it, I resort to setting up table-top studio shots, or asking friends, relatives, and aspiring models to pose." he continued.

Contributing photographers to iStock can make a supplemental part-time income, like DeLillo, or reach six-figures in a dedicated full-time, very competitive profession.

About Jim DeLillo
Jim DeLillo is a photographer that is an active, exclusive member of iStock.com, the fastest growing micro-stock company, owned by Getty images. His 20 years of experience includes international publications including Woman's World Magazine and many other daily, weekly, and monthly publications. His photojournalist, reality based, eclectic style provides a refreshing break from the stiffly posed studio shots.

For more information, visit Jim DeLillo Portfolio on iStockphoto.com

3 Ways to Create Content Easily & Quickly For Your Photography Blog by Rodney Washington

2009-04-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

You can hire a freelance writer to create the articles for you, try using a service like elance.com or guru.com to locate freelance writers that specialize in your subject matter.

1# Speak Your Articles:

Articles no longer have to be written, today, they can be spoken. Basically all you need to do is draft an outline of your article, speak in terms of bullet points that you wish to highlight and record yourself "speaking" your article.

You can use a service like AudioAcrobat.com that will allow you to record your voice for up to two hours. It's as simple as creating a voice mail message and the best thing it requires no more than a phone line and a message.

After your call is completed the service will email you a copy of the recording that you can then download and post it directly to your blog.

If you want a written transcript of your voice recording you can use a transcription service like eScriptionist.com. Just send your MP3 file that Audio Acrobat provides you and they'll produce a written transcript for about a $1.50 per minute.

So for example for a 15-minute conversation a transcription will cost you about $23 dollars. Now you have an audio recording and a written transcript for your blog visitors. Now you have a tangible product.

2# Video & Audio Content On The Fly:

For example, if you're a wedding photographer you could attend a bridal trade show. There you could interview a wedding gown designer, florist or cake decorator, wedding invitation designer for example, (be sure to ask permission first) record the interviews using a simple pocket video recorder.

(I recommend the Flip Video Mino Camcorder you can pick up one for under $200 through Amazon) or you can bring along a simple digital pocket voice recorder to conduct your interview. You can post then post these interviews directly to your blog.

Video Client Testimonials - if your face-to-face with your client ask them if you can conduct a quick & informal in person interview (testimonials are one of the best forms of promotion) again all you need is an inexpensive video recorder and an interested interviewee.

Audio Client Testimonials - if can't do a face-to-face interview you can ask for audio testimonials. All they need to do is to dial into your Audio Acrobat account and leave a personal message. You can then post the MP3 file to your blog.

3 # Create a slideshow montage of your images set to music

Video style montages create an ambience or mood for your prospects; let prospects see what you're capable of doing for them, think of 'visual storytelling'. A video montage can be put together with a video editing software like iMovie or it's equivalent for the PC platform -or- you can hire a professional video editor to do it for you.

Want another quick tip that will help you build your subscriber list fast?

Ask your blog visitors to register for your e-mail newsletter in exchange for a special MP3 recording and transcript. For example if you're a wedding photographer, you could combine your interviews together into a digital product that they can download. You should create a title for the product and give it away or offer it for sell.

If you use (and you should) a mailing list service just add an email subscriber form to your blog and invite visitors to sign up for list.

Just make sure that the recording is valuable and relevant to the needs of your readers. If the content you provide is useful they will gladly give you their email address in exchange for it.

As a bonus you now have permission-based system to contact your prospects about your offerings over and over again.

Your goal is to make your blog a one-stop shop for current news and information that you know prospects will need and appreciate.

And now I'd like to invite you to get instant access to my free 45 minute audio course and special report 5 Secrets To Running A Successful Photography Business That They Didn't Teach You In School when you visit http://photo-marketing-mentor.com/free You'll receive tips, tools, techniques and strategies to help you either get your photography business off the ground -or- increase your existing business by opening new markets today!

Now Open For Submission: New York Photo Awards

2009-03-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

The New York Photo Festival has launched the New York Photo Awards 2009. The New York Photo Awards 2009 will honor talented photographers from all over the world whose exceptional work breaks new grounds visually, intellectually and aesthetically. The Awards will give these visual artists the opportunity to reach key decision makers in the photographic community and the editorial, fine art and commercial worlds. Submissions will be accepted starting March 2nd through May 1st, 2009. The Award winners will be announced in May during the second edition of the Festival.

The New York Photo Awards Ceremony is scheduled to return to St. Ann’s Warehouse on Friday, May 15th 2009, starting at 8pm. The work of the Award Winners and Honorable Mentions will be presented on the big screen before a packed audience of industry luminaries. Fourteen major awards will be publicly presented to the Award Winners, and twenty-eight artists will receive Honorable Mention certificates.

All Award Winners and Honorable Mentions will enjoy unprecedented visibility for their work. In addition to the New York Photo Awards ceremony, their work will be showcased on the New York Photo Festival website, and published in leading photo magazines. These artists are also automatically eligible for inclusion in a beautifully produced New York Photo Awards Annual, available for purchase online through the New York Photo Festival website.

Only works produced or published between January 1, 2008 and April 15, 2009 are eligible for submission. Please visit http://www.newyorkphotoawards.com/ for more information on how to submit.

The Smithsonian Photography Wants to Know: How Does Photography Change Our Lives?

2009-03-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

The Smithsonian Photography Initiative invites the public to participate in an unprecedented online dialogue about the impact of photography on history, culture and everyday lives. Visitors to "click! photography changes everything" at http://click.si.edu/ are encouraged to submit their photos and stories about the many ways photos shape experience, knowledge and memory.

The Smithsonian Photography Initiative recently started selecting stories and images submitted by site visitors on an ongoing basis to be regularly uploaded to the "click!" Web site. In addition, on a bi-monthly schedule, it is issuing more specific and theme-based calls for visitor-contributed content. New images and stories will join an archive of written and filmed commentaries that the Initiative began collecting last year from invited experts investigating how photography has changed the progress and practice of their diverse fields—from anthropology to astrophysics, from media to medicine, from philosophy to sports.

The Initiative is collecting and sharing images and narratives that shed light on how photography influences who people are, what people do and what people remember. Has a photograph been used to document property loss, inspire a hairstylist, sell a house, beat a traffic ticket or helped with the decision about where to go on vacation? Has a single photograph ever influenced what someone believes in or who someone loves? Visitors can go to http://click.si.edu/ and follow the easy steps to share their stories about the power of photography and to see images and read stories submitted by others.

General public entries will appear alongside those by invited experts such as Stewart Brand, founder and editor of the legendary Whole Earth Catalog, who understood how photography could change the way people viewed Earth and their life on it; Diane Granito, an adoption specialist and founder of the Heart Gallery, who explains how commissioning and exhibiting compelling photographic portraits of foster-care children helped the children find new families and homes; and Lauren Shakely, publisher at Clarkson Potter of a string of best-selling cookbooks, who describes how and why photography can change the kinds of food people crave.

"click!" also presents seven videos--available online, as downloadable podcasts and on YouTube--that feature Smithsonian curators, historians and scientists speaking about photography at the Institution. Visitors to the site can see and hear Lonnie Bunch, the director of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, explain the role photography plays in building a new museum about cultural identity. In another video, Lisa Stevens, curator of primates and pandas at the National Zoo's Department of Animal Programs, describes how photography, in addition to turning pandas into celebrities, spreads knowledge about little-known species, generates funds and raises public awareness of conservation issues.

At this transitional moment--as digital technology alters the form, content and transmission of photos--the goal of "click!" is to provide a unique opportunity and gathering place for experts and the public alike to reflect on the history, spread, practice and power of photography.

About "click! photography changes everything"

In March 2008, the Initiative launched "click! photography changes everything" as an interdisciplinary Web site. The goal of "click!" is to stimulate an unprecedented dialogue about the ways photography enables people to document and actively interact with the world. Later that year, the second phase of "click!" launched, inviting the public to actively participate in a dialogue about the role photos have played in history and their everyday lives, a dramatic alteration of the traditional one-way, curator-to-visitor dynamic.

Marvin Heiferman serves as creative consultant and curator of "click! photography changes everything." His vast experience organizing major exhibitions about photography and visual culture includes exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the International Center of Photography and the New Museum. "click!" is his first online exhibition project.

Support for "click! photography changes everything" has been provided by several private individuals and foundations, including the Comer Foundation, PhotoWings, The Henry Luce Foundation and the Trellis Fund. Night Kitchen Interactive of Philadelphia is the Smithsonian Photography Initiative's Web-design firm for http://click.si.edu/. Video Art Productions of Washington, D.C ., produced the videos for the Web site.

WomenInPhotography 2009 Juried Online Photo Competition

2009-03-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Women In Photography International welcomes photographs taken with any type of film or digital camera including any type of point and shoot camera including toy cameras such as, Lomography and Pinhole styled camera images. Submission may include scanned, manipulated black and white or color images including fine art, straight forward or using any creative software such as Adobe Photoshop to transform the image. Online JPG submission with no date restriction and ALL subject matter accepted.

The 2009 competition themes, Family Gatherings, will be juried by Audrey Jonckheer, Worldwide Pro Photographer Relations, Kodak, Landscapes by Sarah Leen, Senior Photo Editor, National Geographic Society and Self-Portraits by Jean Ferro, Photo Artist / President, WIPI. The deadline for the online submission is April 1st, midnight, PDT, Los Angeles. http://www.womeninphotography.org/

Each juror will choose three placement prize winning photographs and ten Honorable Mention selections. Each category 1st Place winner will receive: a $500 cash, the Kodak Zi6 stunning HD camcorder, a one year/full subscription of FreshLists.com industry contact lists, FotoQuote Pro 5 photo price quoting software by Cradoc and a Twelve image WIPI gallery presentation.

Second and Third Place winners will also receive a cash award and gallery presentation. All twelve plalcement winners will receive an A & I Photographic Digital Services Hard cover, self-publishing book The honorable mention photographs will also be included in a WIPI showcase gallery. Upon completion of Home page visibility thru December 2009, WPI galleries will continue to receive visibility when archived in the WIPI library exhibition listings.

WIPI continues it's tradition to honor women photographers worldwide with an online presence through competitions, galleries, feature stories and the Hire-a-WIPI Pro directory. WIPI Competition winners have received recognition in the arts through exposure at womeninphotography.org. The WIPI library is a key reference for collectors, curators, and researchers. Past competitions have opened the doors to opportunities for photographers seen on the Women In Photography International website. http://www.wipi.org/

Freelance Photography - You Just Got Your First Client, Now What? by Kelly Gammon

2009-03-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations! You have decided to go freelance with your photography and you just got your first call from a potential client. He's designing a print piece and needs some pictures. The prospective client got your number from a mutual friend and would like to talk to you about your services. How is tomorrow at 2pm? Great! Now what?

Where do you start? How much do you charge? Should you bill by the hour or charge a flat rate? What about a contract? What are you not even thinking of?

No problem. In this article, we'll cover some of the basics that will help you get through your first client meeting like a pro.

The main thing to keep in mind as you approach your first client meeting is: be professional. Be professional in your appearance and in your demeanor. Be organized and prepared. The client does not need to know that this is your first job. Do not lie or bluff about your experience, just be confident and professional.

OK, so what about the specifics of the job? The key here is to let the client do the talking. Ask the client for more details about the project, and then listen carefully as he responds. Find out what the client needs. Being very clear about the client's needs will be your key to completing the project successfully. What is his priority? Does he need a quick turnaround? Does he need a completely unique approach? Get very clear on what the client wants and needs.

Ask what the budget is. If he turns the question back on you without offering a number, say something to the effect of "I should be able to complete the project within your budget, so let's talk more about that." If the client has not specified a price, do not quote a price at the meeting. This is very important and bears repeating. Don't quote a price at the meeting. Your job at this point is to get as many specifics about the project as you can and then tell the client that you'll get back to him with a quote. If the budget is reasonable, you can say you're confident that you can work within his budget and that you'll get back to him. Be sure to tell him exactly when to expect your response and then get it to him the day before that.

If the budget seems too low, be ready to negotiate. What services can you offer within that budget? How could the project be scaled back to achieve the desired end result within the budget? Be creative.

At the same time, don't be afraid to walk away from the deal if it becomes apparent that the client wants you to work for free. Respect your time and the skills that you offer. If you are not getting what you believe is fair in the deal, simply say that the project does not appear to be a good fit, and that the client might be better served by someone else.

Next, develop a project agreement. A project agreement simply documents who is going to do what and by when. Focus on the deliverables, expectations and timeframes.

There you have it. Your first client meeting in a nutshell. By the end of the meeting you want to have a very clear understanding of the project, at least a ballpark figure for the budget and a project agreement. The next step is to write up a quote and get it back to the client ahead of schedule.

So, once again congratulations! You've just taken a big step on your way to a career as a successful freelance photographer.

Interested in more tips on how to build a successful freelance career? Find more at http://www.gofreelancenow.com/

Breathe New Life into your Photography with these 12 Ansel Adams Quotes

2009-03-22T07:12:00.001-07:00

Guess what my calendar contains hanging on my kitchen wall? Each month has a breathtaking black and white landscape photograph that is the signature trademark of Ansel Adams. He was born on February 20, 1902 and became one of the world's most celebrated photographers. He employed unique techniques to capture various scenes of the American landscape. Let's celebrate the birth and life of this amazing American artist with these 12 Ansel Adams quotes.

1. "A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed."

2. "In my mind's eye, I visualize how a particular... sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice."

3. "It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment."

4. "Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit."

5. "Some photographers take reality... and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation."

6. "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

7. “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”

8. “No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”

9. "The quality of place, the reaction to immediate contact with earth and growing things that have a fugal relationship with mountains and sky, is essential to the integrity of our existence on this planet."

10. "I expect to retire to a fine-grained heaven where the temperatures are always consistent, where the images slide before ones eyes in a continual cascade of form and meaning."

11. "Life is your art. An open, aware heart is your camera. A oneness with your world is your film. Your bright eyes and easy smile is your museum."

12. "Ask yourself, 'Why am I seeing and feeling this? How am I growing? What am I learning?' Remember: Every coincidence is potentially meaningful. How high your awareness level is determines how much meaning you get from your world. Photography can teach you to improve your awareness level."

Hope you've been given a new perspective and even a little instruction on photography from one of the world's greatest artists. Are you inspired to grab your camera and get shooting after reading these 12 Ansel Adams quotes? Good luck!

For more inspirational quotes, check out the popular inspirational quotes section at Famous-Quotes-And-Quotations.com, a website that specializes in 'Top 10' lists of quotations in dozens of categories.
http://www.famous-quotes-and-quotations.com/inspirational-quote.html

Kodak Launches Sweepstakes to Award Photographers with Nature Photography Experience

2009-03-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

Eastman Kodak Company has launched a sweepstakes that will award ten exclusive Nature Photography experiences to participants who buy KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 (EKTAR 100) Film. Each winner can bring up to three guests to enjoy a package that includes a four-night stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. In addition, each winner will enjoy unique behind the scenes access to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and the Nature Conservancy's Disney Wilderness Preserve, and workshops with award-winning professional nature photographer Eddie Soloway.

"Kodak is excited to award nature photography experiences that are truly one of a kind," said Shona Mead, marketing director, Worldwide Film Capture Film, Photofinishing & Entertainment Group, Eastman Kodak Company. "For the commercial photographers and advanced amateurs who love EKTAR 100 Film's ability to capture stunning levels of detail in exceptionally vivid color, our Exclusive Nature Photography Experience is an incredible opportunity to put EKTAR 100 Film through its paces in a highly photogenic setting. We're thrilled to offer exclusive workshops with renowned professional photographer Eddie Soloway as part of this special experience."

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is a deluxe African Lodge-style resort set in a 33-acre wildlife preserve, featuring over 30 species of wildlife that roam amid three lush, tropical savannas. In addition to their stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, behind the scenes access to African wildlife, and photography workshops, winners will take part in an early-morning safari with Disney wildlife photographers, receive workshop guidance from Eddie Soloway and meet well-known Florida nature photographer Clyde Butcher. The package also includes round-trip domestic US flights for 4, airport transfers between the Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World Resort, a gift card valued at $200 and a supply of KODAK Film.

Anyone who purchases three rolls of 35mm or a 5-pack of 120 format KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 Color Film between February 17, 2009 and July 31, 2009 and mails in a proof of purchase will receive a $5 rebate and automatically be entered for a chance to win*. For more information and full terms & conditions of the sweepstakes, please visit www.kodak.com/go/ektarexperience.

Snapact PhotoTips Newsletter Program

2009-03-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Snapact PhotoTips Newsletter program is designed to offer information to photo enthusiasts that will include tips on how to use some of the features of digital cameras, better understand photography terminology, inform our readers on photo industry and social networking related news, and offer tips on how to use some of the features in the Snapact Photo Manager.

By contributing to PhotoTips, Snapact users can showcase their photography knowledge and skills, while further expanding their Snapact Online Community network. Although Snapact PhotoTips will be primarily providing information to our readers, it will also serve as a channel for Snapact users to request information regarding a PhotoTip that they would like to read and learn more about in future newsletters.

To join the Snapact PhotoTips Newsletter program, visit http://www.tecagora.com/.

To download your copy of the Snapact Photo Manager and register for your free Snapact online account, visit http://www.snapact.com/

Vertical Magazine Launches of Photo Contest - $500 Cash Prize

2009-03-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

MHM Publishing, publisher of Vertical Magazine and Vertical 911 Magazine, has launched the 2009 Vertical Photo Contest.

From March 15 to October 1, readers of Vertical and Vertical 911 are encouraged to submit their personal photos in any of three categories: Helicopters in Action, People and Helicopters, and Helicopters in the Field. The contest is open to any photographer -- amateur or professional -- who is at least 18 years of age.

"For the first time, readers of Vertical and Vertical 911 have the opportunity to take part in a Vertical photo contest," said Vertical's editor-in-chief, Mike Reyno. "We're looking for readers' photos that convey the essence of helicopter life. This competition is open to readers around the world — and is not only open to the civil helicopter sector, but to the military sector, too."

One grand-prize winner will receive a US$1,000 cash award and have his or her winning photograph published on the cover of the December-January issue of Vertical, in addition to receiving a two-year subscription to Vertical and Vertical 911 and a Vertical-branded jacket.

Three first-place winners -- one in each of the three categories -- will win a $500 cash award. Three second-place winners will receive a $250 cash award, and three third-place winners will receive a $100 cash award. Each winner will have their winning photo featured within the December-January issue of Vertical and will also receive a two-year subscription to Vertical and Vertical 911 and a Vertical-branded jacket.

Although there is no limit to the number of photos that can be entered, only original digital photos taken by the entrant will be considered. The entry fee is $25 for submission of up to five photos, plus an additional $5 for each subsequent photo.

Complete entry rules will be published at www.verticalmag.com/photocontest on or before March 15. Images must be high-resolution digital files, and may be uploaded through the Photo Contest web page, or mailed to the Vertical office on a CD or DVD. Images will not be accepted by email. All winners will be notified by November 1, 2009.

Find Photography Tutorials and News at MyShots.com

2009-03-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

www.myshots.com is an attractive and easy to use online photo community website which has a number of features that are fantastic for Photographers and those who are interested in photography. It is free to join and members can upload their images onto the site to share with friends, family, clients or other members.

The key differences between Myshots.com and other similar websites is that many of the subscribers are photographers and share a strong talent and passion for the art.

On Myshots.com also offers tutorials and news sections, which keeps up to date with current issues and new releases in the photography world. The forum section is a way for subscribers, professional and amateur to link up and communicate - here, questions, ideas, and thoughts can be shared with like minded people.

Members can also 'collect' photographs taken by other photographers, to keep as inspiration. Each image can have a description added to it, as well as keywords and so that photographers have control over the copyright of their work, they can add their own restrictions of usage. Registered users can also rate the photograph; therefore it's a way to get feedback and critique from other professionals.

Each subscriber gets their own home page which has their images in thumbnail form and personal details (as detailed or basic as they like). There is a personal blog area for members to document their photographic pursuits - it's a great way to get to know your peers.

Got Lights On Bikes Flickr Photo Contest

2009-03-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

OK, we all know how to ride a bike, use bike lights and work a camera. Here's your chance to take all three, do something creative and win free gear and maybe even a new singlespeed bike. All you have to do is enter.

Starting today, Princeton Tec's "Got Lights On Bikes" photo contest (http://www.princetontec.com/) gives you -the amateur bike-loving photog - the opportunity to put your skills to work. The catch: send us your best digital shots of anything involving lights on bikes. On the pavement, in traffic, on the trail, near the creek, outside the bagel shop, on the train, in the rain, near the beach ... it doesn't matter, you choose the medium - just make sure there are lights on the rig!

Finger twitching on the shutter button already?

There will be five categories that will be judged by the best manufacturers, riders, bike light fanatics and dirt bag peeps in the bike biz.

The categories are: Best Overall Lights On Bikes, Best Action, Best Lifestyle, Most Dramatic and Most Creative. The top three photogs will be chosen from each category and rewarded with killer gear from Crumpler, Ergon, Swobo, Princeton Tec and Urban Velo. The lensperson with the Best Overall image will take home a new Lager singlespeed bike from SE Bikes.

To get in, you need a Flickr account. If you don't have one, setting one up takes less time than putting on your underwear.

Upload your pics, drop them in our Group Pool at our Flickr page "Princeton Tec: Got Lights On Bikes Photo Contest," and write a brief description of your shot(s). Each image must be accompanied by photogs email address and the category you want your photo to be entered. Enter as many photos in the contest as you'd like and in as many categories as you'd like.

The contest runs through April 12 and winners will be contacted via email.

So get shootin!!

New Nikon DTOWN Weekly Show Featuring Photographer Scott Kelby

2009-03-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

Today, Scott Kelby, bestselling author, acclaimed photographer and leading Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) expert, launched the first Nikon DTOWN weekly show, featuring the coolest camera tips, photography techniques, accessories and news for Nikon's digital SLR cameras.

Nikon DTOWN, which can be viewed at http://www.nikondtown.com/ each Thursday and runs 10-12 minutes, is sponsored by Nikon(R) and produced by Kelby Training. With Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski, education and curriculum developer for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals as its hosts, Nikon DTOWN is a fresh approach to teaching camera tips and photographic techniques to today's digital photographers. No matter what skill level or interest, each episode covers a wide range of topics.

"My buddy Matt Kloskowski and I tried to create a show we'd want to watch ourselves, something we wouldn't want to miss every week. Today's Nikon cameras are so powerful with so many features that there are so many cool things you can do with them - we wanted to cover it all, plus offer tips and photography techniques Nikon D-Series owners can really use," said Scott Kelby.

Using Facebook Increases Photography Business

2009-03-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

A portrait artist from South Dakota harnessed the world's most powerful social networking tool and watched his business boom.

In search of new high school clients, Rod Evans ditched traditional direct mail for Facebook. The result: 70 new sessions and $100,000 in extra sales. He posted photographs of high school seniors to online photo albums and added students as "friends." His popularity on Facebook grew rapidly, eclipsing 1,000 friends within 6 weeks, creating buzz in local high schools. Evans had gone viral.

Now Evans shares his teen marketing strategies in a new video tutorial for photographers. It teaches portrait artists how to create targeted advertising, harness the viral power of Facebook to reach new audiences, and create a business presence. Rod guides new Facebook users through setting up their profile, group and business pages. He talks at length about his strategy, which includes effective Facebook etiquette. The 54-minute tutorial concludes with an overview of how Rod incorporates Facebook in his overall marketing strategy.

The video has received rave reviews in its first month of release from photographers who have already reaped the benefits of Evans' marketing strategy. The tutorial is available for immediate download at http://www.evanscreativetraining.com/ [Evans Creative Training].

USEF Accepting Photography Bids for 2009 North American Junior/Young Rider Championships

2009-02-22T05:34:00.000-08:00

The United States Equestrian Federation is now accepting bids from photographers who would like to be named "Official Photographers for the 2009 North American Junior/Young Rider Championships." The North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) is the only FEI Championship held annually in North America and showcases the very best Juniors and Young Riders on the North American continent. For the first time ever, NAJYRC will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY – which will be home to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The NAJYRC features the three Olympic disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping as well as the World Equestrian Games discipline of Reining. An official discipline-specific photographer will be named for each discipline.

To request an application form, please email photomanager@usef.org.

Best Pregnant Belly Photo Contest Seeking Entries

2009-02-22T05:31:00.000-08:00

Babygizmo.com is on a search for the best pregnant belly photo. The Web's most comprehensive baby product resource, BabyGizmo.com announced its Best Pregnant Belly Photo Contest. A picture of a fabulous (or even funny) belly could win mom a great Quinny Buzz 4 Complete Stroller Package.

"Spring is a busy time for moms-to-be and what better way to celebrate all these mamas but to throw a contest featuring the best part of their body - the fabulous pregnant belly!" said BabyGizmo.com Founder, Hollie Schultz. "Whether it's just a little bump or a big giant belly, we'd love to see it!"

The contest is open to photos of pregnant bellies. Winner will receive a Quinny Buzz 4 Complete Stroller Package consisting of the luxury stroller, Quinny Buzz 4, matching Quinny Dreami Bassinet, a Buzz Box, and Quinny Cup Holder.

Moms who wish to enter the contest can visit http://www.babygizmo.com/. Baby Gizmo judges will choose 10 finalists and post them in a Best Pregnant Belly Photo Gallery on BabyGizmo.com. Baby Gizmo visitors will then vote on the best photo to determine which mom will win the Quinny Buzz 4 Complete Stroller Package. The photo submission deadline is March 12, 2009. Online voting will take place March 16 - March 27, 2009 with the winner being announced March 30.

Fodor's Travel and Japan National Tourism Partner on Photo Contest

2009-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

Fodor's Travel and the Japan National Tourism Organization today announce a user photography contest, "Show Us Your Japan." Visitors to http://www.fodors.com/ can submit their favorite photos from a past trip to Japan, along with their stories, for a chance to win prizes including luggage from Timbuk2, Fodor's guides and the opportunity to have the winning photographs showcased on the website.

"Japan is a must-see destination, and I'm excited to see Japan's diversity reflected in the photos and first-hand stories from those who have recently visited Japan" said Tim Jarrell, Fodor's Publisher.

"Japan is a fabulous destination for photography fans" said Akihiro Obata of the Japan National Tourism Organization in New York. He added "Often travelers see what locals don't see. We can't wait to see what you found in the land of the rising sun!"

Photo submissions will be accepted at www.fodors.com/contest/japan through March 16, 2009. Fodor's has previously run contests for Florida, Costa Rica, Turkey, Israel and Alaska. Winning photos from these contests can be seen on http://www.fodors.com/.

WPD 2009 Professional Wedding Photo Contest Accepting Entries

2009-02-15T05:48:00.000-08:00

The WPD 2009 Professional Wedding Photo Contest is open to WPD members and outside professional wedding photographers alike. Contest finalists will be revealed to the public for voting and critique. The winners will be determined by voters. Points will be judged leaned towards creativity and concept. The $1,000 grand prize could be yours!

The previous WPD Wedding Photo Contest has received over 2,700 entries. Over 87,000 votes were analyzed to determine the winning selections. The WPD would like to thank the wedding photography community; your support has enabled the contest to thrive and evolve into a great success.

Contest Awards:

Top 10 Finalists: One-Year WPD Membership ($360 Value) - Top three winners and seven runner-up finalists will receive a full year of WPD membership or extension. Photographers must reside the operate their business within the United States or Canada to receive this reward.

1st Place: $1,000 Grand Prize

2nd Place: Adobe Photoshop CS4 (full), or Adobe Creative Suite CS4 (upgrade)

3rd Place: Seagate Black Armor 320G Hardware Encrypted External HD

Public Critique Commentator Award: The nature of the WPD wedding photo contest's public critique is to elevate the contestant's level of creativity via honest and constructive open feedback. The WPD Contest Commentator Award is given to the individual that provides the best and insightful critique. The winner will have a selection of Adobe Photoshop Plugins to choose from the following software vendors: onOne, Extensis, Alien Skin, and Zevrix.

Contest Timeline

3/15/2009- Contest submission closes.
3/16/2009 to 3/25/2009- Initial WPD pre-qualification selection.
3/26/2009 to 5/26/2009- Contest wedding photos open for public voting and critique.
6/8/2009- Public voting data is analyzed, and winners are announced.

Website contest rules

Annual Calendar Photo Contest Call for Entries

2009-02-15T05:46:00.001-08:00

Stop Pet Overpopulation Together (SPOT) is hosting its 4th Annual Pet Photo Contest in search of 100 cats and dogs for the 2010 calendar. All photos entered will be featured on http://www.spotusa.org/. The top 24 cats and dogs will win prizes and be highlighted as a calendar star of the month. 76 cats and dogs will be included throughout the calendar and in the 2010 marketing campaign.

Last year SPOT distributed 6,000 vouchers for discounted spay/neuter procedures with 66% redeemed in Pinellas County. In support of National Spay/Neuter Month, SPOT will celebrate the grand opening of its first clinic on February 19th at the corner of 43rd street and 62nd Avenue. Help SPOT make a difference in our Tampa Bay community by supporting the only no kill solution to pet overpopulation. Stop by SPOT’s grand opening event or for more info and to submit your contest photos visit www.SPOTusa.org.

Contest Details

Entry deadline: April 30th, 2009

Entry fee: $10 per photo, all proceeds go toward low cost spay/neuter programs

Smiles of Winter Photo Contest

2009-02-15T05:44:00.000-08:00

Smilebooks - the fun and easy way for people to turn their digital photos into professionally bound and printed photo books - announced today its Smiles of Winter Photo Contest.

Following the success of their Smiles of Summer contest, Dominic Brezinski, General Manager of CeWe Color said, "We received a number of requests for another contest. People love taking and sharing their favorite digital pictures and we share their enthusiasm. We look forward to receiving entries for our Smiles of Winter Photo Contest."

The Smiles of Winter Photo Contest invites individuals to enter their favorite shot of a person or pet having a blast this winter. The top prize is a $100 gift certificate with second and third prize winners receiving $50 gift certificates all good towards SmileBooks photo books.

There are a number of categories in which a favorite photo can be entered including:
Snowmen
Nature & Landscape
Pets
Baby/Kids
Vacation/Travel
Opening Holiday Gifts
Friends and Family

All entries are to be sent to Contact(at)smilebooks.com by February 28th, 2009. Winners will be announced on the SmileBooks Website once the contest is over.

Website: http://www.smilebooks.com

Professional Wedding Photography

2009-02-08T05:30:00.000-08:00

The steady, ongoing work produced from wedding photography generates the majority of new clients for most photography studios and freelance photographers. A wedding photographer will need to comfortable with the following activities & skills:

* Candid shots (photojournalistic) and posed shots
* Making slides, prints, and slideshows (digital or otherwise)
* Traditional albums
* Taking shots in the outdoors at a party, beach, or rustic locale
* Snapping shots indoors at a temple or church

In the late 1860's in America, couples started hiring photographers and posing at the wedding. The art form of photography for the wedding was created by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826. However, the idea of live action shots and of capturing the event itself came up after the Second World War. Often, the photographers would just show up inconspicuously at a wedding, snap the photos, and venture to sell them later on to the family. This forced studios to start covering the events, lest they be booted out by freelance photographers.

After the wedding is over, a small time lapse is incurred, and, thereafter the photographer shows "proofs" to the couple. The proofs can be in the form of prints, thumbnail galleries, or all of the images on CD-ROM. They may also make separate galleries or slideshows, and they're sometimes themed.

Photographers may sell additional prints to the couple through a web site with thumbnail galleries and an e-commerce back-end, often in conjunction with a vendor or broker website that charges a commission for each print purchase.

The common types of wedding photography include the photojournalistic realism and spontaneous photographer behavior of some, the classic or traditional posed method, and a hybrid of the two called fashion-based wedding photography.

In big cities, there are often studios devoted to wedding photography because photography for the wedding is such a mammoth market in metropolitan areas. People are always moving in and out and getting married. Take a look at a portfolio of the photographer's former work for assurance.

The Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and, especially, the Wedding Photojournalists Association (WPA) offer training, professional support, and tips to member photographers.

Mark Clayson is a professional, home business entrepreneur, mentor and speaker. Visit Start Work at Home for more information on starting or developing a home business or his official site to find out more.

Canon a590is Enthusiasts Celebrate The Start Of A Blog

2009-02-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Canon Camera moguls are celebrating the 2009 launch of their Powershot a590is blog. The website contains multiple articles on the Canon a590is digital camera, citing tips, tricks, the best techniques and answering the most common questions asked by the cannon a590is owner.

The blog hasn't even been online and running for one full month and it is already off to a flying start with five lengthy and informative posts. Alongside these posts are useful pages listing customer reviews, product descriptions and the all important technical specifications for the powershot a590is. This is not to mention the star of the show - a page for readers who want to go ahead and buy the Canon a590is digital camera directly.

"I was reading a Canon a590is review and found that they were impressed with the same things that I was" says the founder of powershota590is.org, "that spurred me on to create the blog, as I though there must be hundreds of others out there looking for information too."

Powershota590is.org is progressively gaining steady ground amongst die hard Canon fans. This happens as the team behind the blog continue to update their posts regularly and inform the Canon Digital photography community of the best techniques on maintaining the powershot a590is and making the most of its remarkable technology.

The blog, also known as http://www.powershota590is.org/ is the first of its kind to cater exclusively towards the powershota590is camera model and is finding many areas of use to write about and many tips from readers to share.

Dark, Dangerous Alleys are Photographer Xavier Nuez's Inspiration

2009-02-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

They are dark, dangerous places where you are warned not to go. But for photographer Xavier Nuez, bleak urban settings are his inspiration and second home. For many years, late at night he has ventured into some of the country's most threatening corners, frequently leading to trouble. Whether it is an eerie alley in Compton, California, an inner-city ruin in Detroit, or a dead-end back-lot in Brooklyn, his pilgrimage has a purpose.

A selection of Nuez's photographs will be featured in an exhibition at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art in Novato, California, that runs from January 31, 2009 to March 1.

"I've been chased by violent street gangs, accosted by crazed addicts and drug dealers, and have been held at gun point. If the police see me lurking in a dark alley, often I am questioned and searched. And yet under these trying conditions, and within the filth and stench of the city's gutters, I find inspiration. With a family history of homelessness and with a belief that I was next, I found the need to create monuments out of these irrelevant places."

Nuez uses three Hasselblad film cameras, two of which are more than 50-years old.

To capture vivid colors at night in his images, he brings lights and colored gels that are combined with long exposures, sometimes more than one-hour.

Xavier Nuez's photographs have been featured in solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries throughout the United States and in Canada, including the Farmington Museum in Farmington, New Mexico; the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke; the Schneider Gallery in Chicago; and the Peak Gallery in Toronto. His work is in numerous public, corporate and private collections, including those of the Norfolk Southern Collection, the City of East Lansing, Michigan; the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Ohio; the University of Richmond Museum in Virginia; and the Vicente Fox Center of Studies, Library and Museum in Guanajuato, Mexico.

The museum is located at 500 Palm Drive in Novato, California. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 4pm.

Nuez's urban images are on his web site: http://www.nuez.com/

User-Photo Contest : "Show Us Your Florida"

2009-01-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Fodor's Travel is partnering with VISIT FLORIDA on a user- photo contest entitled "Show Us Your Florida." Users are invited to submit their photos and the stories behind them at www.fodors.com for a chance to win a three-night/four-day Miami vacation package and the opportunity to appear in the next edition of Fodor's Florida guide which will be published in four-color.

"We find that user-generated photographs and their stories create a strong connection with the destination and a better sense of the experience you might have when you visit," said Tim Jarrell, Fodor's Publisher. He added, "Florida offers a wealth of experiences from beaches to birding. I can't wait to see what our users come up with."

"Visitors to the Sunshine State love to share their photos with friends, family and even strangers," said Will Seccombe, chief marketing officer at VISIT FLORIDA. "More and more travelers are posting their photos on VISITFLORIDA.com. It's exciting that they could win a trip to enjoy everything our beautiful state has to offer."

The contest is open to U.S. residents and photo submissions will be accepted at www.Fodors.com/contest/florida/ through February 16th, 2009. Prize sponsors include AirTran Airways, South Beach's Shelborne Hotel and the Miami Seaquarium.

7 Sure-fire Ways To Lose Money In Your Photography Business

2009-01-25T06:44:00.000-08:00

Having a passion for photography and actually making a living from it is as different as night and day. The problem is that many newbie photographers mistake equipment, talent and skill for income generation ability.

According to Rodney Washington a.k.a the Photo Marketing Mentor who says, "There are 7 common, but easily avoidable mistakes that if corrected will greatly increase your chances of generating income from your passion for taking photos".

Mistake#1 - Not getting proper training – When you make the decision to go "pro" in your own photography business you are going to encounter situations where you’ll need to have the skills to execute the job you’re hired for. Remember your client isn’t paying you to learn, they’re paying you for results.

Mistake#2 - Not projecting a professional image – You need to present yourself as a professional if you plan to be taken seriously that means having a functioning website, proper stationary, a separate business phone line and a polished personal image.

Mistake#3 - Having too many images in your portfolio - Your portfolio represents the type of work you’re applying for. Don’t confuse clients by showing everything you’ve ever shot. Only show the best images for the kind of work you desire.

Mistake#4 - Focusing too much on technical ability - Your prospects aren’t interested in your technical ability they just want to know you can get the job done. You need skills to complete the job, but there’s no need to inform the client of all the technical stuff.

Mistake#5 - Not having a sales goal - For example, if you want to close 10 sales this month how many prospects do you need to close ten sales? You may realize that for every 5 contacts you close 1 sale. So that means you need to make 50 contacts in order to close new 10 clients.

Mistake#6 - Failure to network - Next to prospecting for new clients, making contacts with referral partners is the number one way to fill your pipeline with new leads. Do you know the key players in your speciality that can refer new business to you?

Mistake#7 - Not offering packages and programs - You should have at least two, preferably three pre-designed packages that bundle your services with set pricing so when you have the closing meeting with a prospect you can provide pre-packaged offers.

The website, http://www.startaphotobusinesstoday.com/, provides low-cost photography marketing & business solutions to help you avoid costly mistakes and move quicker towards running your own successful photography business.

Presidential Photographers Team Up with All Americans to Produce Official Obama Inaugural Photo Book Project

2009-01-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

Epicenter Communications, an official licensee of the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), announced details of the official inaugural photography book project, which will commemorate President-elect Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration. The project will include images from some of the world's most influential photographers and ' for the first time ever ' feature photos submitted online by everyday people documenting their personal celebrations of President-elect Obama's inauguration festivities.

Photos can be submitted starting today at either the book's official site (http://www.obamaphotobook.com/) or in an inaugural photo site on Photobucket. A selection of photo submissions will be chosen for inclusion in a large-format book, published by Five Ties Publishing, New York, which will be available for purchase nationwide on April 29, 2009 ' Obama's 100th day in office.

Also, for the first time, individual amateur photographers will be able to send in their photographs and create their own customizable print-on-demand inaugural album using Kodak imaging and printing technologies ' creating a truly personal memento of a 'people's inaugural.'

In addition to user-submitted images, the commemorative works will include images from an elite team of award-winning photojournalists led by David Hume Kennerly, a Pulitzer Prize winner who served as official photographer for the Ford White House, and Bob McNeely, who served as President Clinton's official photographer.

Hallmark Announces Blooper Photo Card Creation Contest

2009-01-18T04:51:00.000-08:00

A hilarious photo and a witty birthday wish could land a talented photographer on a Hallmark card!

Hallmark is now accepting submissions for the company's "yourBloopers" greeting card creation competition. "YourBloopers" is a laugh-out-loud card creation contest. The 60 finalists' designs will be sold in more than 10,000 stores nationwide this summer.

From Jan. 12-Feb. 1, Hallmark will accept submissions online at http://www.hallmark.com/you. Hallmark judges are looking for cards that have photos and writing that work well together, could be sent to many different people and are laugh-out-loud-in-the-card-aisle funny. Each eligible photo must be funny, intriguing and in a vertical format. Wording inside the card should wish the recipient a happy birthday.

"This is our fifth card competition," notes Hallmark editorial director Sarah Mueller. "We're finding people have really funny photos that seem to be meant for a greeting card, so this is an opportunity to pair a great photo with a hilarious birthday wish."

Sixty finalists will be selected and announced in March. Hallmark will select 60 finalists, produce their cards and sell the cards online at http://www.hallmark.com, in Hallmark Gold Crown(R) stores and in other stores that carry Hallmark products. America will then vote for the best of the 60 finalists. The grand prize winner will receive $2500 and the opportunity to be a celebrity judge on an upcoming greeting card competition.

New Alternative to Stock Photo Subscription Model

2009-01-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

FeaturePics, stock photo web service, announced its new form of agreements with major photography consumers adding significant changes to the way subscription model works within stock photography markets. By signing an individually tailored agreement, publishers subscribe to FeaturePics web service without having to pay monthly fees and having full access to permanent collection of the entire web site. The approved customer can download exactly the required images and pay only at month end.

Typical stock subscription service currently gives consumers access to a block of photographs they do not necessarily need for a limited amount of time. The new FeaturePics agreement is an easier, more reliable, method to buy images that will actually be used.

Agreements have been signed with major publishing houses, independent newspapers, and advertising agencies. The new enhanced subscription-free model came as part of close collaboration with these companies. "The way people consume images has changed. With the constant shift to digital media users no longer need access to endless list of images - value comes from having easy access to a the right image at any given time" said Elena Oryol, development lead at FeaturePics. "Publishers want the freedom to buy whatever they need, combined with the confidence that they do not need to pay for the service, only for images actually used."

FeaturePics has focused on the idea that photographers are able to promote themselves and publishers can always find information they need. The new enhancement to subscription-free service offers extraordinary value for major publishing companies and Internet developers.

Website: http://www.featurepics.com/

Learn To Take Great Winter Photos

2009-01-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

New online photography course offers digital photography tips for taking great winter snow photos. The popular course is offered by Learn to Take Photos and taught by photographer Christina Handley. The course includes tips for finding subjects, protecting your gear and getting good exposures in the snow.

No one knows more about taking photos in the winter snow than Canadian photographer Christina Handley. She is an expert, living and working on a beef cattle farm in Ontario about two hours north of Toronto. "I've been taking photos in the snow all my life," Handley says "we get lots!"

Handley is a professional photographer with many credits to her name in horse magazines. Her photos of horses in the snow are popular every winter season and she has thousands. It snows up to 6 months out of the year in Ontario and few photographers have more opportunity or experience shooting in the challenging conditions of snow.

In 2007, she turned her talents to teaching photography. Recently Handley co-founded Learn to Take Photos, an online photography school with Virginia native Laura Cotterman.

The pair have teamed up to offer an Internet based short course in winter snow photography which has become very popular in the first session attracting dozens of students from all over the US and Canada. The winter photography short course includes tips for finding subjects, protecting your gear and getting good exposures in the snow.

"Exposure is the trickiest part of photographing snow scenes," says Handley. "We teach step by step how your camera sees the snow and how to get a correct exposure."

The online photography course consists of a written lesson with lots of examples and a photography assignment. Students upload their photos and receive helpful feedback and advice. The learning environment is supportive, fun and creative. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions, discuss ideas and participate.

Learn to Take Photos offers a free short course each month for new students. With ongoing enrollment you can join anytime. The Winter Snow Photography course begins Monday Feb 2. New students can use the coupon code SNOWINFEB at checkout and the course is FREE.

Go to www.learntotakephotos.com/winter for the course outline and to join the class.

How to Participate in The National Photo Preservation Month

2009-01-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

Did you know there are more than 3.5 trillion analog photographic pictures - representing generations of families' historical "Kodak moments" that have not been seen in years and are clamoring to be digitized? Created by ScanMyPhotos.com (www.ScanMyPhotos.com) to help call attention to and preserve all those shoeboxes of treasured photo snapshots, the National Photo Preservation Month [NPPM begins on January 1, 2009. Its goal is to draw awareness to and showcase the obligation of protecting those special photo memories before they fade away.

The month of January was selected to coincide with the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This is the world's largest consumer trade show, where new consumer products are introduced and often the seed for innovations that surround digital imaging.

Using Kodak digital imaging technology, it is possible to affordably and quickly digitize all those snapshots "Using Kodak digital imaging technology, it is possible to affordably and quickly digitize all those snapshots," explained Mitch Goldstone, founder of NPPM and president and CEO of ScanMyPhotos.com, an international ecommerce photo imaging service that was founded in 1990 by its parent company, 30 Minute Photos Etc, based in Irvine, California and a nearly 20-year member of the International Photo Marketing Association.

Goldstone said, "The demand to digitize pictures is mandated by the span of time which leads many older photos to fade away or become misplaced. The month-long NPPM campaign will also help connect entire families with their past, as they revisit, share and create new ways to preserve and have fun with their snapshots."

Why was the National Photo Preservation Month created?

The idea was sparked from National Geographic Traveler magazine's Jan/Feb 2009 front cover headline, "Preserving Your Travel Photos" which featured a lengthy article by Scott S. Stuckey on how to make your travel photos truly timeless. Traveler's senior photo editor, Daniel Westergren explained that "the short answer is to scan your old pictures." This advice guided ScanMyPhotos.com to help promote making all your photo memories timeless through the establishment of NPPM to draw attention to preserving photos.

How to get involved with National Photo Preservation Month

1) Collect all your old (non-copyrighted) photos. Get your entire family and circle of friends involved as a treasure hunt to track down those Polaroid snapshots, shoeboxes of pictures and photos stacked away in draws and on closet shelves.

2) Use your favorite social networking website, from MySpace, Twitter, FaceBook, Blogger and others to ask your relatives and friends to find those old (non-copyrighted) school pictures, vacation shots, wedding and other special occasion photo memories.

3) Share your stories. Write to local newspapers and blog about your experience as you revisit those special photo memories. Once your photos are digitized, tag each one with descriptive messages and narratives. Write a story about who was in the picture and note something special about the person, scene or event so future generations can keep those memories alive.

4) Keep the momentum going. According to reports by ScanMyPhotos.com customers, the average household has about 5,000 photo snapshots. Once the pictures are pooled together, get it scanned. There are a variety of photo scanning services available, from independent photo imaging retail labs to high-volume, bulk scanning services like ScanMyPhotos.com

5) Share your story and ask the experts for help to preserve your photos. As part of NPPM, the ScanMyPhotos.com website is extending is free Live Support Help Desk to assist with instant answers to questions on how to preserve and digitize your photos. Profiles recounting how people are preserving their photos will be posted at "blog.ScanMyPhotos.com" and gathered to share with tech, consumer and lifestyle reporters.

How to Find and Generate Freelance Photography Opportunities by Kelly Gammon

2008-12-28T05:24:00.000-08:00

If you ask most freelance photographers how they get work, you will likely hear some variation on the same three answers: word of mouth, referrals, and networking. Most freelancers in any field will tell you that they typically spend as much time marketing their services as they do providing service. But what other options are there? This article will look at 5 ways to find and generate more freelance photography opportunities. Let's begin.

1. Get a copy of the current year's Photographer's Market.
Photographer's Market is an outstanding resource. It is published every year and lists approximately 1500 active buyers in a number of different categories. In addition to providing full contact information and valuable details about various markets, it will definitely expose you to possibilities that you never knew existed. Get Photographer's Market, gather a list of a few dozen potential clients and start sending queries.

2. Set up a portfolio website, keep it up-to-date and market it well. Include your website address in all of your correspondence, both print and electronic. If you participate in online forums that allow for signature files, put your portfolio website address in your signature. If you follow other photographers' blogs, there is usually an option, if you leave a comment on the blog, to include a web address that can be associated with your name. When you leave an insightful comment on posts you find especially interesting or informative, an active link to your website will remain with your comment, allowing others to find their way to you. They key is to create an online portfolio and then spread the word to get people there. Think of it as your business card for the twenty-first century.

3. Write articles. Pick topics about which you are comfortable writing and offer advice and guidance. How-to articles are an excellent starting point for articles. They are simple to organize and easy to compose from experience. Starting out you can submit your articles to online article directories and hopefully get some feedback. As you grow more confident in your writing abilities, branch out to your local newspaper, regional magazines and other online avenues. Once you have built up a portfolio of articles, query national magazines with article ideas. The key here is to establish yourself as an expert and get a byline.

4. Do interviews. Once you have established yourself as an expert in a certain area of photography, look for opportunities to do interviews. Look for opportunities both online and offline. Also, as you check out various job boards for photography work, be sure to keep an eye out for individuals looking for industry experts to interview. Once again, you are looking for ways to establish yourself as an authority and get our name and contact information in front of more people.

5. Teach an adult education class in photography. These are usually non-credit classes and workshops offered through community groups or colleges and universities. Depending on the interest level of the participants you might even expand this is into a series of classes covering different topics. Teaching adult education is another way to establish some credentials for yourself while making contacts in the community and getting your name better known. The great thing about adult education is that the people who participate in the classes have a strong desire to learn and are very receptive and appreciative.

Bonus Tip: If you have a local public radio station in your town, offer to do a 5-minute segment once a week geared toward amateur photographers. Most public radio stations welcome programming ideas and are often looking for new and interesting spots to attract local listeners.

For more tips on how to build or grow a successful freelance career, check out http://www.gofreelancenow.com

Calling All Nature Photographers!

2008-12-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

The Nature Conservancy invites you to view more than 100,000 stunning nature images taken by thousands of photographers--from beginners to professionals--from around the world at the Conservancy's online photo-sharing group.

"The Conservancy has built an interactive community of people who love nature photography," said Evan Parker, the Conservancy's manager of digital membership. "It's a place to be inspired, and to inspire others."

Initially launched as an entry point for the Conservancy's first annual photo contest, the site has blossomed, now engaging a community of thousands of nature-lovers around the world. Nature.org/flickr now hosts more than 100,000 nature photos--and it only takes a minute to upload your favorite nature image.

In addition to sharing images with others, group members can enter the Conservancy's annual photo contest, help vote to select the annual contest's grand prize winner and, throughout the year, enter mini-competitions which include publication in the award-winning Nature Conservancy magazine.

For more details, please visit nature.org/flickr

Free Digital Photography Magazine

2008-12-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

PhotographyBB has released the tenth edition of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine. The PhotographyBB Online Magazine is quickly becoming a leading resource in the future of free information distribution, offering readers: Digital Photography tips and techniques, DSLR camera function training, and image post processing tutorials in Adobe® Photoshop™, and RAW processing in Photoshop Lightroom™.

This month's release includes a tutorial on better night photography, a guide on keeping your camera gear (and yourself) safe when shooting in winter conditions, Photoshopping your own personalized (to each recipient) holiday cards, "Is CS4 worth the upgrade?," a look at infrared photography, and much more.

In addition to articles which aide photographers in getting the most from their DSLR cameras, the PhotographyBB Online Magazine also features useful and applicable tutorials on how to use post-processing tools such as Photoshop and Lightroom, to build on digital photography post-processing skills.

PhotographyBB Online Magazine is available for free download through the PhotographyBB Website at: http://www.photographyBB.com/magazine

Learn How To Design The Optimal Lighting Setup For Your Individual Portrait Subject

2008-12-21T05:42:00.000-08:00

Flawless lighting is the key to creating professional-caliber portraiture. With the right lighting, photographers can create depth and form, set the mood of the portrait, and sculpt the subject's features to create an idealized portrait presentation that will please the subject and satisfy the photographer's artistic vision.

All too often, photographers fall into the trap of selecting and using tried-and-true, one-size-fits-all lighting strategies for their clients. An obvious benefit to this practice is that this is a streamlined approach. Without the guesswork involved in playing with the lights to determine a lighting pattern that best suits the subject, the photographer can move more quickly through the session, book more sessions, and maximize their profits. However, in doing so, they will sell themselves short artistically and will never produce the images that will best flatter their clients.

In this book, Sculpting with Light, author Allison Earnest "shows photographers how to take full control of their lighting". First, you'll learn how the physics of light govern the way we see it, and how the camera perceives it differently than the human eye. Also learn about the qualities of incident and reflected light, and how the size of the source, the direction of the light, the light intensity, contrast, and ratio between highlight and shadow will affect the mood of the portrait as well as how to best use the tools for modifying light and master its every nuance.

As you move through the book, you'll get can't-miss tips for sculpting the face with basic lighting setups. You'll learn the three desirable positions for the main light and how to best refine the lighting strategy using minimal equipment. You'll learn how to create the lighting patterns most often used in portraiture and will also discover how you can create the portrait effect you're after, from a fashion-type look, to a soft, romantic feel, to an edgy, high-contrast look, by manipulating the light output to create the desired ratio of highlight and shadow on your subject.

Unique to Sculpting With Light is Earnest's focus on using lighting to sculpt a variety of basic facial shapes, oval, long and angular, heart-shaped, and square, and show subjects at their personal best. Makeup artists have always relied on cosmetics to highlight and shade areas of the face to play upon a subject's best features and draw attention away from perceived flaws. However, this is an opportunity that most photographers overlook in their haste to create cookie-cutter portraits with minimal changes to the lighting setup. Allison Earnest shows readers how to choose and easily set up the best lighting for each individual client, male or female, to produce a likeness that makes them feel attractive. After all, a client must like the way they look in their portraits in order to spend their money on your images.

Covering a wide variety of techniques and images that show the impact of using basic and complex lighting setups on individual or multiple subjects, both male and female, this amply illustrated book will prove an indispensable guide for photographers or all skill levels.

Website: http://www.amherstmedia.com/

Travel Photography Competition

2008-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

Social travel guide tripwolf and RCA Label Group have launched an exclusive photo competition with international multi-million selling artist, Dido, for the grand prize of a signed lithograph of Dido's newest album Safe Trip Home. The winner will also receive a CD of the album, as will the five runners up. To win, entrants simply post photographs that fall into one of three categories on the competition page, found at http://www.tripwolf.com/en/page/competition/dido.

Submission are now being accepted in the following categories:

* Last photo before heading home from traveling;
* Best travel photo; and,
* Best adventure photo.

"We are thrilled to be working with RCA Label Group to present our users with this wonderful opportunity, and to work with such an acclaimed artist as Dido," says Sebastian Heinzel, tripwolf CEO. "There is nothing like traveling to make you appreciate home. So this album is especially significant to our community of globetrotters."

The competition will run for a full month. A combination of tripwolf and RCA representatives will judge the submissions, and the winners will be announced shortly after the closing of the competition on January 15, 2009. Guidelines and rules can be found on the tripwolf competition page http://www.tripwolf.com/en/page/competition/dido.

tripwolf is a collaborative social network where members share travel experiences, give real-time advice and search for both user-generated and professional editorial travel content on the best places to visit.

7 Secrets of Children's Photography

2008-12-14T04:57:00.000-08:00

Confused about children's photography? Discover how to get the skills, confidence and inspiration needed to capture authentic photographs that stand the test of time -- to convey the spirit and personality of the child and the beauty of the holiday season.

Expert child photographer Cheryl Machat Dorskind, author of The Art of Photographing Children, reveals tips and secrets to achieve special children's photographs on the "7 Photography Questions" podcast with host Dr. Audri Lanford.

The key, explains Dorskind, is for the photographer to relate with the child on the child's own personal level. "Become a friend," says Dorskind. "Open the heart and connect in a real way, because kids know the truth and can't be fooled."

During this informative, free interview, Dorskind shares answers to the biggest questions about children's photography. Listeners will hear Dorskind:

* Debunk the biggest myth about photographing kids.

* Find out how to avoid getting stuck when it comes to creative ideas.

* Know the ideal settings and lenses to capture children's photographs.

* Scout out the best locations for taking photographs outdoors.

* Discover tricks to put catchlights in the eyes of kids, even in the shade.

* Learn dynamic exercises to improve outdoor children's photography skills.

Towards the end of the interview, Dorskind shares some of her own photographs of children and tells the stories and techniques behind each one. Current podcast called "Outdoor Children's Photography – An Interview with Cheryl Machat Dorskind."

Learn To Control Light Effectively And Make All Of Your Images Come To Life

2008-12-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Despite the many advances of digital imaging, lighting problems remain a type of photographic flaw that can't easily be corrected in postproduction. Therefore, lighting skills remain just as critical as ever when capturing great digital images. In this fundamental book, Dr. Glenn Rand gives a complete understanding of photographic lighting--covering tools and techniques that can be applied to any subject or situation. For both studio and location lighting, Rand covers every variable to help photographers avoid problems and achieve the beautiful lighting effects desired.

Early digital photography teacher Ike Lea said many years ago, bad lighting with digital imaging, is still bad lighting. His point was clear: while digital imaging can be used to correct many errors that happened in the capture, if the lighting is bad, post-capture tools can do little but cover the faults. These tools cannot correct poor lighting. While it is true that great lighting cannot, in and of itself, make great photographs, bad lighting will surely ruin photographs.

Lighting For Photography presents the tools that are needed to create and control photographic lighting, going beyond avoiding bad lighting to gaining an understanding of how to use lighting as the ultimate tool of the photographer, whether with digital capture or film. Though many books approach lighting from a genre-specific stance, this volume covers the principles of lighting, rules that are not confined to any single pursuit. This "gives readers an understanding of the hows and whys of light and lighting", rather than a series of limited solutions that work only in certain situations.

To this end, the book addresses not only studio lighting, where photographers have total control, but also lighting in the scenic environment, where they are at the mercy of nature. Because photography happens in all environments, a solid knowledge of how to apply these basic concepts will benefit all types of images.

The book begins with how light is created and the optical functions that provide the ultimate controls for lighting. These underpinnings are followed with a discussion of the qualities of light. Next, the book covers the use of various control methods for manipulating and modifying light, as well as how to best measure and capture it. With these basics in hand, the book then moves on to discuss defining the shape and form of the subjects, followed by a brief description of lighting highly reflective surfaces and transparent materials. Finally, the book addresses the specific types of lighting equipment used by professional photographers.

In addition to sample images, the book includes numerous diagrams and detailed captions that explain why particular lighting methods were chosen, as well as how they were executed.

Photoburbia.com Kicks Off Photography Contest

2008-12-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

QuickPro, LLC is commemorating the launch of Photoburbia.com (http://photoburbia.com/), its new online community for photographers of all skill levels, with a photography contest that features a Canon Rebel XSi Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) camera as the grand prize.

To enter the contest, members simply create a site account and post any pictures that they have taken in the contest media files. Categories include: People & Portraits; Nature, Wildlife & Travel; Weddings & Events; and "Other" for miscellaneous pictures. In addition to the grand prize of the Canon Rebel XSi SLR camera, other prizes will be awarded for the "best of show" in each category. There will also be SLR's from Pentax and Olympus given on the 15th of December and January for members. On February 15, 2009, the Grand prize will be chosen by a panel of judges made up of professional photographers.

The contest's submission deadline is February 12, 2009. "Not only will participants have a chance to win a gorgeous, high-end digital camera, but it's also a fun way to get together with other photography enthusiasts," said Landon Bradfield, sales manager of QuickPro. "To be eligible for prizes, you just have to set up a valid account and the pictures that you post must be your own."

Members and visitors can browse a gallery of the submitted entries. In addition to the contest entries, members can upload a limitless number of photographs to the site for display in their personal galleries.

The purpose of Photoburbia is to enable photography enthusiasts, from beginners to professionals, to connect with each other to share picture-taking techniques as well as to view and critique each other's photos. "Our business is helping photography enthusiasts get excited about their art and improve their skills via DVD tutorials for SLR cameras," stated Bradfield. "But we wanted to help all photographers expand their knowledge no matter what type of equipment they use. So we have created Photoburbia."

The online community allows users to share the stories and techniques behind their photographs so that others can gain insight into their work. Users can take advantage of blogs, forums and wikis to connect with each other and share expertise, photo opportunities, comments about the inspiration behind specific photographs as well as suggestions on how to enhance images.

Users can look for specific community members via the site's browse, sort or search features. In addition, community members who are searching for specific information or support can join or create groups in the categories of Photoshop, Scrapbooking, Product Review and Photography.

To learn more about Photoburbia, visit http://photoburbia.com/.

Podcast : Digital Photography Life: Make Every Shot Count

2008-12-05T06:01:00.000-08:00

Personal Life Media, Inc. (PLM), a publisher of lifestyle podcasts and blogs for people on the leading edge of culture, has added "Digital Photography Life: Make Every Shot Count" to the network. This new podcast by Scott Sherman and Michael Stein is a new show from the creators of one of the most successful photography podcasts, "The Digital Photography Show." The Digital Photography show was nominated for two Podcast Awards in both 2007 and 2008, including the "People’s Choice" award, putting it in the top ten of over 4,000 considered shows in both years.

Leading industry pundits and expressed their support for Scott and Michael in their new podcast:

Scott Kelby, best-selling technology writer, editor and publisher of Photoshop User Magazine, and President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals said, "I'm totally psyched about the launch of Digital Photography Life. Scott and Michael are two of my all-timefavorite podcasters in the field. People ask me all the time what they can do to improve their photography - my tip for today is subscribe to Digital Photography Life."

Rick Sammon, author, photographer and television and radio personality said, "Scott and Michael and the kinds of über-enthusiasts I most enjoy talking with. They bring the enthusiasm of true fan-boys to digital photography. Better yet, they have a knack for attracting listeners who are every bit as motivated and cool as they are. As a guest and as a listener, I can't wait to be a part of Digital Photography Life."

A free multi-show podcast player widget is free for any podcaster or fan at http://personallifemedia.com/widget

Access the shows for free from a browser or subscribe via RSS or iTunes and listen on an iPod or MP3 player.

NUDE Magazine's Annual Photography Contest Includes Cash Prizes

2008-11-30T06:26:00.000-08:00

Carrie Leigh's NUDE Magazines second annual fine art photography contest now includes cash prizes for the winners and runner ups in each category as well as a much coveted feature exhibit in the Summer's Issue. According to Billy Durham, an editor at NUDE, "Publisher Carrie Leigh has decided to give back to the photographers and models that have made NUDE so successful." Durham adds, "With the world's economy in such turmoil and NUDE doing so well Ms. Leigh has decided that this would be a way of helping out those in the artistic community who have the desire to exhibit their work."

According to Master Photographer and seated juror Kim Weston, "To exhibit in Carrie Leigh's NUDE is an honor in itself." NUDE'S fine art competition is the most prestigious print event in the world of black and white nude photography. For the publishers to include cash prizes is really a very gracious gesture."

Carrie Leigh's NUDE Magazine is the world's best selling high end fine art quarterly of its gender featuring exhibits from some of the most recognized names in their field. The publication is printed on heavy stock paper using old style plates to insure a gallery quality visual presentation of fine art. In addition to Kim Weston the juror's for this prestigious contest include renown fine art photographer Carrie Leigh, Master Figure Painter Craig Srebnik and other distinguished photographers who have exhibited in NUDE.

Carrie Leigh's NUDE Magazine is distributed throughout North America and can be purchased in Barnes and Nobel, Borders, Chapters, Joseph Beth, Hastings along with other book and magazine stores. NUDE is also distributed in half a dozen foreign countries.

The contest entry applications can be found online at http://www.carrieleigh.com/.

PEANUT CHEWS(R) Brand Launches Photo Contest

2008-11-23T04:25:00.000-08:00

PEANUT CHEWS(R) Brand Candy is excited to introduce the Chews Your Adventure(TM) Photo Contest to its most daring, athletic and funny fans. Chews Your Adventure(TM) is a web-based contest being hosted now on the newly re-launched http://www.peanutchews.com/ website.

The PEANUT CHEWS(R) Brand is challenging its fans to submit photos of themselves and their favorite PEANUT CHEWS(R) candy. Photos should show their funniest or coolest moment or capture them participating in their favorite sport or adventure. Site visitors can then submit their comments on the photos and vote to choose their favorites.

The Chews Your Adventure(TM) contest will continue in 2009, awarding winners an exciting adventure vacation they can 'chews.' The grand prize winner will 'chews' an adventure trip for four such as skiing in Sun Valley, kayaking in Oregon, scuba diving in St. Thomas or Riding the Rails at the 'Roller Coaster Capital of the World.' First prize winners will receive $100 gift checks and PEANUT CHEWS(R) candy.

Is Photoshop Killing Photojournalism?

2008-11-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

In an age of photo doctoring and other technology-driven turmoil, the legendary photographic agency Black Star has released a free e-book to help photojournalists and students sort through "what's right and wrong today."

Black Star, the 73-year-old photographic agency that helped introduce contemporary photojournalism to the United States, today announced the release of an e-book -- "Photojournalism, Technology and Ethics: What's Right and Wrong Today?" -- that examines photojournalism's ethical challenges through the prism of the profession's past, present and future.

"The profession of photojournalism as we know it is threatened by technological transformation, the rise of video, and the fragmentation of the media," said John P. Chapnick, executive vice president of Black Star. "It's under fire from a suspicious public – watchdog bloggers, cable and radio pundits, and other critics who question the profession's credibility and authority to bring us an accurate picture of the world.

"This e-book looks at the implications of these changes for the future of photojournalism. It also asks what actions photographers, editors and publishers can take to ensure photojournalism's authority with audiences, now and in the years ahead."

Authored by Black Star editorial director Anh D. Stack and Black Star Rising editor Scott Baradell, "Photojournalism, Technology and Ethics" explores issues such as Photoshop manipulation, shot-staging, and the politicization of photojournalism. It includes probing interviews with working photojournalists and academics.

The e-book's chapters include:

* "Our Pictures Must Always Tell the Truth"

* The Golden Age of Photojournalism

* Altered Photographs, Staged Shots and the Era of Distrust

* Toward a 21st Century Ethical Model

Download the free e-book.

Global Market for Digital Photography Worth $230.9 Billion in 2013

2008-11-16T05:02:00.000-08:00

According to a new technical market research report, THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY MARKET (IFT030B) from BCC Research, the global market for digital photography technology was worth $136.7 billion in 2007 and an estimated $155.0 billion in 2008. This market will increase to over $230.9 billion in 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%.

The market is broken down into digital photography products and digital photography applications. Digital photography products are the larger market segment, generating $91.0 billion in 2007. This segment is expected to increase to $101.3 billion in 2008 and $130.6 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 5.2%. Digital photography products include digital still cameras, interchangeable lenses, photo processing equipment, photo printers, image sensors, camera cell phones and storage products.

Digital photography applications have the second largest share of the market, worth $45.7 billion in 2007 and an estimated $53.7 billion in 2008. This should reach $100.4 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 13.3%. Applications include professional photography, traditional stock photography, microstock photography, photography software, photo processing, photo books, surveillance and security, automotive, machine vision and medical visualization.

Before the advent of the digital camera, photography related markets would have included the cameras, interchangeable lenses, film, film processing equipment, photo printers, scanners, and some storage products. However, the introduction of the digital camera changed all of these markets in some way. Overall, the markets are substantially larger than they were in the past because a much greater number of people are more passionately involved with digital photography than ever were with silver halide photography.

Additionally, digital cameras have made possible new applications in areas such as online photo sharing, customized digital photo products, microstock photography and camera cell phones.

Source: http://www.bccresearch.com/