Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Digital Camera Owners have New Way to Make Money Online

Today, MostPhotos.com has unveiled a radical new approach to the way traditional stock photo companies do business. MostPhotos.com is now allowing anyone, not just professional photographers, to submit photos. They have also added a democratic approach to stock photos. They are now letting the members and users decide which photos are good or otherwise. It's a democratic approach to a very old concept.

"With today's cameras, just about anyone can take a great picture that sells. All is needed is a camera and some imagination. Regular people have hundreds, sometimes thousands of photos stored on their hard drives. These photos are worth a lot of money. Our dream at MostPhotos.com is to help people understand this lucrative venture and introduce their work to photo buyers around the world," explained Arian Bharami, founder and CEO of MostPhotos.com.

"We use the latest technology to decide which photos will rank high and low, a bit like Google but with photo searching. Our system can also show users related images in the same category, giving buyers the fastest and easiest search possible," remarked Michael Lindfors, project manager.

There are currently 300,000 photos available at MostPhotos.com and they are growing at the rate of about 1000-1500 images a day. At this rate, the company will be within the top 10 largest stock photo sites very soon.

All photos are sold in high resolution. The minimum size is 4mpx but most of the photos are more than 10mpx. All images are royalty-free and cost 25€ each. The photographer can set the price for exclusive buyout of the image (the buyer owns exclusive rights to the photo).

Website: http://www.mostphotos.com/

Sunday, July 27, 2008

A Minute a Day Can Improve Children’s Reading Skills

Back to school - it's a hectic time full of shopping, preparation and new routines. But just because children are headed back to school doesn't mean that parents should stop teaching their children. And just because life is hectic doesn't mean you can't make time to improve their literacy skills.

Sharon Darling, president & founder of the National Center for Family Literacy encourages parents to take a minute - literally - to engage their children in learning activities while they go about their daily routine.

"A minute buys enough time to complete a task, take a deep breath, or prepare a response to a child's question that caught you by surprise," Darling said. "But a minute also can be used to increase vocabulary, expand reading skills, and add an extra dose of fun to an otherwise routine day."

You may feel that there isn't enough time to add more activities to an already packed 24 hours. But these ideas take just a minute:

• Choose a letter of the day. Look for the chosen letter in any printed materials you see: the newspaper, labels at the grocery store, street signs, billboards, or advertisements on TV. Make up a silly sentence using only words beginning with the letter of the day (Cats can cuddle. Dogs don't drive. Amy always acts awake.)

• Singing songs is certainly a literacy activity. Try this twist: Sing short songs like Row, Row, Row Your Boat several times, leaving off the last word each time until there are no words left. This activity always produces giggles from children and parents alike.

• While you're waiting for the bagel to toast, have your child look for the letter B on any items on your kitchen counter or table. Count as many as possible before the toaster pops.

• Play "Guess Who." Describe a cartoon character, celebrity or historical figure. Allow a guess after each detail is disclosed. Expand your child's vocabulary by using unusual words, and then explain their meaning. Take turns. Listen carefully to your child's descriptions, especially his choice of vocabulary. Encourage him to paint a picture of the character with his words. At the end of the game, compliment him on any unusual or new words used.

• While stuck in traffic, describe the view from the car by taking "word turns." The activity is as easy as the name suggests. Parent and child each add a word until the scene is described. (A…yellow…convertible…with… a… golden… retriever… in… the… back… seat… is… next… to… our… car.) This activity works well on a walk around the block or while waiting in line at the check-out counter, too.

• Talk to your child about his day. Pretend to be a television reporter. Try questions like "what was the most surprising (curious, funny, eventful) thing that happened today?" Or gather news for the local paper. "If your day's activities were an article in the newspaper, what would the headline be?" You are giving your child opportunities to increase vocabulary, recall and reflect, and you are receiving a more detailed version of the time you spent apart. Be prepared to answer the same questions. You and your child will begin looking for events to report to each other.

"Children spent five times as much time outside of the classroom, so learning shouldn't be confined to the classroom," Darling said.

The National Center for Family Literacy, the worldwide leader in family literacy, has raised more than $115 million for literacy efforts since its founding in 1989. More than 1 million families have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL's work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers. For more information, contact 1-877-FAMLIT-1 or visit http://www.famlit.org.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Famed Photojournalist Stanley Tretick's Iconic Photographs Go Online

More than 8,000 images of major American figures -- Presidents, movie stars, athletes, artists -- go online at http://www.stanleytretick.com/.

Stanley Tretick, an award-winning photojournalist, died in 1999, and left his photo archive to the writer Kitty Kelley. As legal representative for the estate, Kelley has worked with Victoria Rehberg of ArtVision Exhibitions to set up the Web site for historians, librarians, photo researchers, publishers, and collectors.

Tretick worked for LIFE, Look, NBC, People, and UPI and he covered every President from Harry S. Truman through Ronald Reagan. On Capitol Hill, he photographed the Senate Rackets Committee hearings in 1957 and so angered the gangster Johnny Dio that the mobster took a swing at him. A photo showing Tretick ducking accompanied an article he wrote for the New York Herald Tribune (March 15, 1958) entitled "I Shoot the Big Shots."

In 1973, Tretick covered the Senate Watergate hearings, Tretick's work also encompassed special stills for various films, including "All The President's Men," "Reds," "The Candidate," "The Natural," "Urban Cowboy," "The Electric Horseman," "Year of the Dragon," "The Witness" and "Barbarosa."

During the Kennedy White House years, Tretick was given special access to the family, and he shot some of his most enduring images. One of his most famous is the picture of three-year-old John Kennedy, Jr. playing under his father's desk in the Oval Office. The photo was taken a month before President Kennedy was assassinated.

During World War II, Tretick was trained as a photographer in the Marine Corps and he served in the South Pacific. After a stint as a copyboy for The Washington Post, he joined Acme Newspictures and photographed the fighting in the Korean War. His image of a soldier in South Korea with his head buried in his hands, his helmet on the ground, was selected by the Military Times Publishing Company as one of The 100 Greatest Military Photographs.

He also published three books of photographs: "A Very Special President" with Laura Berquist; "A Portrait of All The President's Men" with Jack Hirshberg and "They Could Not Trust the King" with William V. Shannon.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

The 14th annual Society of American Travel Writers' Institute for Travel Writing & Photography

The 14th annual Society of American Travel Writers' Institute for Travel Writing & Photography will take place January 9-11, 2009, in Orlando, Florida, with a faculty that includes leading North American travel writers and photographers. New faculty members this year will include award-winning broadcast journalist and website producer-publisher Bea Broda, and Florida expert Sandra Friend, author of some 20 books, 12 of which cover Florida travel and the outdoors.

They join established faculty members who include USA Today Deputy Managing Editor for Travel Veronica Stoddart; online travel journalism pioneer Lee Foster; self-publishing authority M. Timothy O'Keefe; award-winning guidebook expert Christopher P. Baker, and University Press of Florida Editor-in-Chief John W. Byram, among others.

Open to beginners and experienced professionals alike, the Institute is considered North America's foremost program dedicated to assisting aspiring travel writers and photographers launch successful careers, while providing established professionals with the latest tools, insights, and tips for greater success in today's unpredictable media times.

"From the beginning, the Institute has emphasized the career aspects of travel writing and photography," says Institute chair Herb Hiller, author of two top-prize books and past contributor to The Atlantic, National Geographic Traveler and The Washington Post.

"It's all about guiding the ship, not getting rocked by the boat."

Faculty members will teach classes on marketing, working with editors and publishers, self-publishing, developing Internet opportunities, negotiating contracts, selling photography and travel video production.

A keynote speaker still to be announced will open the Institute, whose supporters include the Orlando Downtown Development Board and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Recent speakers have included Arthur Frommer and National Geographic Traveler Editor-in-Chief Keith Bellows.

Registration costs $395 and includes most meals. Sessions take place at the Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Downtown

For further information, visit the Institute's website at http://www.satwinstitute.org/, or contact Hiller at hiller@funport.net, or 386/467-8223.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

AOL Launches Photo Gallery Site PIXCETERA

AOL has launched PIXCETERA, http://www.pixcetera.com/, a new site focused exclusively on top-quality photography. The site features thousands of professional images and galleries from across the AOL Network for users to browse, rate and review. In addition, AOL's photo editors blog on trends in photography, as well as ways that readers can take better pictures.

In addition to featuring subjects as diverse as fashion, astronomy, sports, nature and celebrities, the PIXCETERA site includes a weekly showcase of the best professional photos from all categories, including photos from our content partners such as the Associated Press, Reuters, and other major photo providers.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

How to Take Stunning Fireworks Photographs

Just in time for the 4th of July, world-class photographer Jim Zuckerman offers specific tips for exactly how to take terrific fireworks photos during this week's free "7 Photography Questions" Podcast. In this interview with podcast host Dr. Audri Lanford, Zuckerman explains how capturing fireworks is easy if you follow some easy, specific advice.

"You don't need years of photographic experience or very pricey camera gear to capture exceptional fireworks photos," says Zuckerman, who in the past 35 years has taught photography in many prestigious photography schools online and offline, contributed to countless books and magazines, and is the author of 12 photography books. "Even if your previous shots have all been disappointing, it's really not that hard to take dramatic pictures of fireworks if you follow a few simple steps."

In this interview, you'll discover:

* The single biggest mistake shutterbugs make that leads to poor fireworks photos;
* Why a light meter is useless when photographing fireworks;
* What exposure to use to get perfect fireworks pictures;
* How to assure brilliant colors in your pictures of fireworks;
* The one accessory you absolutely must use to capture fireworks.

Towards the end of the podcast, Zuckerman shares some of his photographs and explains the stories behind them at http://www.7photographyquestions.com/audio-podcast/

The World of Underwater Images Photography Competition Seeking Entries

The World of Underwater Images photography competition will be held for the fourth year, this year, from the 10th to 15th of November, 2008 at the Isrotel Yam Suf Hotel in Eilat, Israel. New categories will be added this year, such as: The Best 5 Images, The Best Color Print, Humour, Ecology & Nature Care, Wrecks, Video Clip and a Beginners’ category.

The Eilat competition is open for all underwater photographers, both amateur and professional. This year we have more than $80,000 in prizes, diving trips to exotic dive sites around the world and cash money prizes. The first prize this year is $10,000, and a trip for two to Papua New Guinea. Among the other prizes: 1000 bottles of MACABEE beer, Seacam housing ($7,000 worth), the Mayor of Eilat's reward $2,000, Padi Prize $5000 and more.

The Eilat event combines the Hi Tech world with photography, tourism, diving and recreational activities. According to the event's management, the added competition categories, increased value prizes and the assistance of the Israel Ministry of Tourism will bring participants from all over the world, including Egypt and Jordan.

The Media Category

This year another category has been added: the Media category: 10 different representatives from 10 different diving magazines worldwide will compete on a very special reward: "winning & donating". The winner will donate his prize - $5,000 for the conservation of extinct shark species.

Since April, 2008 an online competition has been running in the countries listed below. Each month one photographer will be chosen as the "photographer of the month”, and in September, all the winners will compete to receive the winning prize: Flight tickets, accommodation and diving at the Eilat event.

10 Participating countries:

Germany - sponsored by Unterwasser Magazine
France - by Plongeeonline.com, and Salon De La Plongee Sous Marine
USA, by Sport Diver Magazine, and PADI
UK, by Diver magazine
Italy, by ScubaFoto.it, and ScubaPortal.it
Nederland's & Belgium, by Duiken Magazine.
Sweden, by Dyk Magazine
Denmark by Dyk Magazine
Russia, by Octopus, and Golden Dolphin
And Israel, by YAM Magazine.

For more information visit http://www.sandiskredsea.com/

Online Photographic Competition Sees Changing World Through Young Eyes

An online photographic competition for young people aged 11-24 will give the winner a chance to win a trip to see their work exhibited in Quebec, Canada as part of the World Youth Congress on UN International Youth Day August 12.

The free entry Shoot Nations contest YOUNG PEOPLE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE opens May 1 until July 31. Entrants can submit up to three drawings or photographs with a brief explanation on how they demonstrate their feelings towards a changing climate.

A panel of professional photographers will choose their top shots and the overall winner will be announced online on August 10. A UK exhibition of the best images will be held at the OXO gallery in London from August 13-17.

Organisers international children's charity Plan and photography event planners Shoot Experience, expect that the topical theme will attract around 3000 entrants.

Project co-ordinator Hamish Mackenzie, from Plan, says: "It's about empowering young people to get involved with decision-making and for governments to take their views seriously.

The smallest community or family issue in the most remote area of the world can be photographed and displayed at the highest level of global government, the UN."

Fred Doulton, of the UN's Youth programme, says: "International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth, to celebrate their achievements and plan for ways to include them in the development of their societies."

Comments from 2007 winners: - "It was a rare opportunity to speak to the whole world through my photographs about the basic problems in my community" - Peter Gilbieri, 16, Ghana.

"Shoot Nations meant for me to show the world as I see it, to make visible my own private collection of the world whilst giving it back to the world itself."- Barbara Anastacio, 22, Portugal.

- For competition details and to submit entries visit http://www.shootnations.org
http://www.plan-ed.org

Citizen Photojournalism Web Site Debuts

The first world news Web site dedicated to citizen photojournalism, http://www.wesay.com/, made its debut today and features the work of both mainstream media and amateur photographers.

The site is organized into five categories (News, Environment, Sports, Celebs and Far Out) where WeSay.com visitors can create their own profile page of submitted photos as well as sign up for a free membership.

Editors review member-submitted photos and select images to feature on the site's homepage alongside photos by professional photojournalists. Editor's Choice awards are also issued for photos of particular merit.

Some citizen submissions to date include photographs of the flooding in Iowa, an Olympic torch protest in Chile and a surprise performance by Bruce Springsteen at a private benefit in New Jersey.

"Anyone who carries a camera or cell phone camera is a potential citizen photojournalist and has the ability to make an impact," said WeSay.com president Jim DeBoth. "We want to give the average citizen the power to shape world news."

The site also includes tips for citizen photojournalists. If visitors do not have photographs to submit, they can read and comment in various other features such as Hot Topic, What's Your Solution and Talk Back. Editorial cartoons and guest columns are regular features as well.

"We encourage photographers, both professional and amateur, to participate in our site and showcase their photographs," DeBoth said. "If you have great photos of local events, weather, sports or just something strange in your neighborhood, don't hide it, share it. If it's a strong photo, we'll promote it on our site."

WeSay.com held its first citizen photojournalism contest in conjunction with the launch and the grand prize winner was Naom Galai for his photo of a steam pipe explosion in New York City. DeBoth believes WeSay.com will eventually launch some photographers into new careers as photojournalists.

Deadline extended for Tourism NT Photography Competition

Photographers now have an extra two months to share their passion for the Northern Territory by entering Tourism NT’s third annual Share our Story Travel Photography competition.

The new deadline of 22 August now coincides with the closing date for the Share our Story Travel Writing competition.

The winners of both competitions will receive a $2000 travel voucher to be used in the Northern Territory.

This competition is open to writers and photographers Australia-wide, both amateur and professional and will be judged by Ian Connellan, well-known editor of Australian Geographic, along with panellists from Tourism NT.

The winning entry in both competitions will be published in Outdoor Australia Magazine, as well as online at http://www.australiangeographic.com/ and http://www.travelnt.com/.

An encouragement award of subscriptions to Australian Geographic, Gourmet Traveller and Northern Territory Scoop Traveller magazines will go to the best ‘up and coming’ writer and photographer.

Entries must be a travel story or photo that truly captures the essence of the Northern Territory and demonstrates what it is that keeps travellers inspired and passionate about returning to the NT.