Penthouse Photographer Says No to Scantily Clad Models, He's Shooting Something Hotter

Minneapolis native Jeffery R. Werner's photographs have appeared in numerous publications such as Penthouse, Playboy and Maxim -- but not for the reasons you might think. Werner's work at times made him hot under the collar, literally! Known for his astounding photographs of stunts, he's had a couple of close calls on shoots, ducking behind a building or diving off a truck to avoid being seared from the blasts of heat coming from the explosions.

Now after three decades of traveling across the nation -- and 60 countries -- in pursuit of stuntmen and daredevils who put themselves in harm's way in every way imaginable -- by motorcycle, gun, hot-air balloon, airplane, car, train, helicopter, boat and even a washing machine, Werner will return home to debut the release of a collection of his best work in a new coffee-table book called "Incredible Stunts: The Chaos, Crashes, and Courage of the World's Wildest Stuntmen and Daredevils with a Special Tribute to Evel Knievel."

"Incredible Stunts" is like "Fear Factor" on steroids. Featuring photographs of stunts deemed too dangerous for television, here's a book that needs a disclaimer and it should read: Warning! Just looking at this book could inspire greatness... and a few broken bones, too.

Some photos were captured with a special Hulcher camera that shoots up to 65 frames-per-second that would have been impossible to catch with a conventional camera. Some sequences were shot with up to 15 remote cameras to catch all aspects of the stunt, taking hours to set up for just a few seconds of film. By request, Werner will also be conducting a limited number of seminars on action photography and relay some of the harrowing stories of the triumphs and tragedies he's managed to capture.

Website: http://www.incrediblestunts.com/

Photographing Children is Child's Play

Photographing children can be a challenge - even for the most seasoned professional photographers - but it doesn't need to be, even if you're only a novice. Taking fabulous photographs of children becomes as easy as pie for those who understand just seven great tricks and techniques. This week, master photographer Vik Orenstein reveals 7 tips, techniques and secrets you definitely want to know about photographing children - but didn't know who to ask - with host Dr. Audri Lanford, on the free 7 Photography Questions podcast.

"The most important thing is to forge your emotional connection with your child," says Orenstein, who has written several books on the subject of photography including Creative Techniques for Photographing Children. "Go with the child's mood because the image will have more emotional integrity."

During this interview, Orenstein reveals:

The single biggest mistake people make when photographing children.

Two simple exercises you can do at home to improve the photographs you take of children.

Several ordinary household objects that are guaranteed to hold a child's attention and help capture those magical photography moments.

A surprising photography tip that involves toilet paper!

How to get softer, prettier skin tones and a better light ratio between the child and the background.

What clothes and colors are best for kids to wear when being photographed.

Towards the end of the interview, Orenstein tells the story behind several of her own photos of babies, kids, and teenagers while explaining the various tricks, techniques, and camera gear she used to take them. This interview is not to be missed! So learn how you can take amazing photographs of children by listening in for free here.

Interviews with top photographers are posted to www.7PhotographyQuestions.com

New Photographic Book, 'One of Us,' by Chris Usher

Today, photojournalist Chris Usher, a member of the White House Press Corps and freelance contributor to TIME, introduces One of Us, a unique book that highlights the results of nearly three years of photographic fieldwork begun the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005.

The portraits and interview excerpts contained in the book bear witness to the fear, fatigue, frustration and, ultimately, resilient spirit of those who survived Hurricane Katrina. Through the support of Kodak, Usher will donate 100 percent of the profits from One of Us to the Gulf Coast Fund and the Southern Animal Foundation, relief organizations that continue to provide post-Katrina aid and assistance in the Gulf Coast.

"For the people of the Gulf Coast region, Katrina is just as devastating today as it was in 2005," said Usher. "Katrina was a cataclysmic disaster that forced hundreds of thousands of people to migrate across the country, or stay and suffer with little or no help. Many of those who left haven't returned and those who stayed continue to face unemployment and mortgages on uninhabitable or non-existent homes. This project documents, through survivors' stories, that the situation is still as real and as challenging as it was that very first day."

To fully illustrate the ongoing effect of Hurricane Katrina, Usher revisited the Gulf Coast region six times over three years and traveled across the country for two months in 2006 to find displaced residents. The subjects include families, parents, siblings, children, as well as first responders, volunteers, and the media.

After witnessing the continuing impact, Usher compiled these stories into One of Us. His goal was to generate awareness and a way for people to directly support Gulf Coast re-building efforts. Having already provided film and processing for the project, Kodak responded by enabling the digital on demand printing and an online ordering of One of Us, facilitating the donation of book proceeds in partnership with ColorCentric, a KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Press customer. ColorCentric is headquartered in Rochester, New York with manufacturing facilities in Rochester, New York, and Reno, Nevada.

"Katrina is a story that still has many chapters left. When you open Chris Usher's book, you realize just how important it is that we all continue to support rebuilding in the Gulf Coast. This book serves as a reminder and mechanism by which people can provide some much-needed support," said Jeff Hayzlett, chief business development officer, Eastman Kodak Company. "We've had a long and productive relationship with Chris and are proud to support this project. His work has touched countless people over the years because of his profound ability to capture images that tell powerful, moving stories. We're honored that we can use Kodak expertise in film and on-demand printing to support Chris and his ground-breaking project."

One of Us can be bought on line at www.chrisusher.com/news and http://www.kodak.com/go/one_of_us for $40.

Learn To Capture Vibrant Results with Fall Color Landscape Photography

If you have ever looked at amazing landscape photography of Yosemite or some other gorgeous place and wondered what the photographer was thinking and how you can take stunning fall photographs like that, there's an important new free resource that has just become available.

William Neill, one of the world's top landscape photographers, reveals some of his most important secrets and techniques and answers seven of the biggest questions about landscape photography with podcast host Dr. Audri Lanford in this week's "7 Photography Questions" podcast interview.

You may have seen William Neill's award-winning landscape photography in such publications as National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Conde Nast Traveler - or exhibited at the Museum of Fine Art Boston and the Ansel Adams Gallery. "I got to spend time with Ansel Adams and learned a tremendous amount," recalls Neill. "For me landscape photography doesn't occur in the camera. It happens in the heart, with a passion for the subject and a reconnection to our own experience of nature."

During this week's free "7 Photography Questions" podcast you'll discover:

* Surprising tips for creating creative photographs of vibrant autumn colors.

* Ideas for capturing the intimate details of large, expansive landscapes.

* The biggest landscape photography mistake made by amateurs.

* Creating a signature look with magical lighting and mysterious moods.

*Special exercises to improve your landscape photography.

Towards the end of the interview, Neill also discusses several favorite photographs from his own personal portfolio and explains the ideas and techniques behind each one. You can find the current podcast called "Landscape Photography - An Interview with William Neill."

Canon Releases EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera

With the demand for digital SLR cameras reaching unprecedented levels, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is answering the call with the announcement of the next evolution in advanced amateur digital SLR photography, the EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera with 15.1 megapixel resolution and Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processor. Designed to offer extraordinary quality and image control for the advanced photographer with a passion for the art, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera includes an expanded ISO range, improved noise reduction, and in-camera photo editing features. Canon has loaded the EOS 50D camera with a number of enhancements and some trickle-down technology from Canon's professional Digital SLR cameras, as well as a new Creative Auto Mode (CA) that gives users more creative flexibility to make image setting adjustments conveniently without the need to be a photo expert.


Canon has built upon the success of the popular EOS 40D model -- which will remain in Canon's line -- with the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera. Expected to be the camera body of choice for advanced amateur photographers this holiday season, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera carries over the EOS 40D's 14-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion process for smooth tones, and also includes enhanced noise reduction, especially at higher ISO ranges which will help bring those romantic nighttime shots into greater focus and clarity. Capable of shooting 6.3 frames per second (fps), the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is ideal for shooting everything from beautiful night landscapes to fast-action sports.

Improved Image Quality

The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's 15.1-megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor has been improved thanks to the use of newly designed gapless microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 12800. The faster processing speed of the camera's DIGIC 4 image processor contributes to the fast 6.3 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 90 Large/Fine JPEGs or 16 RAW images on a UDMA CF card), to give shooters the tools they need to capture that perfect moment in perfect clarity.

The Canon EOS 50D camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 3200 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings -- H1 and H2 -- of ISO 6400 and ISO 12800, respectively. Along with a wide ISO range, Canon gives shooters more tools to help maximize clarity and color. The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera offers multiple levels of noise reduction during high-speed shooting. Users can choose from one of four settings-- Standard/Weak/Strong/None -- to help reduce digital noise that can result from poor lighting conditions.

As part of the camera's internal image processing, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera conducts peripheral illumination correction, which automatically evens brightness across the image field, making an image of a blue sky even toned throughout, a function previously accomplished through post-processing software on a personal computer. Thanks largely to the DIGIC 4 processor, this automatic adjustment can be made in-camera during shooting with JPEG images or corrected in post-photoshoot processing with RAW images through Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which is supplied at no extra charge.

Helping to ensure each picture's subject is clearly visible, Canon's enhanced Auto Lighting Optimizer analyzes the brightness of subjects and automatically adjusts dark images so that they appear brighter, perfect for subjects in shade or in backlit situations. The Auto Lighting Optimizer on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera has been updated not only to optimize images while they are being taken, but can also optimize images post-capture, during playback, to help ensure the subject of each image does not appear too dark. This is especially helpful when an amateur photographer uses the camera, because post-capture enhancement can help maximize image quality without the need of a computer.

A significant upgrade to the Canon EOS 50D camera is its large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen which features 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 40D camera's screen, for better clarity and color. To help show off those fantastic shots, the EOS 50D camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV. The EOS 50D recognizes the needs of today's photographers, and the faster processing speed of the DIGIC 4 processor helps support UDMA cards for faster writing of image files.

The camera is also equipped with a high-performance viewfinder featuring 0.95x magnification and the same high-performance Autofocus (AF) system as the EOS 40D camera with nine cross-type sensors for accurate target subject acquisition with lenses possessing maximum apertures of f/5.6 or faster and a high-precision diagonal center cross-type AF point that's effective with f/2.8 and faster lenses, helping photographers ensure better focus of their targets. The AF Microadjustment feature, originally introduced last year with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III professional digital SLR camera, has also been added to the EOS 50D for maximum control over focusing precision.

Canon Gets Creative For Advancing Amateurs

Canon is taking steps to give advanced amateurs more flexibility with a new "CA" Creative Full Auto setting on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's mode dial. This new setting goes a step beyond Full Auto, by allowing users to make adjustments before shooting while still in an Automatic mode, without needing to know the meaning of technical terms such as aperture, shutter speed, etc. In this mode, the camera menu on the back screen spells out options in common language for average photo enthusiasts, allowing them to "blur the background" or "lighten or darken the image." These easy-to-comprehend image options will help amateur photographers improve the shots they are capable of taking, while helping them learn new techniques. When in the new CA mode, users will be able to adjust flash settings, brighten or darken images, blur the background, set the camera's drive mode, and select a picture style directly on the camera's LCD screen.

Better Live View

For photographers who prefer to frame their shots using the camera's 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen, Canon has improved the Live View function of the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera to include "Quick Mode AF," "Live Mode AF," and "Face Detection Live Mode AF" that detects up to 35 individual forward-looking faces for better focus and clarity when taking group or portrait shots. The camera's Quick Mode AF setting flips the mirror down and carries out regular phase-detection autofocus, while the Live Mode AF and Face Detection Live Mode AF use the camera's CMOS image sensor for contrast detection autofocus. Two detailed grid displays have also been added to Live View shooting as optional settings for easier composition.

Two Small RAW Formats

In addition to the RAW and JPEG image capture modes that photographers are accustomed to, the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera now offers more manageable resolution settings and file sizes with two sRAW recording formats, sRAW1 and sRAW2. At the sRAW1 setting, resolution is 7.1 megapixels with a file size that is approximately 25 percent smaller than a standard 15.1 megapixel RAW image. With the sRAW2 setting, resolution is 3.8 megapixels at less than half the file size of a standard RAW image, retaining all of the flexibility and creative possibilities associated with full-size, conventional RAW images. The EOS 50D is the first Canon Digital SLR that allows the use of RAW and sRAW settings in Basic Zone as well as Creative Zone shooting modes, even further improving the camera's flexibility.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System

The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit for the Canon EOS 50D has also been upgraded and now includes a fluorine coating on the low-pass filter for better dust resistance. The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake dust particles off of the low-pass filter in front of the sensor each time the camera is powered up or shut down. The second part of the system includes a software component where sensor spots are mapped and saved as Dust Delete Data that is attached to the image file for removal during post processing using Canon's DPP software.

Pricing and Availability

The EOS 50D is compatible with the full lineup of Canon EF lenses as well as the Company's ever-growing line of affordable EF-S lenses created specifically for Canon Digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors. The Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is scheduled for October delivery and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated selling price of $1,399.00*. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated selling price of $1,599.00*.

New EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Canon has answered the call from advanced amateur photographers looking for a solid all-around lens with the introduction of the new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens. With an incredible focal length range equivalent to 29-320mm in the 35mm format, the new EF-S 18-200mm lens will make an excellent addition to any camera bag, and it gives shooters a great lens to capture both standard as well as telephoto images. The new lens features Canon's built in Optical Image Stabilization system which gives the equivalent effect of a shutter speed roughly 4 steps faster, for better image clarity, even in shaky shooting conditions. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.45m/1.5 ft. at all zoom settings, this new lens should prove to be ideal for those situations where swapping lenses isn't an option. An ideal complement to the EOS 50D SLR camera and all other EF-S compatible EOS SLR cameras, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is scheduled to be in stores this October at an estimated selling price of $699.00*.

Art of Nature Photography Course

Art of Nature (http://www.artofnature.com/) states that many people are missing out on taking great photographs because they do not understand the manuals that come with their cameras. In order to compensate for that, the company has began offering classes for people who want to understand more about digital and film photography.

The classes are designed to teach people how to find beautiful pictures. Instead of working on the technical aspects of photography, Art of Nature focuses on people using their eyes to find shots that they want immortalized in a picture. The company offers landscape photography courses and workshops in order to help people understand what they need to do in order to take the perfect picture.

Art of Nature states that every person has the talent to take great pictures. They simply need to develop that talent. In order to do that, the company says that it is not necessary to rely on the traditional rules. They claim that people can take pictures just like professional photographers by using their unique composition techniques.

The company says that it can teach students how to take the perfect holiday photos. They point out that this will save people money. Art of Nature says that their holiday photographs will look professionally done, even if they are done by the student.

The company says that students do not need expensive equipment to master the class. They say that unlocking the inner talent of the students is what is important, not the equipment that is used. They encourage people of all levels and with all kinds of equipment to register for a class.

Eileen Marsh, a 75 year old woman who took the class, said, "I have a new camera which I left in its box for many weeks. I was too scared to take it out. I have come to this late in life. I love it. Thank you Erik for opening my eyes."

Another student, Erin Rook, said, "Learning the technology aspect was fantastic but gaining the confidence in your own likes and dislikes was invaluable."

To learn more, visit http://www.artofnature.com/.

Smithsonian Magazine's Sixth Annual Photo Contest Now Open for Submissions

To date, Smithsonian magazine editors have judged a total of 72,000 photographs from more than 90 countries around the globe for their yearly amateur photography contests. With the breadth of experience to determine what sets a Smithsonian winning photo apart from the pack, Smithsonian.com's 6th Annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions at http://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/v6/. Smithsonian magazine judges post the best of the incoming entries online, in a new, ongoing photo gallery feature called "Picture This" (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/picture-this/ ).

"When we see the entrants' skill, passion and vision come together in an image that truly captures a moment, we know we have a winner," said Smithsonian magazine Editor Carey Winfrey. "The new 'Picture This' feature lets us showcase, on a rolling basis, the sheer volume and astounding diversity of photos we receive with top-prize potential."

Contestants can enter photographs in five categories: The Natural World, Americana, Altered Images, Travel and People that represent subjects of special interest to the magazine. Fifty finalists will be selected, ten for each of the five categories. Smithsonian magazine will notify the 50 finalists by February 28, 2009. From these 50 finalists, five category winners and a grand prize winner will be selected. The entries of all finalists will be published on the magazine's Web site on March 2, 2009. At that time, readers can vote online for one readers' choice winner. The winning entries will be published in the print edition of Smithsonian magazine during summer 2009.

World's Richest On-Line Photographic Competition

The International Aperture Awards on-line photography competition is open to ALL professional and aspiring photographers, photographic students and anyone with a hidden gift for capturing a winning photograph. Enter up to four images from the following categories for your chance to win - People and Portrait; Sport; Landscape; Science and Nature; Commercial/Advertising; Abstract/Illustrative; Photojournalism/Press.

Peter Eastway, the editor of Australia's Better Photography magazine and himself an international award winning photographer, believes the International Aperture Awards have an amazing potential to bring together the very best photography from all corners of the globe and showcase it to an international audience.

In addition, there will be a People's Choice Award so everyone can become involved, photographers and viewers alike. The Entry voted the People's Choice will receive USD$10,000 and four (4) Voters in the People's Choice Award, selected at random, will each receive USD$1,000.

A team of a 100 international industry professionals will judge the photos. Along with an overall winner, the top five entries from each category will be selected and the following prizes awarded: USD$6,000 (1st prize), USD$3,000 (2nd prize), USD$1,000 (3rd prize), USD$500 (4th Prize), USD$250 (5th Prize). And for the photographers just outside the winners circle, there are internationally recognized Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze merit awards to be earned for high scoring images.

If you think you have what it takes to capture a winning photograph, get your entries in on-line at www.internationalapertureawards.com from September 1st till October 29th 2008. The entry fee is USD$250 throughout September (the early bird special) and then rises to USD$290 during October.

Polaroid will be a major sponsor of The International Aperture Awards in 2008. You're only a few clicks away from sharing in photography's ultimate prize!

Website: http://www.internationalapertureawards.com/

Final call for entries to archaeological photography competition

Submissions are invited for the Picturing the Past competition ahead of the closing date for entries on 30 September 2008.

Devised by archaeologists at the University of Aberdeen, and funded by a Cultural Engagement Grant from the University, the competition calls for entrants to take inspiration from the range of archaeological sites and monuments located throughout Aberdeenshire.

Applicants are invited to enter images of archaeological sites or monuments from the area, which are older than AD 1500.

Entries are invited under three competition categories: adult monochrome images, adult colour images and children's images ( for those under 16 ). A maximum of two submissions will be accepted from each individual entrant.

Dr Karen Milek, Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Aberdeen said: "The competition is designed to encourage both budding and professional photographers to use the diverse range of visually striking archaeological monuments within the Aberdeenshire region, as the subject of their art.

"From Neolithic and Bronze Age stone circles to Iron Age hillforts and Pictish symbol stones, the competition is calling for photographers of all ages to capture distinctive and evocative images which tell the story of these intriguing sites."

The winners of the competition will be decided by both a panel of judges and members of the public, who will be invited to vote for their favourite image from among thirty finalists in an online picture gallery that will go live in October.

The judging panel will consist of staff from Aberdeen University's Archaeology and Education Departments, Marischal Museum, Aberdeenshire Council, and professional landscape photographer, Sandy Menzies.

An overall adult winner will be chosen from across both the monochrome and colour categories, and will win a cash prize of £1000.

Two cash prizes of £100 will be awarded to the runners up within both the monochrome and colour categories.

A first place prize of £50 and a second place prize of £25 will be awarded in the children's category.

From November, the top ten finalists in each of the three categories will have their work displayed in an exhibition called Picturing the Past: The Archaeology of Aberdeenshire, at the Old Town House, in Old Aberdeen. The competition winners will be announced on January 24 2009.

For more information, and for entry forms, visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/archaeology/photocompetition

"Global Storytellers" Celebrate the Work of Photographers from Around the Globe

As the pressures of climate change, population, and strains on the world's natural resources become severe, the photographic images of cultures -- often taken on the frontlines of cultures in transition -- become revealing and highly informative.

On Sept. 29, the "Global Storytellers" program will celebrate the work of four widely diverse photographers from around the globe: Khaled Hasan (Bangladesh), Farzana Wahidy (Afghanistan), Alejandro Chaskielberg (Argentina) and Rena Effendi (Azerbaijan). These four photographers, all 2008 All Roads photography awardees, represent the new generation of under-represented global storytellers -- each with their own unique visions and ways of celebrating the story of their culture.

The All Roads Photography Program recognizes and supports talented indigenous and minority-culture photographic storytellers from around the world who are documenting their changing culture and community through photography. The program provides a forum for photographers to showcase their unique perspectives to a global audience through exhibitions and panel discussions and offers awardees workshops and networking possibilities.

"Global Storytellers" is being hosted by a consortium including the National Geographic All Roads Film Project, Adobe, liveBooks, DataColor, FiftyCrows Foundation and the Aurora Forum. The program will be moderated by Mark Gonnerman of Stanford University's Aurora Forum, Chris Rainier from National Geographic and Andy Patrick of liveBooks/FiftyCrows Foundation.

This is event is open to the public and free of charge.


WHEN:
Monday, Sept. 29
Reception: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
(Refreshments & Light Fare)
Lecture: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Adobe Photo Systems
601 Townsend Street @ 7th Street
San Francisco, California

CONTACT:
Andy Patrick, andy@livebooks.com

WeSay Photo Contest Focuses on the Broken, the Weird and the Green

Enter your photos in several interesting categories ranging from the local eyesore in your town to weird pets and win prizes in WeSay.com's Citizen Photojournalism Photo Contest.

WeSay.com is an online news site that focuses on news photos from mainstream media and amateur photographers.

Prizes for the best photos entered in the contest which ends Oct. 17, 2008 are: three Apple iPhones plus gift certificates for $100, $75 and $50 from Photographer's Warehouse and a EuroBook gift certificate from dotPhoto. Honorable Mentions will also be issued for each category.

The channels on the site and contest categories are: News, Politics, Environment, Celebs, Sports, and Far-out.

There are special sub-categories in each area such as: Community Activism, Political Rallies, Who's Going Green?, Summer Sports, Local Musicians and Weird Pets.

There are no fees to enter. Photographers retain the rights to their photographs and photos will not be resold or redistributed.

The contest is open to amateur photographers only. WeSay.com promotes the work of amateur photographers and hopes to launch many into careers as photojournalists.

Website: http://www.wesay.com/contest/

Wanted: Avid Photographers and Nature Lovers

The National Park Foundation and Olympus Imaging America Inc. challenge everyone who can point and click to grab their camera, head to a federal land, and enter the 2008 Share the Experience Photo Contest. This year's official contest is sponsored by the National Park Foundation and Olympus in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

The 2008 Share the Experience Photo Contest will run from August 18, 2008 through December 31, 2008 and showcases the more than 500 million acres of Federal Lands, drawing entries from all across the United States.

All 2008 entrants will have the opportunity to win one of five exciting prize packages with a total of 14 winners. The Grand Prize winner will earn the international honor of having the winning image grace all the 2010 "Federal Recreation Lands Pass," an annual admission that provides access to all participating Federal Land Management Agency sites where an entrance fee is charged. Additionally, the grand prize winner will receive an Olympus E-3 DSLR digital camera kit and a five-day, four-night trip to a Federal Recreation Land of his/her choice.

Citizens and legal residents of the United States who are at least 18 years of age can enter by submitting up to three photo entries online at http://www.sharetheexperience.org/; or via mail in a hand-written, stamped envelope to:

Share the Experience Official Federal Recreation Lands Photo Contest c/o ePrize, LLC PO Box 8070 Royal Oak, MI 48068

All photographs entered must be taken in one of the Federal Recreation Agency Lands between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008, must be original creations, and must be submitted by the original photographer. PLEASE SEE OFFICIAL RULES AT http://www.sharetheexperience.org/.

Mail-in entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2008 and received by the close of business on January 8, 2009. Each envelope must include only one entry. All photos will be judged on creativity; photographic quality; visual appeal; appropriateness; ability to show diversity and the richness of the Federal Recreation Lands.

Additionally, the public will be able to view an online photo gallery of 2008 submissions from January 9, 2009 - January 16, 2009 and vote on their favorites from January 17, 2009 - January 31, 2009.

Shutterfly Launches Photo Based Social Network

Shutterfly, Inc. has launched Shutterfly Share Sites, a new service that combines the best of photo sites, blogs, and social networking in a way that allows customers to easily connect and collaborate with friends and family in a safe and secure environment. Share Sites bring a new dimension to story-telling by creating a single destination to solve the challenges of "multiple camera, single event" photo occasions like family reunions, weddings and team sporting events. Customers can create a free Shutterfly Share Site by visiting http://www.shutterfly.com/sharesite.

Also new today, Shutterfly adds the ability for customers to post and share their photo books on their personalized Share Sites. Once a photo book has been added, Share Site members can preview the book, add comments and order their own copy. If customers wish to create their own version of the book, a one-click process allows them to save it to their Shutterfly account and edit accordingly.