Now Open For Submission: New York Photo Awards

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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].