Destination Halifax Launches Halifax, Nova Scotia Photo Contest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!