Saturday, September 20, 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

Lonely Planet Cover Contest

Lonely Planet Cover Contest
Deadline: September 8th, 2008

Have you ever dreamed of seeing your travel photos published on the cover of Lonely Planet? Well now’s your chance…

Lonely Planet and Pikeo are inviting photographers to submit their most unique and inspiring pictures of London, Paris, Barcelona and Istanbul.

Four winning shots will be chosen for the cover of Lonely Planet’s ‘Encounter’ guides to each city. The panel of judges consists of travel photography experts including representatives from the Association of British Photographers and Lonely Planet Images.

The winners of each cover will also receive a free trip to India, Russia, Morocco or Kenya courtesy of Intrepid Travel. In addition, twelve runners-up will receive prizes, as will a small selection of highly commended entries.

The winning images, plus Lonely Planet and Pikeo’s favourite shots, will be launched and showcased at a gallery exhibition in London when the guides go on sale next year.

The competition is open to those in the UK, France, Spain, USA and Canada and entries close on September 8, 2008.

Lonely Planet and Pikeo tips for a winning image:
- Images must be taken from a street perspective
- Use a reportage/documentary style
- Make the viewer feel they are actually there
- Have a central focal point
- Ensure composition is bold and colours are rich
- Avoid things looking staged by showing locals going about their everyday life
- Use iconic sights or architecture in an everyday context
- Always include people within your shots


Link: http://www.pikeo.com/event/lonely_planet_competition/results_coming_soon.jsp

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Nikon Photo Contest International 2008-2009

Nikon Photo Contest International 2008-2009
Deadline: November 30th, 2008

Now’s your chance to move the world. Entries to the 32nd Nikon Photo Contest International will be accepted from September 1 to November 30, 2008.

The Nikon Photo Contest International has been held by Nikon Corporation since 1969 to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike. Renowned among photo enthusiasts worldwide, the contest has so far attracted more than 1,270,000 images from a total of 306,000 photographers. In fact, so popular has the contest become among photographers that a total of over 47,000 images were received from more than 16,000 entrants in 135 different countries for the 31st contest alone.

This year’s theme: “At the heart of the image”
“At the heart of the image” is not only the brand statement of Nikon Imaging Company, but it is also the theme of the 32nd contest. We have carefully selected categories as stated below and we look forward to receiving images expressing the emotions that are true to your heart.

This year’s categories
A Free subject:
Express yourself freely, as it moves you.
B My Planet:
Express your world, whether that involves the environment, scenes from your daily life, or the people and things that stir your passions.

With these categories, Nikon welcomes and embraces photographic creativity and encourages images of human happiness from all over the world.

54 prizes awarded by a panel of international photographers
All works will be judged by professional photographers working internationally and a combined total of 54 prizes will be awarded. The Grand Prize will be awarded for the most outstanding photograph out of all the entries, regardless of category. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes will be awarded to 16 winners in each category. The Emerging Talent award will recognize 4 winners and 16 runners-up from both categories to commend those aged under 30 for work that possess outstanding expressive power and conveys the energy of youth. Additionally, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the NIKKOR brand of lenses. To properly commemorate this event, a special prize will be awarded to the outstanding work that places second after the Grand Prize winner.

An open opportunity
A competition that truly traverses borders, the Nikon Photo Contest International embodies an unrivalled opportunity – providing photographers everywhere with a chance to showcase their talents and giving us all a valuable insight into the lives of those around us. An exhibition of the winning photographs is also planned, so please take advantage of this opportunity to submit your work.

Entrant criteria
The Nikon Photo Contest International is open to all photographers, professional or amateur, from any part of the world.

The Prizes
A total of 54 winners will receive Nikon imaging products as shown in the table below. Winners of the Grand Prize, Emerging Talent Award and runners up will be given an opportunity to submit works in addition to their winning works for exhibition on the Nikon Photo Contest International Web site.
Prize Name Number of Winners Prize
Grand Prize 1 (selected from both categories) Nikon Digital SLR Camera D3
AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm F2.8G ED
AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm F2.8G ED
Exhibition of photograph on the contest Web site
NIKKOR 75th Anniversary Award 1 (selected from both categories) Nikon Digital SLR Camera D300
AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR
AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor ED 10.5mm F2.8G
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor ED 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G (IF)
1st Prize 2 (1 from each category) Nikon Digital SLR Camera D300
Speedlight SB-800
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor ED 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G (IF)
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor ED 105mm F2.8G (IF)
2nd Prize 10 (5 from each category) Nikon Digital SLR Camera D80
AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR
3rd Prize 20 (10 from each category) Nikon Digital SLR Camera D60
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm F3.5-5.6G VR
Emerging Talent Award 4 (selected from both categories) Nikon Compact Digital Camera COOLPIX P5100
Exhibition of photograph on the contest Web site
Runners-up: Emerging Talent Award 16 (selected from both categories) Nikon Compact Digital Camera COOLPIX S52c
Exhibition of photograph on the contest Web site

Prize winners are planned to be announced in July 2009.


Link: http://www.nikon-npci.com/

Smithsonian Magazine’s Sixth Annual Photo Contest

Smithsonian Magazine’s Sixth Annual Photo Contest
Deadline: December 1st, 2008

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’s 6th Annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions.

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.

Category winners will be awarded $500. The readers’ choice winner will be awarded $500. The grand prize winner will receive a four-day, three-night Smithsonian Journeys Grand Canyon Weekend Adventure for two from July 17-20, 2009, or the wholesale cash equivalent.

All entries must be uploaded by 2pm Eastern Time, Monday, December 01, 2008.

Link: http://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/v6/