Silent Devotion

Entering Photograph Contests Can Yield Many Rewards

Photo contests are generally for just about anyone who is interested in entering, whether you are:

A novice photographer.

A photography enthusiast.

Someone with a camera and a creative mind.

Someone who’s just bored.

Unlike poetry or cooking contests (where there’s a definite level of skill involved) almost anyone can start taking pictures with a camera. With digital cameras getting better and better, there’s really not much you have to learn. Photography has truly become a ‘point-and-click’ affair.

Why should you enter a photo contest?

I’m glad you asked that! Contests are a great way to:

a) Win money or prizes.

b) Show off your talent. Your photo could be published in well-respected photography books or industry magazines if you win.

c) Be judged by experts, critics, and peers in your field.

d) Receive amazing benefits including the opportunity to talk to editors, well-known photographers, equipment manufacturers, etc.

e) Perhaps gain a little fame; certainly receive instant exposure.

The prizes range from small cash prizes to fully equipped photo studios from a few rolls of film to exotic photo safaris.

Here is a short list of some of the prizes being offered from current and past contests:

* Participation in Land Rover Biosphere Expedition to Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains to survey wolves, chamois and bears.

* A three-week overland adventure in Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar

* An $8,500 Grand Prize that includes a Nikon camera, lenses and flash system, notebook computer and printer, software and many other accessories.

* A Grand Prize valued at approximately $9,300 Grand Prize that includes a Nikon Digital camera kit plus a trip to the Northwest Territories.

Besides winning prizes, entering photograph contests afford you an opportunity to build your own real-life portfolio and depending on the contest, becoming a winner. Even if you just finish near the top you could launch your photo career.

Sowhat are you waiting for?

How to Begin the Process

Get started by selecting a contest. Then visit this extensive ‘list of photo contests’ (link to your website’s photo contests page) at www.proofpositive.com. Here you will find dozens of on-going photo contests. The list is continually updated, so visit often.

Once you’ve chosen a contest, put the deadline date on your calendar. Either look through your existing photos or schedule a time to take the “winning photo.” Be sure to read the rules, fill out the necessary forms, send in or upload your photo and wait for the announcement that YOU are the winner.

Winning Tips for Entering Contests

Every contest is different. There are different eligibility standards as well as different rules and entry regulations. One of the first things you have to do is determine whether or not you are qualified for the contest. Here are a few other tips:

- Follow all the instructions! This cannot be emphasized too strongly! Ensure that you know the theme of the contest that is being run. It’s amazing the number of people who submit their favorite picture of their new puppy to a nature- or scenic-themed contest! Most contests have a limit to the number of submission each entry can make.

- Check out the contest website for past winners. It’s wise to check the pattern with which judges select winners. Photo contests aren’t exactly Olympic sports; the judges are subjective (remember: beauty is in the eye of the beholder), and while they do their best to remain objective and impartial, it’s imperative that you have an idea of what the panel of judges considers ‘winning’ material.

- Carefully read the terms and conditions of participating for each contest you decide to enter. Some contests require you to give up the copyright to your work or photo just by entering the contest. Why would you showcase your work if you don’t retain legal right to it? Make certain you read all the fine print before you submit your entry!

That’s it. Register, show off your work, and collect your prizes!

Editing sing Adobe Photoshop Elements for Mac

You’ve taken loads of photos with your digital camera and they are stashed away somewhere on the hard drive of your Mac, hidden from sight. Does this scenario sound familiar? Do your photos need organizing and editing but you are at a loss as to where to start? Below are some recommendations to help you get started.

To start with you will need a digital photo editing program. I personally recommend Adobe Photoshop Elements Mac Version 4.0. This version is compatible with all G-series as well as the new Intel Macs. Photoshop Elements is an easier to use version of the professional Adobe Photoshop software. Since it is aimed at the home digital photo enthusiast, Elements carries out basic photo editing tasks promptly and effortlessly and includes many sophisticated Photoshop features which are available to you at the click of a mouse.

The user interface is well laid out and easy to understand; Elements includes a great feature for the digital photo editing beginner, the use of descriptive icons, where you hover your mouse over an icon and message pops up with a description of its function. Organizing your photos is a snap as well since Elements allows you to manage, sort, delete and view your picture collection in a variety of different ways including face tagging and keyword tagging. There is also an exhaustive list of file properties for each of your images so misplacing photos will be a thing of the past. Since there is a partnership between Adobe and Kodak you the opportunity to share your photos online, print greetings cards, custom calendars or photo books. A quick note: before you eject the install cd you want to make sure you copy the Goodies folder to your hard drive - it contains a huge variety of frames, backgrounds and extras to play around with.

Quick Fix allows you to execute basic editing functions which can correct the most common digital photo flaws. With a few clicks of the mouse smart fix and auto red-eye removal easily gives you a photo that is ready to print. Some more handy functions include the skin tone adjustment tool, which makes skin tones appear more natural and the straighten tool which allows you to straighten and crop crooked photos. A couple of the more advanced features include the magic selection brush and magic extractor tool. Using the magic selection brush you can scribble on an object and, providing there is enough contrast between it and the background, Elements will select it for you. The magic extractor is an even better tool; it is easy to use and allows you to separate objects from the background of an image in seconds with great accurately.

Hopefully you now understand that if you want to edit your photos with no trouble with and a minimum of fuss, and get them off your hard drive for people to see, Adobe Photoshop Elements Mac Version 4.0 offers all the functionality you’ll ever need and is excellent value for money.