Photo Contest List 2010
| Contest | Prize(s) | Deadline | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Geographic | First place winner receives a digital camera kit and has their photos published in National Geographic | 10/31/2010 | People, Places, Nature |
| You may submit a total of six (6) photos, entry fee is $12 per photo. | |||
| Photo Life | Epson Stylus Photo 1400 Ink Jet Printer | Rainbows - 1/15/2010 Summertime - 3/12/2010 Graveyards - 5/7/2010 Out the Window - 7/9/2010 |
|
| Open to Canadian residents only. Each participant can submit up to five (5) pictures per theme. | |||
| Smithsonian | Category: $500 Grand Prize: 4 Day Grand Canyon Weekend Adventure for two | 12/16/2009 | The Natural World, Americana, Altered Images, Travel, People |
| Five category winners and a grand prize winner will be published on the magazine's website. You may enter no more than seven (7) photographs in each of the five categories. | |||
| Orvis | $1000 Orvis gift card | 6/1/2010 | Nature |
| Submit your favorite photos of anything that is outdoors or fishing related. Photos could be of someone fishing, animals / wildlife, scenic rivers, landscapes, etc. Each vote requires a donation of $1, and your gift will go directly to American Rivers to fund river preservation efforts. | |||
| Photoburst | $50 gift certificate to Kiva | Daily | Travel |
| Each day a photo of the day is chosen and each month a photo of the month is chosen. | |||
| National Photo Awards | $250 | 20th of each month | Nature, Animals, People |
| Entry fee is $8.95 | |||
| Backpacker | Photo published in an issue of Backpacker magazine | 11/30/2010 | Nature |
| Participants may enter no more than six (6) photographs during the contest. | |||
| Photography Corner | varies | Monthly | varies |
| Quantum Leap Strategies | $250 | Last day of each month | Nature |
| Global Traveler | 10,000 Priority Club Rewards points | 12/30/2010 | Travel |
| Mom's Life | Photo published on website | Monthly | Baby |
| Child must be between the ages of 0-23 months in the photo to participate in the cutest baby photo contest. | |||
| FotoFanatic | Monthly cash award varies | Daily | varies |
| Better Photo | Deluxe BetterPholio Web Site. | Monthly | Nature, Animals, People, Travel |
| Babyzone | Photo published on website | Weekly | Baby |
| Each week BabyZone hosts four photo contests for the best baby, toddler, pre-schooler, and child photos. | |||
| Wall Done | Featured in group exhibition | 5/31/2010 | Open |
| Free to enter. | |||
| Extraordinary Exposures | $1,000.00 cash, ThinkTank International Roller Bag v2, & $100 BayPhoto.com Print Package | 11/30/2010 | Nature Landscapes, Wildlife, Urban Landscapes |
| First, second, and third prizes also awarded. | |||
| Kolo Photo Contest | First place: $500 cash, 120 monthly winners receive $50 in Kolo merchandise | 12/31/2010 | New theme each month |
| July's theme is FRIEND, which is open to interpretation. Enter up to 10 photos that follows the theme "friend." The more variety of entries, the better, so have fun with it! | |||
| SnapItTo.Me | Various photo contests and prizes | Many | Many |
Photo Contest Feedback
Photo Contest
A photo contest is organized to offer a venue for photographers to prove their artistic ability. Photo contests are often held by photography magazines and websites and gives photographers an opportunity to display their talent in a certain field of the art form. Contests can also be organized by photography clubs, camera manufacturers, book publishers, universities, etc. Typical categories include Nature, Travel, People, Kids, and Pets. Most contests include a prize for the best photo submitted. The prize can be simple recognition or can be quite lucrative. Large photography contests such as the one held by the Smithsonian usually include trips or large cash prizes for the first place winner.
Photo Contest Tips
Winning a photography contest is more about how you take the pictures themselves rather than what you take pictures of. Here are some tips that will help guide you to a photography win or two:
• Be unique: Judges of photo contests are always looking for unique shots. Of course you will want to follow the guidelines of the contest, but if the contest is one that allows shots of anything to be entered, then use your imagination. If it is specific, such as a contest of baby photographs, again think outside the box with the pictures you take.
• Click away: No matter what it is you decide to take a picture of to enter into the contest be sure that you take many shots of the subject. This will allow you to later go through all of the shots and really give some thought as to which one you will enter into the photography contest.
• Do your homework: If the contest is one that is held on an annual basis then take a look at what some of the past winners took pictures of. Where they action shots? Maybe they were abstract. Whatever the case may be you can get a leg up on the competition by doing a little homework ahead of time.
• Consider categories: Most photography contests will have a number of different categories. While you should certainly enter into the categories that you are most interested in you can also look at the categories and try to establish which ones will have the least amount of entries. While they may not be the most exciting categories, you will increase your odds of winning if there are very few entered into a certain category.
• Follow the rules: Okay this sounds like a no brainer but you would be surprised at the number of photography contestants that simply do not follow the contest rules. This typically leads to immediate elimination no matter how good the picture may be. You can be an instant step ahead of many if you read the rules and follow them to the letter.
• Have fun: If you find that you are stressing out while taking pictures to enter into the contest, then you need to stop and reevaluate. Contests are supposed to be fun and if you are not having fun and enjoying yourself then chances are you are putting too much thought into your shots and you are not going to take very good pictures. Stick with what you know and have fun with it.
While you certainly won’t win every photo contest you enter, if you keep at it you are sure to win your fair share. More importantly you may be able make some friends along the way and you will certainly enhance the joy of your picture taking hobby.
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