Sometimes you need a little bit of a push to get creative with your camera. It's easy to get stuck in old habits, and having a goal in mind at the outset can sometimes bring out new ideas and unexpected insights. Entering photos in competitions not only gives you something to work towards, it might also bring you worldwide exposure (as well as more tangible rewards).
Here are 6 annual contests you should consider entering:
Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award In celebration of its 30th year, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (for professional photographers only) has added a Newcomer Award category, open to prospective professional photographers, 25 years or younger. They are looking for a series of photos (up to 12) showing the interaction between man and the environment, and the deadline is March 1st, 2009. The winner will receive $2,500 Euros (presented at the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie festival in Arles, France) and their work on display in an online gallery at Leica's website.
IPA - International Photography Awards This competition is open to professional, non-professional and student photographers, and there are lots of categories to choose from. A few examples are Bridges, Underwater, Self-Portrait, Micro and Digitally Enhanced, and the cost to enter (for non-pros) is $25/single image, $50/series (2-5 photos), and $15 for each additional category. The jury selects 21 category winners, and each receives a Certificate of Achievement, tickets to the Lucie Awards ceremony, and the annual IPA book. In addition to that, the top three winners get cash prizes ($10,000 and $5,000), Lucie statues, and exhibitions of their work, and The Photographer of the Year also gets to travel to the Czech Republic and be featured in and shoot a portion of a Pilsner Urquell documercial. The deadline is March 27, 2009.
The Underwater Images Competition The prizes in this contest are jawdroppingly fabulous, AND you help support education, scholarships and marine conservation by entering. It's only $10/image to enter, and you may submit as many photos as you want. The judges select three winners from each category, and the prizes include diving equipment, gift certificates, several dive & accommodation packages, and (I saved the best for last), dive trips to Bonaire, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Hawaii, Honduras, Cayman Islands and Indonesia. The 2009 deadline is April 1 (although you may enter between April 1 - April 10 for an extra $5/photo).
2009 National Wildlife Contest This is the 39th annual photo contest held by National Wildlife Magazine, and they welcome pros, amateurs and youths (13-17). The categories are: Mammals, Birds, Other Wildlife, Backyard Habitats, Connecting People and Nature, Landscapes and Plant Life, and, new for 2009, Global Warming and Wildlife. It's $15 to enter, and you may submit up to 20 photos before the July 20 deadline. The fee also includes a one-year membership to National Wildlife Federation AND six issues of the magazine, so it's quite a bargain! Prizes include cash ($1,000 and $5,000), field guides, calendars, and your photo(s) online and in print.
National Geographic What's National Geographic famous for? That's right, great photography. It goes without saying that competition is fierce at "World in Focus", their annual photo contest, but give it a shot (no pun intended) anyway, you never know! Amateurs and Professionals compete separately, and the jury selects 11 winners from the amateur group and 6 from the pros. The 2009 contest has not started yet, but it usually runs April - September. Last year's categories were "Spontaneous Moments", "Travel Portraits", "Sense of Place", "Outdoor Scenes" and "Photo Essay" (up to 6 photos), and prizes included trips to Patagonia, Chile and Maine, photography workshops and camera gear.
Islands Magazine Islands' annual photo contest is on its 20th year, and if you like travel, this is one to enter for sure. They are looking for island-based travel photos, and the entry fee is only $3/photo. Prizes this year include trips to Fiji, Oahu, Iceland and Aruba. The 2009 deadline was January 31st, so set your sights on entering next year (something to keep in mind while vacationing this year).
Here are 6 annual contests you should consider entering:
Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award In celebration of its 30th year, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (for professional photographers only) has added a Newcomer Award category, open to prospective professional photographers, 25 years or younger. They are looking for a series of photos (up to 12) showing the interaction between man and the environment, and the deadline is March 1st, 2009. The winner will receive $2,500 Euros (presented at the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie festival in Arles, France) and their work on display in an online gallery at Leica's website.
IPA - International Photography Awards This competition is open to professional, non-professional and student photographers, and there are lots of categories to choose from. A few examples are Bridges, Underwater, Self-Portrait, Micro and Digitally Enhanced, and the cost to enter (for non-pros) is $25/single image, $50/series (2-5 photos), and $15 for each additional category. The jury selects 21 category winners, and each receives a Certificate of Achievement, tickets to the Lucie Awards ceremony, and the annual IPA book. In addition to that, the top three winners get cash prizes ($10,000 and $5,000), Lucie statues, and exhibitions of their work, and The Photographer of the Year also gets to travel to the Czech Republic and be featured in and shoot a portion of a Pilsner Urquell documercial. The deadline is March 27, 2009.
The Underwater Images Competition The prizes in this contest are jawdroppingly fabulous, AND you help support education, scholarships and marine conservation by entering. It's only $10/image to enter, and you may submit as many photos as you want. The judges select three winners from each category, and the prizes include diving equipment, gift certificates, several dive & accommodation packages, and (I saved the best for last), dive trips to Bonaire, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Hawaii, Honduras, Cayman Islands and Indonesia. The 2009 deadline is April 1 (although you may enter between April 1 - April 10 for an extra $5/photo).
2009 National Wildlife Contest This is the 39th annual photo contest held by National Wildlife Magazine, and they welcome pros, amateurs and youths (13-17). The categories are: Mammals, Birds, Other Wildlife, Backyard Habitats, Connecting People and Nature, Landscapes and Plant Life, and, new for 2009, Global Warming and Wildlife. It's $15 to enter, and you may submit up to 20 photos before the July 20 deadline. The fee also includes a one-year membership to National Wildlife Federation AND six issues of the magazine, so it's quite a bargain! Prizes include cash ($1,000 and $5,000), field guides, calendars, and your photo(s) online and in print.
National Geographic What's National Geographic famous for? That's right, great photography. It goes without saying that competition is fierce at "World in Focus", their annual photo contest, but give it a shot (no pun intended) anyway, you never know! Amateurs and Professionals compete separately, and the jury selects 11 winners from the amateur group and 6 from the pros. The 2009 contest has not started yet, but it usually runs April - September. Last year's categories were "Spontaneous Moments", "Travel Portraits", "Sense of Place", "Outdoor Scenes" and "Photo Essay" (up to 6 photos), and prizes included trips to Patagonia, Chile and Maine, photography workshops and camera gear.
Islands Magazine Islands' annual photo contest is on its 20th year, and if you like travel, this is one to enter for sure. They are looking for island-based travel photos, and the entry fee is only $3/photo. Prizes this year include trips to Fiji, Oahu, Iceland and Aruba. The 2009 deadline was January 31st, so set your sights on entering next year (something to keep in mind while vacationing this year).
About the Author:
DeeDee Dobson encourages everyone to enter their photos in contests. On her blog, she talks about stylish pink digital cameras and the many choices available.
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