Which traveler wouldn’t want to see his/her photo on the cover of travel guide? Probably everybody would love it. Now you have opportunity – Frommer’s announced photo contest for it’s cover. Winner also get $5000 cash and 4 runners-up will receive a prize pack of guide books and Lug travel accessories. So how to win this contest? Of course you need to submit photo and not just dream about it. Hardest part is select which photos (they allow multiply submissions) submit.
After looking to already submitted photos I notice people are missing one big point – it is book cover, so picture should look good in portrait orientation. Of course you can crop landscape photo to make it fit into portrait format, but with a lot of pictures this not gonna work.
Another issue I saw in submissions: people in the pictures. Probably not everybody heard about such thing as signed model release. So better don’t submit photo if you don’t know person in the picture and don’t have possibility to get signed this form from them. It can be too complicated with publishing of such picture.
But before you start browsing through your pictures go to travel guides section in your local book store. Just stand in front of it check covers. Not only Frommer’s, but others too. Like Lonely Planet, Rough Guide and etc. Look at it and you will know what sights or scenes you shouldn’t submit as you probably won’t find same place captured twice on cover of these books. So don’t submit what is already printed.
So let’s go and good luck. I am going to check my photo archive too.
UPDATE: please read this post about copyright issues before submiting any photos to Frommer’s contest.
UPDATE [April, 2010]: and photo contest winner is…read it here.
Good tips for entrants.
Regards
Barry Acott
I checked out the entry conditions in more detail at Frommers site.
Only residents of UK, USA and CANADA are eligible to enter.
We read Frommers here Australia but excluded from entering their competition.
I didn’t see that restriction when I read rules first time. Sorry about that.
.-= Vi´s last blog ..What to do in Sydney in February =-.
Those are great and thoughtful tips. I believe those who will participate should pay attention to points you mentioned.
Good luck to those who is submitting their photos for competition
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Very helpful tips indeed. Thanks for all your efforts
Regards
Donna-Michelle
The winning cover for the Morroco guide book is spectacular. The perspective of the desert from the camels eyes makes for a great shot.
Also clicked your link to the favorite travelers photo contest. The photo of the diver with the whale is almost unbelievable.
Thanks – if only I saw this sooner. I lost quite badly in the contest. Oh well, there is always next year lol.
I would stay away from getting model releases as you might not use the right wording. Better just to concentrate on photos without people in them, seems to me. Gorgeous food is what I will try.
I’ve been a bit desperate to win this photo contest for years now, but Larry is right, the only way to win it is to take photos of gorgeous food.
-Bob Miller from Awnings Johannesburg
These are definitely good tips, but I have a question regarding taking pictures of a scene with people in the view. What if there are too many people behind it?
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I am studying photography and want to set up a studio. Joining photo contest and winning is my dream. Thanks for these helpful tips!