Tag Archives: Photo Contest

Thrive After Fifty 2014 World Photo Contest

ThriveAfterFifty.com (http://www.thriveafter50.com), a premier website devoted to productive and authentic re-creation of self in the “best-half” of life, is partnering with PhotoScramble, http://www.photoscramble.com, an innovative online photo contest entrepreneur, to host its first premier digital photo contest depicting 50+ year-olds out “thriving” in the world.

Newsletter website Thrive After Fifty (http://www.ThriveAfterFifty.com/offer), a website designed for people choosing to re-invent themselves in their “best-half” of life, is asking the active and inspired public to submit their best photos of enterprising fifty-plus year olds actively engaged and “thriving” in life for their 2014 World Photo Contest “How Are You Thriving?”.

Thrive After Fifty Photo Contest
How are you Thriving?

The contest, which runs through September 30, asks users to submit photos to contest creator and partner Photoscramble (http://www.photoscramble.com), an innovative online photo contest developer, host of this first premier digital photo contest. Contestants should submit photos showing active engagement in activities, hobbies, adventures, or personal passions.

Twelve finalist will be judged by site users who will rate each post and ultimately select finalist competing for the $300.00 first prize. This is why it is beneficial for those entering the contest to invite their friends and families to visit and vote for their favorite photo. Visit the contest website at http://www.photoscramble.com/contests/thrive-after-fifty-photo-contest-how-are-you-thriving for details.

The winning entry will be judged by a panel of experts chosen by Photoscramble.com. The image that conveys the most empowering “thriving” qualities, without neglecting the highest photographic standards that makes a picture great, will be chosen as the winner.

The winning photo will be featured on the front cover of the 2014 Thrive After Fifty calendar. The eleven runner-ups will fill the remaining calendar pages. From the inspiring and motivated, to the adventuresome and exhilarating, your photos can galvanize individuals to “thrive” across the planet. Entries are due on September 30 with winners announced and published on October 15, 2013 on the Thrive After Fifty and PhotoScramble websites.

“Through this contest, we’re inviting the fifty-plus community to share their creative juices and flair for “thriving” in life with the goal of motivating and inspiring others to live boldly and actively in this ‘best-half’ of life,” said founder and CEO Glenn Baja. “We believe that there is no better time in life than now for the fifty-plus boomers to regroup, reorganize, and reinvent themselves and truly participate in real change by getting in touch with their true passion and authenticity.” This is why this site has decided to run a contest: to inspire others to boldly create and live their dreams.

ThrivingAfterFifty.com supports and guides individuals to manifest the life they’ve always ached for and desired, but just didn’t get around to. It motivates and inspires boomers to take actionable steps to live the life you once envisioned for yourself. The mission of ThriveAfterFifty.com is to supply every individual with the tools needed to create a lifestyle of your design, and help you live a life of purpose, authenticity, and fulfillment. For more information, visit http://www.thriveafterfifty.com/offer/.

There is a $10 entry fee and all proceeds will go to the Imagination Foundation, a children’s a charity. (imagination.is)

About PhotoScramble
At photoscramble.com, we like to have fun. PhotoScramble has developed the tools necessary for individuals, companies and non-profit organizations to create a photo contest. Photoscramble has plans for every budget, starting at Free.

For more information, please visit photoscramble.com Eric Freed.

Contact:
Eric Freed
Phone: 231-932-0851 Ext 11
Email: eric(at)photoscramble(dot)com

http://bit.ly/16FBG6a

 

 

Visual Edge: Practical Tips for New Photographers

There are times when the moment captures the photographer. When this happens, savor the reality, close your eyes, see the vision, embrace it, then take the shot…Sanny Leviste

SF Bay Area Winter Sunset 3280 by Sanny Leviste

Pressing the button is the easy part of photography. Like in hunting, bagging a trophy involves your whole being. You should see the canvas in your mind and compose it with all the elements of the masterpiece you envision. You must have, at the very least your weapon of choice. Do not rush. Know your camera well and practice using it often until it becomes like an extension of your body. If you know your equipment well, your camera will respond consistently and be a dependable ally. It will treat you well.

Make sure you have all the battery power you need. Often, two batteries will not be enough particularly when you use the external view finder/ monitor. They consume power. Lenses on automatic mode and image stabilizer functions left on consume battery power at a higher rate. Having three or four batteries is a good thing, so long as they are charged. If you also use video (for cameras that have the function), be prepared to have more batteries and memory disks. In our excitement, it is easy to forget  those little but essential components of the camera. When these components are missing during a shoot, it will be like driving without gas and really mess up the shoot.

Two very important accessories to have are tripod and remote timers. The tripod will hold your camera steady for long exposure shots while a remote will allow you to take pictures without the usual camera shake. Some remote timers can be programmed to trigger the camera hundreds of times at specific intervals so you can make a video of clear images in succession for time lapse photography. The remote will also allow the photographer to be in a blind for wildlife photography.

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras have interchangeable lenses. It is advisable to have both wide angle for short and medium distance shooting, and a zoom lens for medium to long range shooting. Point and shoot cameras often have most of the range of the DSLRs but mostly operate on automatic mode. This is acceptable for many photo situations but lack the creative options that are readily available for the DSLRs. They are however less expensive and will do a decent job in many photo situations.

In any situation, it is best to know your camera like an extension of your body. It is important to understand the different functions of your camera, specially in relation to manual operations and speed of adjustments. This knowledge will make the difference between ordinary pictures and exceptionally fine ones.  Familiarize yourself with the camera so that you can make full and efficient use of it when opportunity presents itself or for remembering and documenting situations.  In many cases, the combination of the camera and the telephone or the portable  computer has allowed many business and social opportunities to unfold.

Be aware of your surroundings. Knowing what to look for and where to find it is essential. Since photographers deal with light and shadow, ask yourself constantly what it is that you want to see in the photograph. In composing photographs, take note of the effect of items and colors that may distract the potential viewer’s eyes, unless of course, that is the objective. Photography to me is a form of digital painting. The screen is my canvas and I set my camera on manual mode to get the hues, the play of light and shadow that unleashes the vision that I want to share. Paint that image in your mind and constantly seek opportunities to improve on that image. You will find many possibilities in the field, usually within a few feet from where you stand.

Often I am asked what camera I would recommend for beginners. It really depends on what the user needs it for. There is no need for a fancy camera with all the bells and whistles if it will only be set aside for display purposes. A cell phone with a camera function will do and will often create opportunities to capture images that the user wants or needs to share.

We can spend hours and days, even years discussing the benefits of one camera over another like hobbyists compare their toys, We can talk about lenses, accessories, equipment, techniques, experience etc. but in the end I really believe the photograph is a document and it indeed speaks more than a thousand words if well taken. It is like a passport that is neither real or fake – only efficient or inefficient. It can be like a flyswatter used on a fly instead of a 45 caliber that would punch a hole through the table but would still miss the fly, or a martial artist using a chopstick efficiently against an aggressor having a knife or a gun. The document produced by the camera can be the source of affection or the source of hatred…or simply annoying. But I know also that the same document called the photograph can be a source of education, of pleasure, of joy.  In the right hands, with attitude and disciple it can be one of the most creative instruments that can change lives, communities even nations. That document called a photograph can inspire people to correct a past and create a future. In the right perspective the images produced can raise funds for a cause and manifest the vision, creativity, ability, discipline and foresight  of a leader who can share in the universal language of visual communication dreams and inspiration for all.

Slough Birds 0425 by Sanny Leviste
Slough Birds 0425 by Sanny Leviste

So, go out there and seize the world through your photographs. Join contests. Share ideas. And when your first photograph is requested for a fundraiser, purchased for a home, featured in a publication, wins a contest or even gets stolen…celebrate with pure joy in your heart…and an ice cream cone…Because you have proven beyond doubt that there is a demand for your creative genius, appreciation for your passion and honest admiration (by those who steal your work) because imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery.
Then go out and take a difficult image using manual settings until you capture one that will make you smile from within.  Whisper to yourself with a grin and say “It wasn’t the camera folks”…

Geology photo contest highlights adventure and education

GVSU Photo Contest
Grand Valley State University Photo Contest

Geologists at Grand Valley State University have traveled all over the United States and abroad learning and discovering the geological make-up of our world, and they have found a way to share the experience.

Professors Peter Wampler and Peter Riemersma want to show students the adventure awaiting them in the geology department, and they’ve decided to do this with a photo contest.

“Most geologists are geologists because they like to be outdoors and they like to see beautiful places, and this is a great way to do that vicariously through other people’s experience,” Wampler said.

The two professors were inspired during the Geological Society of America Conference, and they took the idea home and made it their own. Last year, they did all the work through Blackboard, but this year they partnered with PhotoScramble to take the load off their shoulders.

“We take students on field trips and we know everyone’s taking photographs and we’re taking photographs, and they just sit in a file somewhere. The best ones you never get to see,” Riemersma said.

With constant communication and new ideas always popping up, the Peters and Eric Freed, PhotoScramble’s digital marketing manager, worked together to create a platform that highlights the geology department’s experiences for both students and alumni.

“It’s a way for outsiders to see what the geology department is up to and the way they can share photos and see what it’s like to actually graduate with the major and see all the cool field trips they go on,” Freed said.

A little friendly competition is the basis, but the goal was to create a window into the geology department. The professors are hoping to spark interest in future geology majors and create a positive outlook for students enrolled in the program.

“We wanted to make it kind of fun and give students a flavor of what our students and people who are geologist do,” Wampler said. “So that’s why we have geologists at work and geologists at play because we have a lot of fun on our field trips and we wanted to capture that and let people see that.”

The contest is made up of seven categories; Abstract Images, Best Field Trip Photo, Geological Processes, Geologists at Play, Geologists at Work, Midwest Geology, and Most Educational. Each student was allowed to submit up to four pictures into each category, and over the span of a few weeks, students submitted nearly 150 photos.

Now, geology students, faculty, and alumni will cast their votes for their favorite photos in each category. The winners will be announced Monday, Feb. 25, at the Geology Department’s Ninth Annual Chili Cook-Off.

If you want to check out the pictures you can find them at www.photoscramble.com or playing on a kiosk in Padnos Hall.

jsmith@lanthorn.com

Source: http://www.lanthorn.com/article/2013/02/geology-photo-contest-highlights-adventure-and-education