"Enter for Your Chance to Win!"

It is often in the back of our minds, something we say we need to look into, and have the best intentions of pursuing, but how many photo contests have

you entered? 

 

It is a great way to start getting your name out there and also to observe some of the work by others in your area of interest.  Checking out the work of contest winners is also a great way to evaluate great photography and where you might need to make improvements in the next contests.

I come across photo contests fairly often in all the research I do for my classes.  Do not be discouraged if you do not win right away.  If anything, use that as motivation for improving your techniques!  I have a great resource for finding a huge variety of contests in which you can enter your photos for a chance to win money/gift cards, gear, and even exclusive trips.  Check out http://www.photocontestinsider.com/ for the latest list of contests and competitions!

 

 

 

Some contests going on right now are:

 

Strange Figurations

Monochrome Photography Awards

PHOTOcentric 2014

LensCulture’s Emerging Talent Awards 2014 

Endangered Art and Photography Contest 2014

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 
Goh, Shikhei. nationalgeographic. Photograph. National Geographic Society, 2011. Web. 16 June 2014. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2011/entries/gallery/nature-winners/?source=photomaindl_ngpc2011#/0>

Patjane, Anuar. nationalgeographic. National Gegraphic Society, 2011. Web. 16 June 2014. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2011/entries/gallery/places-winners/#/3>

photocontestinsider. Photo Contest Insider, n.d. Web. 16 June 2014. <http://www.photocontestinsider.com/ >

5 Ways to Get Out of Your Photography Funk

Much like writer's block, photographers can face the dilemma of having no idea what to shoot next. Maybe you live in a small town where you think nothing really happens, have a full-time job that makes it hard to get out and shoot during the day, or maybe you're a parent who feels that all you've shot recently are your kids because they are with you all the time. Whatever the case, you need a boost of inspiration to get out of that rut!

1. Finding people who share your passion for photography is a great start to getting out of your photographic funk. Check out the post about connecting with other photographers for ideas on local groups to join and forums to follow. Being part of something like a Meetup group can get you out shooting things you never would have thought of on your own!

2. Working with a new subject for portraits can re-inspire your love for lighting and bring out new emotions in your images. For classes that focus on the human form you are required to seek out different models for each project, so why not start utilizing Model Mayhem now and put out the call on social networks for people who thrive in front of a camera? Being a pretty shy person myself, I know it can be intimidating, but in order to run a business you're going to encounter all kinds of people, so getting over your fears now will help you succeed in the long run.

Tip 5: Take on a personal project!

3. Attending a party? Check with the hosts to see if they would like you to bring your gear. This can give you practice in event photography and amp up your enthusiasm. Make sure that you don't only play the role of photographer, though, because you are first and foremost a guest! The hosts will appreciate your documentation of their efforts, but they also want you to have fun (and may not realize that for many of us, taking pictures is the most fun of all!).

4. A great way to find out what's going on in your area is to check out community bulletin boards, both physical and virtual. It can be surprisingly fun to shoot something like a 5k run/walk or a town fair. Even a farmer's market offers a host of interesting subject matter (just be sure to ask before you start shooting someone's wares). If there's any sort of event going on, there's something for you to shoot.

5. Taking on a personal project can greatly improve your schoolwork. Picking a weekly theme will get you to look at the world around you differently, even on a simple walk with your dog. Sometimes these projects can start as personal but become something you explore further in class. For example, I wanted to revisit childhood memories as a way to create images for my parents. I ended up exploring this idea for class and was able to receive feedback on editing and effectiveness of my compositions to make a much better project than I would have had on my own.

Being a photography student is about challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone to become a better photographer. Don't limit yourself to what's easy: explore new locations with other photographers, work with new people, and bring your camera EVERYWHERE because you never know where you will find inspiration. If you have more tips on getting out of a photographic funk, leave them in the comments!

Good Morning from your Sunday Ambassador. My name is Wayne, I am currently enrolled in the BS Photography program.  I hope you are all staying cool from this heat wave. There are many different areas of photography, as there are many wonderful photographer's. One of my favorite subjects to photograph are weddings. This is a face paced environment and you don't always have the time to set up and get that "spectacular" image. I have worked with some great photographers who's idea was quantity not quality. So by the end of an 8 hour wedding they may have 3000 images, but many are unusable. Use your available ambient light, and always shoot in manual.

When photographing a wedding it is very vital that you know your equipment. This includes your camera, speed lights, strobes, remote triggers, reflectors and soft boxes. Try not to rush your images, take your time so that you can create those long lasting memories for your clients. Furthermore, know the advantages of shooting in manual mode vs. shooting in auto or one of the presets. Manual allows you, as a photographer to create the photograph and not allow the camera to decide what the final image looks like.

When photographing, I always shoot in RAW instead of JPG because RAW will capture all the data in the image with minimal compression. This allows for easier post production.

Below are some photographs from two recent weddings. Please feel free to ask questions and leave feedback.

                                                         Flash Mob Photography Network - Wayne Salat

   Flash Mob Photography Network - Wayne Salat

                                                       Flash Mob Photography Network  - Wayne Salat

                                                          Flash Mob Photography Network - Wayne Salat

Boy am I Tired...

Good morning PSPN'ers.  Wednesday Ambassador here and I just wanted to say that I am tired.  It's been non-stop now for what seems like months.  Classes every day, full-time job, and family make it hard to find time to sleep let alone find a little me time...

In the past 2 months I have finished 2 classes, started 2 more, shot events on the weekends, and finally went off for 2 and a half days camping with friends and family for Independence Day.  That break was well deserved, but then I got home and had to make up for the lost time on Saturday and Sunday.  Ugh!

So aside from my ranting, there really is a point here...I promise.

How do I keep going, class after class; term after term?

Simple.  I have a goal.  My goal is to graduate next spring. 


                                                    Done.  Finished.  Graduated.



I like the sound of that...Graduated.  It's part of what keeps me going day in and day out with the break neck pace of AIPOD.  Every day I am challenged to come up with a new project idea, refine the ones I already have, find my voice, present my vision, and become a better photographer.  Truth be told it's not easy and it shouldn't be either.  But I have a goal and that keeps me focused.

What are your goals?  What motivated you to embark on this journey and what keeps you motivated as you progress further and further?

There are no right answers and there are no wrong answers, only what works for you...

Share some of your motivations on the right
side of this page... I'll be here waiting to chat about it if you like.  :)



                                                                                                              Works Cited
EDUCATION Graduation. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 10 Jul 2013.http://quest.eb.com/images/158_2464362

Eye Strain. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 10 Jul 2013.http://quest.eb.com/images/132_1271101