DURHAM, NC – NPPA Region 4 director Denny Simmons has issued an invitation for photojournalists to participate in NPPA’s first-ever 24-hour photography contest, the “Shoot Out” at The Summit, June 23 through June 24, 2006, in Tampa, FL.
“This competition will offer you a chance to get your creative and competitive juices flowing as well as receiving tips on finding elusive pictures in a new setting,” Simmons, a staff photojournalist at The Courier & Press in Evansville, IN, said.
“We're going to keep the rules of the game as simple as possible to allow all participants to concentrate on the important (and fun) part: making pictures. Photographers will be given a 24-hour period to look for pictures. Most won't be able to shoot for a full 24 hours due to Summit speakers and seminars, but by offering a full 24-hour window of opportunity competitors will be able to set their own shooting schedule,” Simmons said. “However, when we say 24 hours, we mean 24 hours. We will synchronize our watches (and cameras) and head out knowing we need to have images turned in to an editor 24 hours later.”
There will be two categories: professional, and student.
“We will accept late entrants, but they will face the same deadline as those who took advantage of the whole 24 hours. Any picture made before the start of the contest, or made during the time period by an unregistered photographer, will not be eligible.”
Simmons says the contest will be digital. “The contest will be free to any photographer who is enrolled at The Summit. A $10 fee will be charged to others. Any gear you want to use is acceptable: multiple strobes, 800mm lenses, remotes, whatever you want is fine. We don't want to dictate your ‘style’ and we want you to be comfortable with your equipment. This will allow photographers the freedom to make their pictures without having to puzzle over an unfamiliar camera and miss moments.” Photographers need to supply their own equipment; no gear will be provided for the contest.
“We are also not going to pigeon hole you into shooting a theme. We are not going to tell you to go out and show us your take on ‘family,’ ‘emotion’ or ‘relationships.’ We want you, the photographer, to make pictures you enjoy making. We didn’t leave our jobs for the weekend only to be told how to make pictures. Show us your vision.”
Simmons reminds photographers that this is an NPPA event and that all photojournalists are required to follow the NPPA Code of Ethics. “Any departure from those guidelines and the photographer will be disqualified from competition.”
“Compact flash cards will be dropped off to a technician for downloading at a central location. There is a 100 pictures per photographer maximum allowed to be viewed by the editor. You can delete images that you don't want in-camera, or you may download your images to do a pre-edit before meeting with an editor.”
Pictures cannot be “worked” in a computer until after a judge or editor has seen the original image. “After that, the photographer and editor can crop a picture together and set basic levels. There will be no dodging, burning, layering, etc. This is a competition about creating pictures with a camera, not a computer. And in the spirit of keeping things simple, this will keep the process moving quickly.”
After photographers and editors have chosen their favorite images (five is the limit), all the “in” pictures will be gathered and placed in two folders (professional and student categories) for judging. The judging panel will be made up of respected members of the profession, and judging will be open. Judges will pick the top three pictures in the professional and student categories.
For more information eMail Simmons.
Learn more about The Summit, including a Life Member lunch and online conference registration.
