 Dan Kachmer |
Picture.com photo contest. I recently received an invitation to the 2004 International Society of Photographers Convention and Symposium in Washington DC. According to the invitation, I am up for Amateur Photographer of the Year in the North American Amateur Photography Competition. I too, entered the picture.com photo contest several months ago, and like several others, was selected for publishing. I have read other postings about the contest and the questions posted about it's credibility. I must admit, it seemed a little too good to be true for me too. I know their book offer left a bad taste in some mouths, but that's nether here nor there. I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about this competition in Washington DC, or if anyone else has been invited.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
I never have, but your one of a growing number that have come on here who have gotten the letter, and have asked about it. I'm beginning to realize that they somehow get names like telemarketers do, since this is a place of concentration of people into photography. So I'm thinking if I keep my website long enough, that I may one day get the same letter. But to make it short and to the point. They tell you you MAY be up for an award, and you HAVE A CHANCE to win. But really, if you send the money in, you get in whatever book they have. You wait forever to get it, if you ever do. But if you don't send the money, your picture is discarded.
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Dan Kachmer |
Like I said, Im not asking about the book! And NO, unless you enter one of their contests you won't have to worry about getting a letter. If anyone else has any "useful" information about the convention in DC, I would be much abliged. Thank you.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
My bad diva, no need to get uptight. The convention, contest, and the book are all part of the same routine. Any picture is said it can win, you may be selected. Your part of a big crowd that gets invited. Didn't realize I didn't make that clear before. Somehow they get people's name and address, send a letter saying their pictures can win and all that. No matter how bad the pictures look. They even say yours can win.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Caught a typo. Meant to say "you're part of a big crowd..." not "your.." Wouldn't want you to get upset over inproper syntax.
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Damian P. Gadal |
I got invited via email, for a possible win. Let me just say that I DIDN'T submit anything to them, so I consider their invitation bogus, and an unsolicited piece of propaganda.
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Sandy Mccray |
I have recently been invited to this International Society Of Photographers Convention the letter stated that I was chosenby top professional photographers to receive the outstanding Achievement Photography Award a silver Bowl Award for my photo I entered ,and I am a professional also It will be given to me by the top pro photographer David Doubilet at this convention did yours all say this ame thing? Plus I would receive a free 3.1 mega pixel camera for the convention competitions is this what all your letters stated? Just curious.
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Damian P. Gadal |
Ladies and gentlemen, and fellow photographers . . . It's now time to declare the winner of the largest cash prize ever awarded to an amateur photographer . . . Our Photographer of the Year for 2004 . . . and Grand Prize winner of $5,000 is . . . Damian Gadal! We're familiar with your photography, Damian, and you know . . . Dear Damian, I would like to inform you of your nomination as Photographer of the Year for 2004, and to personally invite you to compete at the single largest gathering of photographers in history, where you will be formally inducted as an Honorary Member of our Society for 2004. Your induction will take place Friday evening, April 2nd in the United States Capital, Washington, D.C., during the 2004 International Society of Photographers 2004 Convention and Symposium. You will also be honored with two separate and very special awards for your artistry at special ceremonies throughout the weekend.
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Damian P. Gadal |
First, to honor and commemorate your photographic accomplishments, after you display your photograph on a giant screen and speak about the story behind your photograph, amidst the applause from the audience, you will be presented with your Outstanding Achievement in Photography Silver Award Bowl. The Award is a magnificent work of art in itself ($200.00 value), uniquely engraved and mounted on a cherry-wood base (see it here). This incomparable award is so large and heavy, you may need an extra suitcase just to carry it home! And Damian . . . there's much more . . . In recognition of your participation at this prestigious International Symposium, we will also create and present to you a beautiful and colorful Commemorative Award Medallion to honor your artistic dedication and achievements. 45 PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL SHARE OVER $25,000.00 TOTAL IN PRIZES--INCLUDING
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Damian P. Gadal |
First, you will vie for Amateur Photographer of the Year in the North American Amateur Photography Competition to be held exclusively for Convention attendees, where you could win a Grand Prize of $5,000.00 or one of 29 other cash and gift prizes. Your selection as a competitor entitles you to receive a Free 3.1 Megapixel Digital Camera with LCD (a $300.00 value), which you will use throughout the weekend to create your entry into the competition, and which you may take home as our gift to you at the conclusion of the convention. Everyone has the same chance to win the $5,000.00 Grand Prize (or one of 29 other cash and gift prizes) because the competition comprises only those photographs taken in Washington, D.C. (a wondrous and beautiful city in which to execute your imaginative photographic artistry) during the convention weekend and taken with your new 3.1 Megapixel Digital Camera. You will also participate in the International Open Photography Contest, which is also exclusively for those photographers who will be attending the convention. In this contest you will be entitled to submit any one of your favorite existing photographs that you will bring with you to the convention (please bring copies because these cannot be returned). Your best photo could win the $5,000.00 Grand Prize or one of 14 other cash and gift prizes that will be awarded in this second contest. In all, $25,000.00 in cash and prizes will be awarded at this single event! LIGHTS . . . CAMERA . . . ACTION!
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Damian P. Gadal |
And that's still just the beginning . . . we've got three very special days planned for you . . . ones you'll never forget! **You will be officially inducted as an honorary member of the International Society of Photographers for 2004. **You will receive your custom engraved Outstanding Achievement in Amateur Photography Silver Award Bowl mounted on a beautiful cherry-wood base (a $200.00 value). **In recognition of the publication of your photography by The International Library of Photography and Picture.com, we will also create and present to you a beautiful and colorful Commemorative Award Medallion to honor this photographic achievement. **You and your photography will be honored at a Gala Banquet Awards Ceremony, and you will attend two separate entertainment extravaganzas. **You will participate in a fantastic convention competition featuring 30 prizes totaling $15,000.00 -- including a $5,000.00 Grand Prize and Amateur Photographer of the Year honors. Everyone will have an equal chance to win these prizes because photographs eligible for the competition must be taken during the event weekend itself. **You will also participate in the International Open Photography Competition, where you will have an additional chance to win prizes. Your favorite existing photograph can win the Grand Prize of $5,000.00 or one of 14 other prizes to be awarded in this second contest. **You will enjoy dazzling entertainment shows created especially for you featuring The Marvelettes, the Legendary Motown singing group and members of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, plus special surprise guest entertainers each night. These performances will thrill and delight you. There will also be lots of other entertainment including two Midnight Dance Parties. **You will learn more about your craft in hands-on seminars and workshops led by some of the most talented photography faculty ever assembled. You will have the opportunity to work directly with these professionals, along with professional models, props, and lighting to create your own dramatic photographs. **You will have the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with Award-winning National Geographic photographer David Doubilet, world renowned photographer Gordon Munro, who has conducted some of the most important fashion shoots all over Europe and Hollywood, and Stuart Haman, whose sports and action photographs are widely recognized among the best in the world. **You'll learn directly from famous celebrity photographer, Bob Gruen, whose seminal photographs of John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna have achieved iconic stature. **You will have the opportunity to see the latest advances in the photographic arts, and talk with the many exhibitors who will be displaying their equipment, accessories, and services in the Exhibit Hall. **You and your guests will be eligible to win door prizes valued at over $6,000.00. **You will make friendships that will last a lifetime and will return home with wonderful memories, your Outstanding Achievement in Amateur Photography Silver Award Bowl, your 3.1 Megapixel Digital Camera (a $300.00 value in itself), your Commemorative Award Medallion, hundreds of your own professional-looking photographs in all areas of photographic artistry, and lots of other surprises. DON'T BE LEFT OUT Don't miss this opportunity. Space is limited. Plan to join your fellow photographers in the United States Capital, Washington, D.C., April 2-4, 2004 for the photographic event of the year! I am also looking forward to meeting you and celebrating the power and beauty of photographers and photography! Sincerely, Click here for more information. Click here to Register Now, or go to P.S. I'm sending you this reminder since you previously requested to be notified of photography news by e-mail. If you no longer wish us to notify you of events that we believe may be of interest to you, please click here, or go to http://www.picture.com/nl/stopemail.php. picture.com * 3600 Crondall Lane * Owings Mills, MD 21117
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Damian P. Gadal |
Now why would I want a cheap digital camera and take the time and trouble to attend this? They seem to be playing on emotions if you ask me!
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Why'd you make 6 different entries? You made me get 6 emails for the same thing. But anyway, I just got an email from a lady who said that she has pictures on picture.com (or whatever the site is) and that she bought the book once, but she didn't like the book, so she didn't buy it again.
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Damian P. Gadal |
The message was too long to post all at once, sorry about that.
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Dan Kachmer |
Perfect, this is what I was hoping for. The letter Damian and Sandy received is exactly the same one I received. Maybe it is bogus...I dunno! Thanks for all the feedback. If anyone heres anything more about this please give us an update, as will I. It would be nice to get the defininative word on this competition.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
I still don't see how anybody can not see this is flaky. Get people to spend all that money, print up some cheap certificates from kinkos, hand them out and send people on their way.
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Damian P. Gadal |
Yep - what was it that P.T. Barnum used to say....
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Hi there, This subject is a riot. I also received the same exact letter. Cracks me up. yeah, why would I want a cheap digital camera to tromp all over DC with????? Now, if they were giving everyone 10D's then I'd consider. LOL My girlfriend is a pencil artist. She took a great photo with her digital camera, lucky shot, cause she never has taken great photos, art is her forte'. Anyway, she calls me all excited and says "they want to use my photo in their book" I didnt want to bust her bubble, but had to let her know what was going on. I got a copy of the book and she was a wee bit upset and said she never wanted her photo in that book. She was less excited when she recieved the same email invitation last week. LOL These people should just be considered bogus. I wonder how many photogs go to the convention and I too wish someone I knew would go so I could hear what it was like. Just nosey I guess. Glad you brought this up on the Q&A. Might save some starving photogs some money on plane fare. happy shooting!
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Robert G. Rakow |
Maybe you have seen it, maybe not. There is a lot of discussion on this issue going on in another thread. http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/QnAdetail.php?threadID=8171
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Yeah, I saw that last night, it's a shame we didnt get it all on one thread.
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Christopher D. Ward |
Hey, just came across this thread. I decided not to go to the convention in DC, but I was so curious about this whole thing that I decided to spend the nominal fee and get my "International Outstanding Achievement in Photography Silver Award Bowl" and "Bronze Commemorative Award Medallion". After a month an a half, I assumed they had taken my money and ran, and didn't give it another thought. Well, this morning I awoke to a package on my doorstep. Sure enough, there was my enormous "silver" bowl and medallion. Whoopee. The bowl is so big that I honestly don't know where to put it. But I can now say with pride that I am a full-fledged member of the prestigious International Society of Photographers. I await their junkmail with eager anticipation.
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Christopher D. Ward |
Also, I just searched for Intl. Society of Photographers on the web, and it is really depressing how many people list this "award" as part of their professional achievements on their personal webpages. Ick.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Hey! congrats on your bowl and medallion. eheh I know where i'd put mine. just joking dont want you to get mad. We have so many darn award junk things around here cause hubby was always winning them through the work he does. It's really nice to get an award,,,,, but..... SHOW ME THE MONEY!!! this thread was lots of fun.
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Curt M. Tarpley |
I really appreciate all your input on this subject. I'm by no means a professional photographer, but I just recently started entering some contests to see where I might be able to improve myself. A couple of days ago, I entered the contest you are all speaking of and got an e-mail this morning telling me that I was a finalist and could potentially win $5,000 if I bought the $50 book they were going to publish. I was immediately skeptical but being new to this whole realm of things, I had convinced myself to go ahead and purchase the book so that I would be able to have something nice with one of my photos in it.....glad I decided to do some research on the subject first!!! Thanks to all the input here, I can see that I need to stick with my gut on this one. THANKS!!!
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Bernard |
there has been so many responses to this question I wonder if anyone has the energy to read the true answer to the question that I possess.
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Michelle Turner |
Thanks to the guy for posting the satellite photo of the "condo." That was quite astute of you :-) I never send in my $69 and I laughed at the $169 follow up email I just received the other day. Here's another thought.....I recently found www.lulu.com and am thinking about using their services. Out of curiousity I ran a quote on a picture book, full color, hardbound. For a 250 page book, the cost is $42.03 and for a 125 page book only $23.28! I'm thinking that 2-sided pages make it really only 125 and not 250? I could be wrong. So, with that in mind, if I get 50 people to send me $69 for their "winning photo" to be printed into the newest book, I collect $3,450. I then use www.lulu.com to upload the photos and print the 50 books for a cost of $2,101.50 (if it's really 250 pages, only $1,164 if it's actually 125 pages). Either way, I make $1,348.50 (or $2,286 if it's 125 pages). I am just a normal person who knows how to navigate the internet and I could do this. So, with all that in mind, if a any of you would like a photo book with your own pictures in it, try using www.lulu.com - at least that way you know you will receive the book and with only good photos :-) That's "my 2 cents," although I think it may be worth a quarter :-) Best of luck to you all!
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