Dear Reader,

This year's annual Photo Challenge has come to a close. September was the last month to enter and now it's time to vote for your favorite photo.

The shot with the most votes at the end of the month wins the $2,000 Grand Prize... so cast your vote with care.

Details below...

-- Bonnie

Bonnie Caton
AWAI Travel Division

P.S. A quick heads-up: We’re keeping track of flights from the U.S. to Australia, and they’re still unusually low. However, we don’t know how long the low flight prices will last. If you’ve ever wanted to go to Australia, we’ve got the perfect excuse. Join professional photographer Rich Wagner in Sydney and Melbourne this January 24 through 29. You’ll not only get to explore Australia in the sun, but you’ll also learn how to take the kinds of photos you can sell to offset your travel expenses.

Flights are cheap and only six spots are still open for this expedition... so hurry and reserve your place now. Details here:  http://www.thephotographerslife.com/phw/australia

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October 7, 2009
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
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You Decide: Which Is the Best Shot of the Year?

By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

It’s time to vote for the best shot of the year in our annual Photo Challenge. As I look through the Hall of Fame, I find so many excellent shots, I don’t know how it will ever come down to one photo... but thankfully, this time it’s up to you to choose. So get in there and find that one photo out of the bunch that wins you over and cast your vote for it.

When you go to pick the best shot of the year -- all of them, I should remind you, were submitted by your fellow readers – keep in mind those things I harp on all the time: composition, exposure, nice lighting, etc. But most importantly, pick a photo that’s evocative to you in some way. Does it make you smile, laugh, or wish you were there? What is it about that one special photo that makes it stand out above all the rest?

The photo with the most votes will win the $2,000 Grand Prize... so make it a good one.

Have fun deciding on your personal favorite, and best of luck to all who are in the running for this year’s Grand Prize.

HOW TO VOTE:

** 1. Go to the 2009 Hall of Fame, here: http://tinyurl.com/yc4wmtc

** 2. Once you’ve looked through all of the photos, click on the thumbnail of your favorite shot.

** 3. Under the photo, you’ll see a pull-down menu next to a button that says “rate.” Click on the arrow, choose “5,” and then click “rate.”

That’s it!

Voting ends at 8:00 am on Monday, October 26. We’ll tally up the first, second, and third place winners and announce who won the Grand Prize on the following Wednesday, October 28.

Good luck to all of our entrants!

[Ed. Note: Just because the Photo Challenge has come to an end doesn’t mean you should stop snapping photos in the hopes of nabbing a winner. Instead of submitting your pictures to a photo contest, consider selling them to a publication...

Not sure where to start? With The Business of Photography, you take pictures and we’ll show you seven fast and stress-free ways to sell them. Find out all the details, here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/bph/website ]

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly’s concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.]

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