*******************************
July 30, 2008
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
*******************************

FROM BIRTH TO BURIAL: CEREMONIES AROUND THE WORLD
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

From birth to burial, our lives are infused with ceremony. Graduations, bar mitzvahs, weddings, burials, baptisms... ceremonies like these take many forms from culture to culture.

I've been thinking about ceremony as the opening of the Beijing Olympics is coming up next week... and there's sure to be much fanfare and ceremony surrounding the Olympics all month.

So this month, focus your camera on anything of a ceremonial nature, and contribute your best shot to this month's Photo Challenge Theme: "From Birth to Burial."

Think about:

** Coming-of-age events like a first haircut...
** Obtaining that first driver's license...
** Quince años...
** First communion...
** Weddings...
** Anniversaries...
** Military events...
** Ceremonies abroad in other cultures...
** Or other ceremonial happenings in your family or local community.

As the ceremony you photograph might be unknown to others, be sure to practice your writing skills and provide a good description when you submit your photo this month.

Submissions for August's Photo Challenge are due by 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, August 25.  You can submit your photos by clicking on the "Enter to Win" tab on our website: www.thephotographerslife.com.

You'll find details about prizes and challenge guidelines here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/photo_contest/guidelines

Look for a list of July winners in next week's Photo Tip.
 
[EDITOR'S NOTE: 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. Her 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, websites, ad campaigns, and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Last week, Shelly was a guest speaker at the Ultimate Travel Writer's Workshop in San Francisco, where she told us how to take photos that sell with articles.  You can find her presentation, along with all of the other presentations from the workshop, here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/trc/website .]

**************************

The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
www.thetravelwriterslife.com
www.thephotographerslife.com