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The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
February 27, 2008
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MARCH PHOTO CHALLENGE THEME: LETS GO GREEN
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

Spring is just around the corner, so for the month of March, Let's Go Green!  The word green is closely related to the old English verb "growan," which means "to grow." Maybe that is why saying someone is "green" or a "greenhorn" indicates they are new, young, or inexperienced.

The color green carries with it lots of conceptual associations that you can try to capture in your photos. For instance, someone who works well with plants is said to have a "green thumb." Somebody who's jealous is "green with envy." In the US, the color green often evokes the idea of money, wealth, and even capitalism -- since historically all US dollars have been green, thus the slang term "greenback."

Culturally, green has broad and sometimes contradictory meanings. In some cultures, green symbolizes hope, growth, love, life, rebirth, and even immortality. In others, it is associated with misfortune, sickness, death, or even...

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devilry and evil for its association with faeries of early English folklore. Its most common associations, however, remain with its ties to nature.

Which is likely why green has become the symbolic color of environmental protection and social justice. It seems everywhere you turn, there's a new advertising campaign talking about something "green."

So March's photo challenge theme is: Let's Go Green. 

You can shoot the green salad on your dinner plate or the box turtle at the zoo. Or you can work on something more conceptual, like a person with a "green thumb." The interpretation is up to you.  Just be sure to provide a good clear description.  The more conceptual you get, the more important the description becomes.
 
And, of course, Saint Patrick's Day is March 17. Mark it on your calendar and be sure to take your camera that day -- the one day of the year you won't have any trouble finding something green.

And speaking of green... one of the most lavishly green landscapes you'll encounter in the world sits high in the Andes -- in the rolling emerald hills of Ecuador. I just wanted to remind you: We're headed there in April with pro-photographer Victor Englebert as our guide.

I can't imagine a more perfect person to have at your elbow. His images have appeared in National Geographic and well beyond. And he's already gearing up to show you how fun -- and fulfilling -- capturing a nation in photos really can be. You'll find the details (along with some great photos) and a discount posted here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/ecuador

Whether you join us in Ecuador or not, you are -- of course -- invited to participate in our March "Let's Go Green" challenge. Submissions are due by 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, March 24th.  You can submit your photos by clicking on the "Enter to Win" tab on our website: http://www.thephotographerslife.com.
 
Details about this month's prizes (the first-place winner gets to choose one of three items) are here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/this_weeks_theme 

Look for a list of February 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.

To learn more about how you can turn your pictures into cash, visit:
http://www.thephotographerslife.com/phc/website]

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