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Philadelphia, March 10, 2010 /PN - ASMP/ The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) will present an important symposium “Copyright and the New Economy: Issues & Trends Facing Visual Artists” on Wednesday April 21, 2010 at The TimesCenter in New York. The event is part of ASMP’s Registration Counts copyright initiative to encourage all photographers to register their work and to provide registration tools and information. Thought leaders representing different industries and points of view on copyright will explore significant issues, challenges and trends in the day-long program. The symposium is free of charge to all interested parties, and participants can register now at www.asmp.org/copyright.

According to ASMP President Richard Kelly of Pittsburgh-based Richard Kelly Photography, “ASMP believes that, in the face of sweeping changes in the way images are used and distributed, much can be gained by establishing a dialogue among representatives of the visual arts community, legal and governmental experts, and the publishing industry.” ASMP’s Executive Director Eugene Mopsik added, “This symposium is intended to seek sustainable business solutions by engaging in an important conversation about economic shifts in the industry, the current state of copyright, and what the future holds for those who produce and use visual works.” A video of the symposium will be made available on the ASMP website following the event.

Presenters at the symposium will include William Patry, author and Google Copyright Counsel; Lawrence Lessig, Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics and Professor of Law, Harvard University; Victor Perlman, ASMP General Counsel; Chase Jarvis, photographer; David Carson, U.S. Copyright Office General Counsel; Jeff Sedlik, founder and CEO of the PLUS Coalition; Liz Ordonez, photographer and Darrell Perry, former Director of Photography, Wall Street Journal.

ASMP has been a leader in copyright registration, and is currently offering free workshops around the country on how photographers can register their work. Workshop participants learn the importance of copyright registration, common mistakes, and how to register their work with a step-by-step guide. To find out more about the workshops, go to http://asmp.org/asmp-seminar-registration-workshop.

ASMP is the premier trade association for photographers who create images primarily for publication. Founded in 1944, ASMP is the leader in promoting photographers’ rights, providing education in better business practices, producing business publications for photographers, and helping to connect purchasers with professional photographers. ASMP has 39 chapters across the country, and its members include many of the world’s foremost photographers. More information is available at http://www.asmp.org.

London, UK, March 10, 2010 /PN - PR inside/ A different specialist in the field of photography will select the four best photographs from entries submitted by Flickr users each month to be part of the summer 2010 exhibition, giving budding photographers who don’t normally get the chance, a stage on the big scene.

theprintspace Gallery, located in the heart of trendy Shoreditch and the perfect art space for emerging talent, are looking to bring together the best of Flickr, whatever the subject, context or style of photography.

World Press Photography Award-winning photojournalist Laura Pannack, who will select the best entries for March, told of her excitement about the competition.
She said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for photographers to have their work exhibited and brilliant that theprintspace is lending its space to the best of amateur photography on Flickr.

“The lack of restrictions on the competition opens up a world of diverse photography, from photographers of all ages, with no distinct theme or genre. We can look forward to discovering some hidden gems.”

Photographers are invited to enter their photographs at flickr.com/groups/1365219@N23/ where the best submitted photographs are shortlisted daily.

Kansas City, MO, March 9, 2010 /PN - WiredPRNews/ Biscuit Eight, its photographers, crew, and amazing sponsors came together to take emotionally connective photographs of select families of the deployed around the world. By using the emotional power of photography, the photographers were able to use their talent to invoke feelings of love and support for our troops overseas from the families they have had to leave behind. The photographers succeeded in rendering an emotional connection with the families and, in putting “a face to the families at war”, they helped give the men and women serving and protecting our country and their families a loving memory.

Biscuit 8 represents a partnership of unique exceptional photography from experienced, creative, and fresh talent photographers. Biscuit 8 launched their brand shiny, happy, pretty, sexy ™, which reflects their distinct styles of lifestyle, fashion, portrait, editorial, food and still life photography. Biscuit 8 photographers have photographed many celebrities and participated in national campaigns such as; George Strait, Josh Grobin, Michael McDonald, Tiger Woods, Bono, President Bush Jr., and many more…you can find their work in Vogue, Essence, Hallmark, Red - to name a few.

Deadline: April 5, 2010

Description: Goa-CAP, in partnership with Zero Images, Holga, and Sténoflex, launches the Goa International Pinhole Photography Contest 2010 in order to support, promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography in India and to honor The World Pinhole Photography Day, April 25, 2010.

Jury: The eminent Jury panel for this contest comprises of some of the internationally acclaimed pinhole and alternative photographers namely Mr. Mieko Tadokoro, Chairman of Japan Pinhole Photographic Society (JPPS), Mr. Gregg D. Kemp, Founding member Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (WPPD) and Founder of Pinhole Visions web site Mr. Byron James Bignell, founder of Pinhole Gallery, a gallery of Contemporary Pinhole Photography and Keliy Anderson-Staley, Workshop Coordinator, The Center for Alternative Photography

Prizes:

Zero Image Cameras will provide three Zero Image Cameras with winner's name engraved on the camera, Holga will provide 10 pinhole cameras, (Holga 120 and Holga 135 ) to the winners and Sténoflex will provide 10 classic Le Sténopé Mini Labo Luxe cameras.

The world pinhole day, 25th April 2010 would be celebrated with a grand exhibition curating the winning and jury selected images in New Delhi. The exhibition will then travel to Mumbai and Goa. All the competition entered images would be presented in a coffee table book to be published in August 2010.

Eligibility: All pinhole photographers around the world are welcome to participate in this contest.

Deadline: April 1st, 2010

Description: The fifth Friends of the Earth International annual photo competition is carried out this year for the first time in collaboration with La vía Campesina and the Movement of Victims Affected by Climate Change. This international photo competition will gather photos from around the world on the theme of “Acting in Solidarity and Building Movements for Change”. Acting in solidarity is when people join together to support each other's struggles. It involves understanding, responsibility, commitment, and for people in many parts of the world, great courage. Without solidarity, movements cannot grow and bring about the social, environmental, economic and political change that people around the world are calling for.

Categories:

1. acting in solidarity
   Photos that capture the essence of solidarity between people: people connecting and supporting each other, often transcending boundaries of age, race, gender and class, in order to reach a common goal. Solidarity implies courage, emotion, connection and collaboration.
   
   
2. movements for change
   Photos that capture the power and passion of movements for social and environmental change. These might include marches, demonstrations, protests, vigils, non-violent direct actions, occupations, festivals, and so forth.

• Akintunde Akinleye, first-place winner World Press Photo 2007, from Nigeria (www.akintunde1.com).
• Bangladeshi photographer G.M.B. Akash, winner of many prestigious global awards and first-place winner of the 2006 Friends of the Earth International photo competition (www.gmb-akash.com).
• Peter Menzel, award-winning US photojournalist and author of “Hungry Planet: What The World Eats," (www.menzelphoto.com).
• Award-winning Dutch photojournalist Kadir van Lohuizen, author of Diamond Matters (www.lohuizen.net).
• Luis Romero, Associated Press photo journalist from El Salvador.

Eligibility: The competition is open to everyone, and the organizers particularly encourage women, young people, and people living in the developing world to enter.

Deadline: 28th July 2010

Description: Lonely Planet is looking for photos that epitomise its adventurous spirit. Originality, creativity and capturing a moment are more important than whether the photo is 'professional'.

Prizes:

The prizes have an approximate maximum value of AU$170,000.

• Grand Prize - A round the world air tickets for two to the total value of AU$10,000
• Finalist Prizes - 200 finalists will each receive one of 200 Nokia handsets valued at up to AUD$800 each (Nokia’s N97 and N97 Mini models).

Eligibility: The promotion is open to all photographers, professional or amateur. However, photographs that have won awards or competitions will not be eligible to win.

Deadline: May 7, 2010

Description:

VII MEMBERSHIP

Membership will be offered only to photographers working with the highest standards of journalistic and documentary integrity, who will laterally extend the breadth of work we currently produce and who we believe we can work within the management structure of VII.

As VII is solely owned by its members, membership comes with shareholder responsibility. New members will spend at least one year with VII before full membership is offered. All members are obliged to purchase shares, attend shareholders meetings and contribute dynamically and responsibly to the business of the agency.

VII NETWORK

The VII Network expands the ideals and journalistic mission of VII Photo to include important photographic work by selected non-members. VII Network photographers are represented for distribution of existing work only, and remain solely responsible for managing all other aspects of their professional practice. Successful applicants are required to credit VII Network in their byline and by doing so they are equal partners in upholding the standards of the agency: quality journalism, ethical integrity and visual excellence are assumed. VII members encourage diverse styles and photographers working with varied visual approaches are welcome to apply.

VII MENTOR PROGRAM

From time to time individual members may choose to adopt a young photographer to coach as they launch their careers in the professional world. These appointments are personal to the VII member photographers and are not mediated by VII Photo Agency. The application process for the VII Mentor Program is the same as Membership and the Network.

March 5, 2010 /PN - WPP/ World Press Photo has, after careful consultation with the jury, determined that is was necessary to disqualify Stepan Rudik, winner of the 3rd prize story in Sports Features, due to violation of the rules of the World Press Photo Contest.Following the announcement of the contest results, it came to the attention of World Press Photo that Rudik's story had violated a contest rule. After requesting RAW-files of the series from him, it became clear that an element had been removed from one of the original photographs.

The rule reads: "The content of the image must not be altered. Only retouching which conforms to the currently accepted standards in the industry is allowed."

In the opinion of the jury, the photographer ventured beyond the boundary of what is acceptable practice. Consequently, this judgment left World Press Photo no choice but to disqualify Rudik.

Michiel Munneke, managing director of World Press Photo said, "After careful consideration, we found it imperative to disqualify the photographer from the contest. The principle of World Press Photo is to promote high standards in photojournalism. Therefore, we must maintain the integrity of our organization even when the outcome is regrettable."

The disqualification means that the award will be revoked and that the story will be removed from the World Press Photo website and will not be included in the annual catalog and exhibition.

World Press Photo receives support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and is sponsored worldwide by Canon and TNT.

Deadline: May 31, 2010

Description: Hearst 8x10 Photography Biennial is a competition to identify and promote new and emerging talent among photographers in the United States and abroad.

Prizes:

Showcase selected works in an exhibition under the title, "8x10" in the Alexey Brodovitch Gallery and the Hearst Gallery at Hearst Tower in New York City.

Be published in the accompanying "8x10" catalog and on www.hearst.com and www.hearst8x10.com.

Eligibility: All U.S. and international freelance, amateur and professional photographers and students, 18 to 35 years of age. Applicants may apply as individuals, or as collaborators.

Deadline: December 31st, 2010

Description: You are invited to participate in an open competition to provide the book cover art for the re-publication of Lane von Herzen's novel, The Unfastened Heart.

Prize: Award of $1500 and the publication of the winning artist's work on the cover of the novel.

Eligibility: You may enter for consideration paintings, photographs, graphic art, collage art, and other visual media. This contest is open to anyone, worldwide, and artists of varying backgrounds and experience are welcomed.