Digital Beginners launches new Street Photo Competition

digitalbeginner

SPECTRA PHOTO SPONSOR GREAT PRIZES FOR THE NEW DIGITAL BEGINNERS "STREET PHOTOGRAPHY" COMPETITION

Does the hustle and bustle of street life give you a buzz? Do you admire photos that capture that excitement? Do you ever wish you could take images like this?

Now you have a chance to be part of this unique area of photography. Steet Life is a special categoryof photography that has drawn admirers from all sections of society over many years. Digital Beginners Photography School and Spectra Photo have teamed up to bring you a unique competition that is designed to get your creative juices flowing.

All you have to do is to capture the essecene of street life on the streets immediately in front of any Spectra Store around Ireland. Entries can be in black and white or colour and can be taken with any kind of camera from the slimmest of compact digital cameras right up to the latest Digital SLR’s. To see some examples of Street Photography please click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davemckane/sets/72157600026574059/

The judges are looking for photos that caputre what Henri Cartier Bresson called “the decisive moment”. This is an instant where a shutter click can capture a look or a movement that only exists for a split second. For more about Street Photography and Cartier-Bresson please click here: http://digitalbeginner.blogspot.com/2007/03/should-photography-fit-camera-or-camera.html

PRIZES
Digital Beginners, the foremost trainers of digital photography in Ireland are the judges and Spectra Photo, the high street supplier of quality photo prints are generously providing 3 fantastic prizes in the form of vouchers that can be used in any Spectra Store nationwide.

1st Prize: €400 Spectra Photo Voucher
2nd Prize: €200 Spectra Photo Voucher
3rd Prize: €100 Spectra Photo Voucher

ON-LINE PHOTO GALLERY
See the latest photos as they are submitted at www.digitalbeginners.ie/streetcompetition.htm

HOW TO ENTER
Send a maximum of three high resolution images to: streetcompetition@digitalbeginners.ie
The files must be renamed with your first and last name.
In the email state your name, address, daytime telephone number, e-mail address.
Please tell us what Spectra Store the shots were taken near.
The deadline is midnight on Saturday 31st December 2007.
These details are also available on www.digitalbeginners.ie/streetcompetition.htm

If you wish to talk to some about the competition please call Dave McKane on 087 259 9785 (outside Republic of Ireland 00353 87 259 9785).

For more information about Spectra Photo's range of services please click here: www.spectra.ie

Thirdfox

Thanks Dave...

what about licensing issues?

To quote the T&Cs:
"It is a condition of entry that Digital Beginners and Spectra Photo will be entitled to use or reproduce winning entries for the purposes of promoting this and future competitions."
Does that mean you can only use the photos for promoting the competition and potential future competitions and nothing else?

edit:
And how near does "near" have to be? I see that some of the sample shots have scenes from the middle of Grafton street... within 200 metres of a Spectra store?

mikeanywhere

Nice one Dave, well done!! :cool:

PopeBuckfastXVI

Bah... I don't think there's a spectra photo in galway

digitalbeginner

Thanks for pointing that out Thirdfox. Let me be very clear about this, the ownership of all photos remains with the photographer, full stop. We will only want to use the shots to promote the competition (and if all goes well, future ones as well) and if they need to be used outside of those parameters a fee will be agreed with the photographer.

I hate those competitions that offer a few paltry prizes as a ruse to get cheap photos. I will never allow that as I'm on the side of the photographer (seeing as how I'm one myself :) ) but I hope everyone sees that's it's only fair to be able to use the winning shots to help get more competitions going that are completely photographer friendly for a change,

Dave

Covey

Thirdfox wrote: »

And how near does "near" have to be? I see that some of the sample shots have scenes from the middle of Grafton street... within 200 metres of a Spectra store?

I'm assuming the Spectra sign needs to be in the photo?

duffarama

I suppose inside a shopping centre will have to suffice as a street for the purpose of this competition. The only Spectra's I can think of off-hand are Grafton st and Dundrum s/c... That probably says a lot more about me and where I shop though

digitalbeginner

Covey wrote: »

I'm assuming the Spectra sign needs to be in the photo?

Covey, it's the photo that counts, if there happens to a Spectra sign in a stunning shot then that's great, but a Spectra sign in an average shot won't make it a winner.

duffarama wrote: »

I suppose inside a shopping centre will have to suffice as a street for the purpose of this competition. The only Spectra's I can think of off-hand are Grafton st and Dundrum s/c... That probably says a lot more about me and where I shop though

Inside Shopping Centres is fine, just remember though that they are private property and usually require permission. Digital Rights Ireland have a piece about the legal side of photographing other people here: http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

Dave

Pansy Potter

digitalbeginner wrote:

The deadline is midnight on Saturday 31st December 2007.

Uh oh 31st. December is a Monday not a Saturday

duffarama

digitalbeginner wrote: »

Inside Shopping Centres is fine, just remember though that they are private property and usually require permission. Digital Rights Ireland have a piece about the legal side of photographing other people here: http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

Dave

It's off to Grafton street with me so, I'll see the rest of you there no doubt!

PopeBuckfastXVI

So is it ok to publish or sell photographs of a public street (for instance) where peoples faces are clearly visible, even if they haven't signed a release?

Dades

I can picture the scene now...
Crowds of budding entrants hanging around outside Spectra.

"Get out of my shot!"
"No, you get out of my shot"

Could be fun though!

leohoju

duffarama wrote: »

I suppose inside a shopping centre will have to suffice as a street for the purpose of this competition. The only Spectra's I can think of off-hand are Grafton st and Dundrum s/c... That probably says a lot more about me and where I shop though

There's a full search functionality here. Seems there's quite a few Spectra shops about! :eek:

Thirdfox

digitalbeginner wrote: »

Thanks for pointing that out Thirdfox. Let me be very clear about this, the ownership of all photos remains with the photographer, full stop. We will only want to use the shots to promote the competition (and if all goes well, future ones as well) and if they need to be used outside of those parameters a fee will be agreed with the photographer.

I hate those competitions that offer a few paltry prizes as a ruse to get cheap photos. I will never allow that as I'm on the side of the photographer (seeing as how I'm one myself :) ) but I hope everyone sees that's it's only fair to be able to use the winning shots to help get more competitions going that are completely photographer friendly for a change,

Dave

Thanks for such a clear statement on the matter.

I believe there will be hordes of people standing outside Grafton street...might make the candid street photography that little bit harder

I am also wondering about the subject licensing issue in terms of do we need release forms for the people who are clearly identifiable? I study law but am not well versed with this type of commercial/copyright law...

Covey

You don't need release forms for people in public places.

Thirdfox

But that's just for private use... if you're going to make a monetary gain from the image then I believe some sort of release is required.

see Smithsonian magazine's strict criteria:
http://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/v5/upload.php

An entrant must hold all rights to a photograph. For a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject's parent or guardian and provide to Smithsonian upon request.

You can download and print a model release from our Web site.

Or maybe they are being overly cautious?

Covey

No release is required except when taken on private property.

Of course it goes without saying that taking photos of people who expressly have indicated they do not want their photo taken is downright rude. Not illegal though not something to recommend or be proud of.

Covey

On a more pertinant note, maybe Dave could obtain a list of Spectra Locations as a help to us non Spectra customers ( though that may change of course:cool:)

T.

digitalbeginner

Covey wrote: »

On a more pertinant note, maybe Dave could obtain a list of Spectra Locations as a help to us non Spectra customers ( though that may change of course:cool:)
T.

Covey, good point. I'll see if I can get a full list to put up on the DB site.

Pansy Potter wrote: »

Uh oh 31st. December is a Monday not a Saturday

Ooopps :eek: Thanks for pointing that out. I've changed it on the website

Dave

Covey

Isn't there meant to be a live online gallery? Can't seem to find it though, Dave??

T.

digitalbeginner

Hi Covey. There will a a Gallery when we get some submissions. I got a call earlier on today so I believe the first shots are coming in today,

Dave

Covey

Thanx Dave,

Now I've discovered where they are I might give it a lash as well.

T.

digitalbeginner

We're putting on a Free Street Photography Field Trip with instruction in the art of taking good street photos on the Friday after Christmas.

Those of you normally begin to suffer from Cabin Fever now have a reason to get out, get some fresh air, walk off the turkey and maybe get some great shots

We'll be meeting in the Temple Bar Hotel on Fleet St at Midday on Friday December 28th. I'll be giving a short introduction to the art of taking street photographs including help and advice on how to make sure you have the right settings in your own camera.

No booking is needed just turn up. You can find more info by clicking here.

Hope to see as many of you there as possible,

Dave

Covey

Ah shucks, would have loved to go to that, but won't be in Dublin. Bu**er.:mad:

T.

Paulw

I'm tempted. I might just drop along to this.

Cheers.

Arciphel

Sounds interesting Dave!

For anyone who is thinking about going, I was at one of Dave's courses recently and found it really informative & good fun too:D.

So if you are getting the chance to go to this for free I would jump at it!

Paulw

Just wondering if DigitalBeginners do a course on sports photography? I wouldn't mind trying to improve bits. Considering the questions and attention to my Sports presentation at the boards talk last Saturday, this might actually be a popular interest.

digitalbeginner

Paulw wrote: »

Just wondering if DigitalBeginners do a course on sports photography?

Great idea Paul, we're currently working on a number of new courses in collaboration with different photographers. I'd certainly be interested in running a Sports Photography one. I used to teach a student who now works for a Dublin Sports Photo Agency, I'll follow that up. But if there's an experienced Sports Photographer here on Boards I'd be happy to talk to them as well,

Dave

digitalbeginner

Just a few days to go before the deadline of Midnight on New Year's eve. A full list of entries so far (including some from Boards) can be viewed by clicking here.

digitalbeginner

Thanks to 50 odd photographers who took the trouble to send their shots into us. I know how hard it can be to put your stuff up for judgement. We've got a few crackers which actually makes the final decisions much, much harder than I thought.

The final entries are here: http://www.digitalbeginners.ie/homework/streetcompetition07/Street-Competition/index.html

I'll let you all know when the final shots are chosen,

Dave

Thirdfox

good luck to everyone that sent one from boards!

How was the field trip? I had just returned from my holidays so jet lag prevented me from making a trip into town

Paulw

Some of those images are really brilliant. Some I've seen before. Some really stand out.

Best of luck to everyone who submitted.

challengemaster

did this have a minimum age requirement? if not, ****!

gl to everyone

kensutz

If you read the T&C's you'd realise there's nothing about an age limit.

challengemaster

hmm, then ****, damn me not spotting this