Tell us What You Want to Win This Year….and Win!
OK, so you saw the B&H Photo contest winner above from last year, but what are we going to give away as the grand prize for our Photoshop User TV photography contest this year? That up to you!
Come up with a really cool, inventive idea for a contest, post it here on the blog, and if we pick your idea, I’ll get you an autographed copy of Joe McNally’s blockbuster “The Moment it Clicks.”
But don’t just put “Give me a D3, or a Mark III;” come up with something really creative and fun, that would make a great contest. Think “Dream assignment” or some amazing package of gear (but not one that’s going to bankrupt the show). Whatever it is; come up with something that makes you say, “Now that would be really cool!” Hey, ya never know! (Ask Rachael Cardella). 
Scott,
I think that this is an awesome idea, first of all. This is the first time I have commented on your blog, but I read it everyday. Its fantastic.
As a prize for the contest – many people commenting are really into the idea of meeting professionals in the field, and learning from them, in a relaxed environment. I cant think of a better place to do that than the Maine Media Workshops. The Maine Photographic workshops side (they have a film side too) is quite possibly the best experience that a photographer can have…. I mean, its like summer camp for adults! (I must admit being biased, I was a staff member last summer – but if I am having that much fun, imagine being a student!)
The best part is that numerous individuals found at Kelby Training – including John P. Caponigro, Vincent Versace, and of coarse Joe McNally teach there! There are plenty of others too, like Sean Duggan, Stephen Johnson, Bob Krist, & Jay Maisel.
I think that paying for someone’s workshop tuition, and transportation to Maine could be a fantastic experience for the winner.
Okay, thats my rant!
Hey Scott,
Everyone seems to the idea of a photo assignment they just have a different idea of what the ultimate assignment would be. We’ve all been reading about some of your cool shoots over the past year. So how about the “Scott Kelby experience”. Have the winner get a couple of days shooting with Scott Kelby and some other amazing photographer. The winner gets to pick the type of shoot (landscape, studio, wildlife, sports, whatever) and Scott picks the location and pro who joins in. Then after the shoot, the winner get a couple days working with Scott and company doing the Photoshop wizardry on the images taken during the shoot out. Maybe even create a show around the whole event.
..and I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to throw in that D3 or Mark III.
Hi Scott,
Nice idea having your blog readers to come up with suggestions.
Here’s mine;
A Digital Photo Studio starting with Scott Kelby B&H lighting kit, background and software (Lightroom and/or Onone software, to name a few) to enhance the developing process. Also, to fully experience the set-up, photographing, developing and printing it would be nice to attend one of your Lightroom Seminar.
To me that will be the ultimate prize and experience…
There are so many fine suggestions here. Each with his or her own personal interest. How about letting the winner choose what he would like to do with a generous credit account and time frame.
So it could be seminars, a photo shoot, equipment, one-on-one training…
Just put a cap on the amount, and let them have the fun of choosing what is near and dear to that person.
You should run a contest where the winner gets to tool around Tampa/Orlando for a week, maybe with a new camera, taking photos and having time to be creative with photography and Photoshop. Then they get to pull together an experience or two (flash of creativity, maybe learning something new about Photoshop) and show it to the world on their own special segment of Photoshop TV!
Ok Scott. I am sure there are already plenty of great ideas, but I had to join in at least to let you know how much I enjoy your blog, books, and being a part of NAPP. So about ideas:
1. A trip to Santa Fe Workshops for the worskshop of the winner’s choice or PSTV if you like so one of the PSGuys can be teaching.
2. The Cruising for Life trip that Dave and Matt mentioned on the show several times. (Oh so jealous)
3. The previously mentioned Digital Landscape and Wildlife Workshop with Moose Peterson.
Thanks again and maybe next year we can watch a Super Bowl with my San Diego Chargers playing your Tampa Bay Bucs.
How about the winner gets the Westcott Scott Kelby Studio Kit from B&H.
Take Care,
Dale
hey scott,
what about a day shooting your beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers with YOU, an all access pass and a past processing session afterwards. Then maybe present the Pics on Photoshop TV with the winner on the show, plus the whole normal stuff like a NAPP subscription and some books or so.
Lots of great ideas out there already. I’d be honored to win any of the things mentioned. In an attempt to be different, how about this:
- Winner receives a one-on-one day/weekend with a pro (or pros???), such as Moose, Joe, Laurie, Scott, et. al
- BUT (here’s the twist), instead of flying the winner somewhere, the pro comes to the winner’s location. The winner provides some shooting destination suggestions, and together they head out to shoot one (or more) of ‘em. Following the day, perhaps a little digital darkroom tutorial session?
Now, this may be a location the winner has been to many times before, and perhaps photographed before (and, at least in my case, those shots may have left something to be desired). But the idea is that this trip, in the company of greatness, would yield not only some better images, but also new learning, new perspective, and new insights on the many photo opportunities that surround all of us each day.
Depending on the place and person, the winner may have some ideas for those “off the beaten path” locations that you don’t see in the tourist books. How cool would it be to see those spots through the eyes of a pro!
The winner would also have a chance to introduce the guest(s) to some fine local culinary establishments, and share a bit of their life and family with them as well.
As a small bonus, maybe throw in a year’s subscription to NAPP or KelbyTraining, etc.
Thanks for the chance to suggest and brainstorm, Scott!
Mike
I agree with a lot of the posts here, that people would just love to spend time with some of the pro’s. But instead of a 1-on-1 training session, which would be really hard to set up, how about just tagging along on an assignment? To be able to assist a bit, with the opportunity to take a couple of shots. To see how these pro assignments work, and the way everything comes together would be invaluable.
Plus, $1000 (or whatever was left over in the budget) to spend on some new camera equipment the winner might need for the assignment.
Grand prize theme: Pro sport photographer for a Game.
The ‘feature’ of the grand prize would be “can’t buy this” access for the winner to a pro sports event as a photographer. (Event to be determined based upon Photoshop TV’s ability to wrangle access to the event.) BONUS feature: the company of Scott Kelby to the game as photographer/instructor/all-round-cool-guy to hang around on the sidelines with.
The prize would include pre-game instruction with a real-live pro sports photographer, and during-game ‘guidance.’ (SK could provide the guidance, as he has prior experience, and has demonstrated his talent for shooting pro-sports as seen on this blog.) A post-game review of pics with the pro could be way cool.
And, since no sports photog wants to be seen on the sideline without a pro-level kit pressed against his/her face, the USE of pro-level lenses and camera bodies for the game (and, for a day or three before the game, to learn all the features). (Have to be realistic, just giving away a single, pro-level 300 mm f2.8 lens would blow the budget, and what good is a sweet lens without a budget-blowing pro-body to go with it.)
And, of course, expenses-paid trip for two to location of the game, with an event-ticket or access pass for significant other, so he or she can see you living the dream!
Dream event: 2009 Pro Bowl in Honolulu.
The GRAND PRIZE WINNER would win a “Canon Rebel Xti”, a “Wacom Cintiq 12WX”, and a trip onto “Photoshop User TV.” On PSUTV maybe they could do a tutorial.
Being on the web is an important aspect of showing your work. How about a web site makeover, if you have one. Or setting up a brand new site if the winner doesn’t have one. I realize it’s not a grand prize by itself. Perhaps part of a package.
While I think getting some high-end gear would be great, I am pretty much convinced that it is not the gear that determines the “magic” quality of the pic. I think I would like unlimited access to the Scott Kelby Training Site.
Also, it would be wonderful to be able to go on a shooting trip with a pro, like Moose, you know. Or maybe attend the Sante Fe workshop experience.
I can only speak for myself, but I can’t help but feel that there are others in similar situations – for some of us life is such that we may never get the chance to shoot the canyons in Arizona or get to Yellowstone or Alaska. Winning a chance to shoot places and things that are far beyond the reach of our respective backyards would be a hugely rewarding experience.
Of course, a full pass to Photoshop World wouldn’t be amiss either. :-0
Scott,
Okay, here we go…
Contest: Contestants are expected to submit a photograph (or series of) displaying their utmost creativity based upon a theme you suggest. Your panel chooses the winner.
The Prize:
A fully paid trip to join you on one of your photography expeditions. Also included, your entire series of books autographed and a copy of Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom.
Hmm I could think of loads of stuff
- Photoshop world pass incl. travel
- Some photo trip, mayby workshop where you are teaching
- Visit the studio and you guys for a day
- Win one of you for a day.. You come and teach somewhere
- Acces to kelbytraining, mayby just a one month thing if you are cheap
- Win a tutorial on PSUTV of your choice
- Book of choice instead of a book you chose, make it a choice from the different books you have
Just a few ideas
I think a neat giveaway could be a package of gear that is made for a certain type of shooting. My thought is that you, Matt, Dave, etc, would come up with different packages for beginners/intermediates for portrait, wedding, landscape, close up, wildlife, nature, etc and the winner could pick the one they wanted. You could work with some experts in each field to pick what they think the proper gear should be.
Joe McNally is my photography hero (has been since the National Geographic 100th Anniversary of Flight project), and I would love to spend a day with him doing ANYTHING, but I think that’s been suggested a couple times already. (Can’t wait to get my hands on “The Moment it Clicks”).
I’ve been reviewing Vincent Versace’s “Believing is Seeing” instructional DVD on portrait retouching and would love to spend a day on a portrait shoot with Vincent, and participate with his guidance from shoot to print.
A day with Michael Grecco would also be a terrific learning experience.
And of course, as a Photoshop and Digital Photography teacher myself, a day (or a week) with the NAPP team would be a dream prize! (…or perhaps a job with the NAPP team…? Now there’s the ultimate dream prize!)
Hi Scott
Bet you haven’t thought about this one; the prize winner gets to go on Photoshop User Tv where you 3 guys give him/her a live haircut + makeup, and then you show everybody how to clean up the mess in Photoshop and the grand price is an apparatus for printing out the cleaned up portrait. Voilá!!
Click you later
Daniel
I am not able to come up with a “really cool and inventive contest” however, I would like to win it. And for a prize I would like a web site makeover from Rafael Concepcion. Maybe use it for demo purposes on Kelby Training. The big kicker would be to get the new web site mentioned here on Kelby’s blog.
Hi Scott,
Have an ice sculptor sculpt the Photoshop user tv logo in a big ice cube. Hide the prize (this could be anything) that can be won inside that ice cube.
The contestants have to guess (in seconds) when the prize will drop the ground.
The contestant who is closest wins!
In order to make it more fun, a webcam that is put on the ice sculpture with live streaming to the internet will be needed.
I’d like to win airfare, hotel, and a seat at one of the One Light Workshop and some fancy new triggers, a strobe, and a nice light stand set-up. We don’t get many (or any) workshops here in Oklahoma, so it’s always an expense to get to one.
Send the 1st prize winner to a really cool place, like Baffin Island
Auyuittuq National Park in Canada
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nu/auyuittuq/index_e.asp
with a first class Photographer (Joe McNally, Moose Peterson).
Hey Mr.Kelby, the following comes to mind as an educator & amateur photographer:
1) Give the winner a semi-pro DSLR package, and a few cheap digital point and shoots
2) Next, send the winner to a third world country school where the point & shoots would be used by poor kids to take pictures of their surroundings & daily life. The winner could potentially use their DSLRs to take photo journalistic pictures of kids in their surroundings
3) Put up a website to showcase the pictures taken by kids, and by the winner, and use it for awareness of poverty, etc. The tagline could be: See the world through their eyes (with a group shot of the kids….)
Hey Scott,
My contest is called, “It’s Good to be King and/ or Queen!â€
This contest does not discriminate by race, sex, sexual orientation or favored method of learning. The winner will receive the following prizes for life and/or a year:
1) A super pass for PS World (all parties and shoots), and/or a week long seminar @ the Santa Fe Workshop.
2) Free upgrades of PS, and/or LR.
3) A free membership to Kelby Training videos, and/or free copies of all the upcoming books written by NAPP instructors.
4) Yours, and/ or Matt’s used cameras (Nikon, and/or Cannon) when you upgrade gear again.
5) Finally, since PSTV is a pod cast, a free IPOD, and/or a bottle of tequila.
Damn, I want this stuff!!!
Hi Scott.
I think a one week photo shoot & photoshop workshop with you Mat, and David would be the best possible prize.
thanks.
As I am an aerial photography fan I would recommend a 1 hour photo shoot from a helicopter of a National Park supported by a well known aerial photographer for guidance. Include in package a photo spread & promotion of winners work on NAPP & magazine feature.
Thanks,
Keith
I have a couple.
A camera crawl to different cities, you could call it the “7 cities in 7 days prize” where they go and have the opportunity to shoot different cities and different places. You could have an itinery set up for them so they get to go to the best places. If you have more money make it “7 countries in 7 days”. You could do portraits here, landscapes there, underwater here, cities there etc.
My second would be to allow someone to choose what they want to do depending on what they want:
1. Portraits with expert A.
2. Lanscape Master Class with expert B.
3. Photoshop cram session with expert C.
4. Underwater shots with expert D.
5. Travel photography with expert E.
6. Lighting techniques with expert F.
7. etc
This way the winner gets to choose who they want to shoot with and makes it cater for all.
I would love to be a winner of one of those GREAT on location photography workshops that you (Scott) have gone on. (You know like Moose’s or Joe’s!) Those always caught my attention. I would even love to go somewhere where you or Matt would want to go to, just to shoot with you guys. That could be fun. It could be complimented with a travel package of ThinkTANK photo products to transport the winner’s equipment to this workshop. Now were talking!
Larry
If that doesn’t work, then the all inclusive pass to Photoshop World would be a most excellent prize. That and getting to meet some of the presenters that would be attending would be cool.
Larry
Scott,
The prizes should include a guest spot on Photoshop User TV, the winner’s choice of one or more of your books, a full year subscription to KelbyTraining.com and a full year NAPP membership. Also, a special One on One Training Session with the winner’s photographer or teacher of their choice.
P.S. If there is any money left over, a nice $500 B&H Gift Card would be great as well.
- William
the prize should be a tour of adobe, abobe give out some of the software has prizes. also a year kelby training.
Scott,
I haven’t spent the time to read through these 81 comments (as you probably will), and don’t want to be repeating any ideas (for surely someone has already tossed-in this idea) but I think the best and most fitting prize would be to spend time with you on a shoot, just watching, and to be with you while you edit (work your magic) in Photoshop. This, I believe, would be the ideal prize.
-Jared
Hey Scott,
I didn’t have a chance to read everyone’s suggestions above, so I apologize if this has already been mentioned:
here are some prize suggestions:
1) another shopping spree at B&H photo.
2) A complete starter kit for someone wanting to get into serious photography: an SLR body, 1 decent lens, and a case.
3) Shooting assignment in some exotic locale with all expenses paid.
4) A new high end mountain bike to take us to distant shooting locations. (hey, I like biking. What can I say?)
5) Being part of the production of an issue of Photoshop User, so we can see what goes into making the magazine.
Hi Scott,
What more for a photographer than to assist a renowned pro. I think a good gift would be to assist someone like Joe McNally or Moose Peterson during one of their assignments or just being around them.
Cheers,
Bharat
Hello Scott ,
My Idea is winning a all access pass to photoshop world with everything paid. But don’t just send them there put them to work and have them take pictures of the event and publish the photos in NAPP magazine. Or I Like the idea of getting some one on one time with you or Joe McNally or someone who is loose with their time.
Later,
Sean K.
Hi Scott,
this year, you could ask all the famous photographers like Joe McNally, Moose Peterson, David Ziser, you and the “Photoshop Guys” and of course the lucky winner of the contest with his family to spend a cool weekend or so in Montana or Yellowstone national park for example!
The winner will get a full brandnew camera equipment to shoot out there and learn from some amazing instructors!
As a bonus, the winner will get a subscription to NAPP and a membership of kelbytraining.com
Hi Scott,
don’t have time to read all the entry’s above, so I don’t know if my idea was posted before. What about the Idea from your digital photography book. Basically it´s you and the winner together at a shoot, and you’re giving him the same tips, the same advice, and sharing the same techniques, you’ve learned over the years from some of the top working pros. And since your book we all know that sometimes you have to buy stuff, so you can accompany the winner to an B&H store measure his equipment and give him some advice of gear he could need.
Thanks,
Kay
Hi,
how about that for one year the winner gets each month a new hot gadget to play with. At the end of the month he gives it back or he chooses it as his price.
So he has 12 gadgets to choose from.
Regards, Thomas
In my dream of dreams, what I would give for a Nikon D3………
How about this for an idea:
All inclusive opportunity to be with different experts in there field:
1. Landscape and Nature Photography with Moose Peterson and Laurie Excell
2. People Photography with Joe MacNally
3. Photoshop with Scott Kelby and Dave Cross
4. Lightroom with Matt Kosklowski
5. Tech and Camera Shopping with Scott Kelby and Terry White
This will cover all areas in one trip and have it all expense paid with airfare, food and transportation/accomodations. Plus a $1000 for shopping spree.
Sorry about the post above. Hit submit by accident…my bad.
I think a week’s trip to Hawaii or Machu Picchu would be fine!! And a great digital camera with a long zoom so the winner could take pictures of the gorgeous places.
thanks,
Hey Scott,
I believe you should sent the winner on a assignment with a professional photographer that specializes in whatever genre they want to learn.
Personally I’d love to be given full press privileges at an Airshow and be able to go up in fighters or cargo aircraft. We then could shoot beautiful air to air images with the lovely glass you have provided for the day. With the very unpredictable weather at air shows, it would be interesting to see what a professional photographer does to make the best out of the weather.
Thanks,
-Josh
Scott,
Here are my ideas:
Challenge:
Photograph a concept. You give a theme, impression, emotion or some kind of message and contestants must illustrate it with a photograph. Anyone can take a photo of a mountain, but communicating a message through a still picture is indeed an art and hence the challenge of photography.
Reward:
The ultimate reward of course, publication and notoriety. The winners shot will be published in one of your magazines and/or books. And of course a package of gear from B&H would suffice as well!
Well, it might seem a bit lame, but really when I think of contests out there, it’s been a long time since I saw one of those prizes that make you say, “well, my goodness, how often can I enter?” and then put it on your daily to do list. What would that contest be for me?
Two components:
Gear – a “complete” Nikon set-up. (Get Nikon to be a sponsor in return for banners and web links, etc.) A D300 (feel free to make it a D3, but you don’t want to have your site crash with entries) with a wide lens (17-55 f2.8 [assuming a D300] or a 17-35 f2.8 or a 14-24 f.2.8) and a 70-200 f2.8 VR and an SB-800.
Instruction: A trip to a Moose Peterson DLWS – he has several great locations throughout the year at around a $1000 a class. I understand that Photoshop instruction is a major element. Or a day of studio / location / lighting instruction with Joe McNally.
That’s the kind of prize that causes people to zone out and day dream.
Just my wish… It was even fun just to write it out.
Thanks -
Theodore
Hi Scott,
Its always nice to win gear, but I would just like to hang out with the gang for my prize. I would like to see is you guys going to the winners hometown for a day. In the morning would be a photo shoot with the winner at a point of interest nearby. After the shoot you then go back to their house and walk them through the whole process of lightroom and photoshop. I guess it would be a mini private seminar. I suppose you could do the opposite also and fly the winner to you. After a photo shoot you could give a tour of the studio. Maybe even let them do a PS tip on the show?
Thanks,
Allan
To spend a week at NAAP, design a cover for the NAAP magazine and participate on Photoshop TV
Hey Scott,
Greeting from London, England.
For photographers, both amateur and pro, I think there are two most important – or indeed fun – aspects of the photographic process are taking the shots and seeing the final result, be it in print, in an ad, magazine cover or around the web.
But obviously each photographer’s subject of choice is different, wildlife, travel, fashion, weddings, etc. So I think the competition should reflect that, also it allows more people to enter. It also allows for easier judging as it is categorized.
I think a great prize would be of an opportunity for lucky winners, of say 6 categories, to take part in a once-in-a-life-time photo shoot for a magazine article and/or cover shot. Perhaps Layers Magazine or Photoshop User magazine. The article could cover the shoot, the image processing, the editorial process, the printing etc.
Perhaps then from those six winners, one could be chosen as the overall winner and take part in one final special event or win some particular shopping trip/camera/etc.
Love the show, keep up the fantastic work.
Dan Harrod
I personally think that
Hi again – I posted at #34 and wanted to add on.
One suggestion was a studio makeover – taking it to another level, it would be really neat to also be on NAPP TV – like Home Make-over, just Studio Makeeover. You could include someone with a home studio, limit space, to someone with unlimited space. That would be really neat!
The ultimate prize:
Contributor status to a national photography oriented magazine. Even it is a series of articles that follow the progression or growth of a photographer for a couple of years; something that will pay for the development of the photographer over time and provide a long-term educational experience. In other words – to be a sponsored artist. It may not pay the mortgage, but maybe it pays enough for equipment and some travel.
Sure it’s a lot easier to do a one-off shoot. But, if you’re talking dream on a low budget – this would be it.