Family Vacation Photo Contest: Win an Olympus Digital Camera
What better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than to give away stuff! Send us your most spectacular, amazing, adorable, hilarious, and fabulous family vacation photographs (past or present) for a chance to win...drum roll, please...DIGITAL CAMERAS!
First place will take home the Olympus E-420 (retail price: $600), the world's smallest digital SLR. This user-friendly camera will make you feel profesh, even if you're a total novice. Two runners-up will win the new Olympus 850SW (retail price: $300), the toughest little point-and-shoot you've ever seen. (So yes, it's safe to let the kids snap some shots!). It can withstand a 5-foot drop, is waterproof up to 10 feet (imagine the underwater movies), and freeze-proof, perfect for ultra-cold ski vacations.
Now, do you need some advice on how to get the most out of your vacation photos? Well, we asked Official Olympus Pro (and Mom) Anne Day for the secrets to her shutterbug success. Here are her top tips:
- When families vacation together, don't designate just one photographer. Let everyone capture the family fun in their own style.
- Try to keep compositions simple. Many people have the tendency to want to fit everything in a shot. Sometimes details–like a café sign or a baguette–say Paris just as well as the Eiffel Tower.
- A bright, sunny day isn’t always the best time to take pictures. I often look for shade when I have people in my pictures to avoid squinting and harsh shadows.
- My three main rules are: (1) Don’t drop the camera. (2) Don’t put your finger on the lens (seriously!). (3) Have the camera with you!! The best picture shouldn’t be the one you describe and then say, “Oh I wish I’d had my camera with me.” Just have it with you!
To enter, email your photo(s) to contests@goodyblog.com by 9 p.m., E.T., on July 31, 2008. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. You may enter up to 3 photos and they must be original, non-professional, unpublished and may not have won any prize or award.
What better reason do you need to take a vacation?!
Full rules here.
I so need to win this! My 2 year old daughter spilled her bubbles into my 6 month old Nikon Coolpix last month. Luckily, it still works but it has a rough few minutes if it goes from hot to cold or cold to hot temps....blurs the lens up pretty bad!
Posted by: Amber H. | July 01, 2008 at 06:36 PM
As a photographer, I want to also mention that it is a great idea to take your pictures from different angles! How many shots do you have from straight on. Don't be afraid to stand on a hill and shoot down to get a unique perspective, or lay in the grass and shoot up at the sky - away from the sun of course- to get a fun shot of the kids. Get just the feet in the sand at the beach, or just the hands touching a rock you are climbing....be creative and remember to "tell the story!"
Jill Caren
http://www.ilovephotogifts.com
Posted by: Jill Caren | July 02, 2008 at 06:13 AM
What an awesome prize. I love taking pics of my 5 kids and this would be a great asset.
Posted by: Regina C. | July 02, 2008 at 08:32 AM
This would be wonderful! I so need an easy to use, quality camera!
Posted by: Sydney | July 02, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I so would love this. We are always taking pictures and this would let me get a little more creative. What an awesome prize.
Posted by: KimZas | July 03, 2008 at 12:15 PM
This is hot stuff!
Posted by: Carolyn | July 04, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Nice giveaway
Posted by: Johnny Tharp | July 05, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Wow. Nice cameras.
Posted by: Favre | July 08, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Love it ,want it, NEED it!
Posted by: Gayle | July 08, 2008 at 11:41 PM
A wonderful family oriented giveaway to capture priceless memories!
Posted by: Sherry Ann Abrams | July 09, 2008 at 07:58 PM
A Great give away that will help the lucky winner capture those precious moments. They will treasure the forever :C )
Posted by: Heather V | July 10, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Our family camera pooped out on our last vacation. This would be wonderful to win. Thanks for the contest :-)
Posted by: Elizabeth S | July 16, 2008 at 08:03 AM
What a beautiful camera. I would love to win in. Thanks for the opportunity.
Posted by: Marcia Hickman | July 16, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Is this contest open worldwide?
Posted by: Mary | July 16, 2008 at 02:24 PM
I love to take pics of my family. This would be a great camera to help capture our memories!
Posted by: Kelly | July 16, 2008 at 03:47 PM
My digital camera is 6 years old, so I'd love to win a new one!
Posted by: Besu | July 21, 2008 at 03:53 PM
My digital camera is 6 years old, so I'd love to win a new one!
Posted by: Besu | July 21, 2008 at 04:00 PM
I would love to win a new camera. Mine has taken a lot of beating between trips and places because we take so many pictures!! We would get a lot of good use out of a new, nicer camera!
Posted by: Brooke | July 21, 2008 at 04:40 PM
WOW, this is such a great prize. My camera is like 3 years old I could really use and update. I hope they will post the winning pics I really love to see em.
Posted by: Michelle | July 22, 2008 at 01:13 AM
WOW! I WOULD LOVE THIS! MY CAMERA JUST BROKE
Posted by: nata | July 23, 2008 at 08:42 PM
I really need to start taking more pics of my beautiful son this summer. I also need to upgrade my camera. This would be a great prize to win!
Posted by: mindi | July 23, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Great Prize....I really hope I win this one....Two beautiful children to take pics of
Posted by: Christina | July 24, 2008 at 08:28 AM
cool prize
Posted by: Chris | July 25, 2008 at 04:37 PM
this is a really cool gift- hope I win! (:
Posted by: Joni | July 25, 2008 at 11:44 PM
very nice prize
Posted by: Arthur Slater | July 28, 2008 at 05:53 PM
What an awesome contest! We just got back from a fun vacation at the coast. I just submitted some of the photos I took while on vacation. I hope you like them! Thanks for the chance to win such an awesome camera. Best wishes to everyone!
Posted by: Ruthie | July 28, 2008 at 08:47 PM
What cool cameras! Mine is pretty outdated (it happens so quickly now) but I am still constantly taking pictures of my son (almost 16 months old). I would love to have an upgrade!
Posted by: Whitney | July 29, 2008 at 02:51 PM
thanks for the gift
Posted by: George Papakonstantopoulos | July 30, 2008 at 05:46 AM
I need a camera
Posted by: Tina Hartley | July 30, 2008 at 10:50 PM
i will be your best source of advertising if you pick me!!! Also I am an avid scrapbooker!
Posted by: Robyn Scollo | July 31, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Awesome!
Posted by: Chris | July 31, 2008 at 06:50 PM
snap snap snap
Posted by: Howell Cohen | July 31, 2008 at 09:36 PM
I entered a while back...can't wait for a winner!!
Posted by: Alaina | July 31, 2008 at 10:28 PM
snap snap would love to win
Posted by: JOAN | July 31, 2008 at 11:03 PM
nice, cameras are great
Posted by: Joe Fleming | July 31, 2008 at 11:04 PM