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Help me choose a winner

The deadline has passed for participants of Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk to make their submissions for the contest.  Its now in the various walk leader’s hands to choose a photo from their walk’s pool to be entered into the grand contest.  The winner of each walk receives a copy of Scott’s new book, The Digital Photography Book Volume III.  The grand prize winner will receive a package of around 18 items which includes  Nikon D700, a full version of Photoshop Create Suite, Lightroom 2, and much much more.  There are also going to be 10 honorable mentions with prizes for them as well.

That’s a lot of pressure to put on a walk leader. Being the wimp that I am I’m looking to you, my photography friends, to help me out.

Before I talk about the entries let me say thanks to everyone that submitted.  It was a real chore just to choose 8.   I’ve spent most of this evening trying to narrow down my list.  You can find all the entries I’ve been choosing from here.

Below you will find my 8 favorite from our walk’s pool in no particular order.  Click on each to see the full size image.  Once you’ve chosen your favorite remember the entry number then let me know by filling out this survey.

Rules – This is a photography contest, not a popularity contest.  Please feel free to repost and share this link but please do not request people vote for yours or any one photo.  I would like the winner to be chosen on the merits of the photograph, not by how many Twitter friends they have.   Sorry if that sounds harsh.

The survey will only accept one vote per computer so choose your submission wisely.

Voting closes at noon EST on Friday, July 31st.  I’ll post the winner next weekend.

Thanks for helping me out!

Now on to the submissions:

Photo #1

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Photo #2

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Photo #3

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Photo #4

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Photo #5

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Photo #6

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Photo #7

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Photo #8

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Click Here to take survey

Tags: #SKphoto, contest, Nikon D700, Scott Kelby, scott kelby's worldwide photowalk, survey

Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk – Old Town Alexandria – Update 1

We’re less than two weeks before our big Worldwide Photowalk. Time for me to get busy and give some updates.

- First off thank you to everyone that has signed up to attend our event in Alexandria on July 18th as part of the Scott Kelby WorldWide Photowalk. The number of walkers across the globe has just surpassed 20,000 on over 1,000 walks.  I’m really looking forward to spending time with old friends and meeting a number of new local photographers. Plus seeing the images you capture on our route is a bennie.

- Our event has filled up the 50 available slots. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list then please let me know. In case no room becomes available there are a number of other walks in the DC area that can be found on the Worldwide Photowalk map.

- Speaking of the route, I walked it a couple of weeks ago to check it out and I think we have a good one.  Not too long or too short with plenty of interesting subjects along the way.  You can get a preview of it here (not too many spoilers, just a teaser).

- While the joy of meeting new photographers, taking and sharing photos with them, and getting some exercise in is enough for most of us, there is the added bonus of prizes.  I get the dubious honor of selecting one photo from our group to represent us in the final judging by Scott and his crew.  Each walk winner will receive a copy of Scott’s upcoming The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3.  The big winner’s list of prizes can be found here.  Once I get some insight into the judging criteria that Scott will use I’ll let you know as I’ll try to use the same.

- Scott and crew are working on the process of uploading our images after the walk.  While the final process has not been published there is a short video on being prepared when the time comes.

In case you can’t watch or do not have audio here’s the major points:
– Photos will be uploaded to the Worldwide Photowalk page instead of a Flickr group like last year.
– There will be a Lightroom export plugin available for uploading.  If you do not have Lightroom a link to the trial version can be found on the Worldwide Photowalk homepage.
– You will also have the option to upload directly on the site using your login.
– IMPORTANT – Before the big day make sure you have your correct login and password.  If you have any problem remembering your login please let me know by sending me the email address you registered with.  For forgotten passwords there is a link you can use on the login page.
– Our city id for the photowalk is “alexandria-va-usa”.  Remember this as it’s use will be explained in an upcoming video.

- Don’t forget to order your Official Worldwide PhotoWalk T-Shirt, which supports the Springs of Hope Kenya Orphanage.  I’ve ordered and received mine. They look great.

- If you’re feeling social, feel free to connect with me on Twitter at @marcbenton, on Facebook, and Flickr.  BTW, the official Twitter Hashtag is #SKphoto. Please use this tag when tweeting about our Photo Walk.

- Lastly, please let me know if you cannot make the walk.  We have a few people on the waiting list that can fill in any open slots.  On the other hand, even though the photowalk contest is only open to registered walkers, feel free to bring others with you such as children or a friend or two.  I would ask that you let me know if you plan to bring more so that we can be prepared. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list then please let me know.

Tags: #SKphoto, Alexandria, Digital Photography, Hope Kenya Orphanage, Old Town Alexandria, Scott Kelby, Virginia, Worldwide Photowalk