| The digital revolution has made amateur | | | | and that you will be up against |
| photography more popular than ever before. | | | | professionals. Therefore, don't get |
| The days of Fuji film and print processing | | | | disheartened if your shots aren't accepted at |
| have been replaced with talk of mega-pixels | | | | first - just keep on shooting and continue |
| and memory cards. With hundreds of cheap | | | | submitting; in the world of photography, |
| digital cameras on the market, it's possible | | | | persistence pays. |
| for anyone with a good eye for photography | | | | |
| yet little practical knowledge of the | | | | Amateur photography competitions are another |
| mechanics of cameras, to capture great shots | | | | great way of getting your photography seen, |
| with simple "point and shoot" digital models. | | | | and can win you fans, prizes and even |
| | | | commissions or customers. A good idea is to |
| For some, a love of photography can turn into | | | | start small; your local photography club will |
| a profession. If you're looking to take your | | | | probably hold various contests; also keep an |
| photography to the next level, it's a good | | | | eye out for other competitions that are |
| idea to first build up a portfolio of work, | | | | within your field of expertise. There are |
| and then submit your work to the many | | | | hundreds to enter, and they tend to have set |
| dedicated photography websites or | | | | themes - covering everything from travel to |
| competitions. There are hundreds of amateur | | | | sports, nature to nautical and portrait to |
| photography forums and websites where members | | | | planes. |
| can submit their work for critical appraisal | | | | |
| by other members. Such websites also offer | | | | The 'Million Places on Earth' competition, |
| advice and tips on photography techniques. | | | | for example, is offering a top prize of one |
| | | | million dollars for unique location images |
| Another way to get recognition and even | | | | from anywhere in the world. Other |
| payment for your photographs is to submit | | | | competitions include Embassy Suite Hotels |
| your shots to magazines. Either choose a | | | | 'Happiness in Motion' competition, which |
| general photography magazine to do this, or | | | | carries an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii |
| try specialist consumer magazines. For | | | | as their top prize; while UKplus are also |
| example, if you are a keen skier, submit your | | | | holding an online photography competition |
| ski shots to a winter sports magazine; or if | | | | with a top prize of £1000 for photographs |
| you enjoy fishing, try an angling magazine. | | | | taken within the UK. |
| Local papers are also a good place to submit | | | | |
| photos, as they are often on the lookout for | | | | Whether it's for fun, glory, or perhaps a new |
| pictures to accompany their stories. | | | | career path, photography is an extremely |
| | | | rewarding hobby. And you never know - you |
| When submitting your photography to | | | | might just see your picture on the cover of |
| magazines, it's important to remember that | | | | National Geographic one day! |
| photography is an extremely competitive field | | | | |