A photograph to be published soon

[RTaylor]

Hi Bluesky,
Thats very interesting. I would hope they picked "Passage to Sweet Serenity" which is one of my many favorites of yours, because of its outstanding quality. I couldn't see them spending that much for an award for all the shots in that book, since we have learned through this post that they pick some not very good photos to publish.
I'm sure others will agree with me that you deserve recognition for your work.
Did they tell you they would pay all your expenses to this convention? ("a magnificent work of art (a $200.00 value))
It will cost you a heck of a lot more than that to get from Calgary, Canada to D.C.
I would check to also see if once you get there, they would charge you all kinds of fee's for attending the convention. We certainly dont want you to be taken for a ride.
I just did a search on the net for you and look what I found.
http://robertsfamily.typepad.com/the...ook_that_.html

That person too received the same info and email.
Check it out.

[WendyT]

Update: the book that they told me to allow 4 to 6 weeks .....I had a look at their web site the schedule release date is now march 30, so if.... it gets released then it will be 6 weeks after that till it gets here, middle of May .........................

As for the letter inviting you to the conference .........well everyone seems to get that. I would take it on board that this is a money making venture. It will cost you more than the value of the award to attend the conference. I would be looking for more reputable organisations to compete within and earn awards.

I am very sorry that I submitted to this organisation. They have had my money since August last year .....

[Bluesky]

Hi Ruth and Wendy,

Thanks for your posts. I understand the feeling of having something published. I have published many scientific papers in reputable international journals. Initially I felt very exciting. I have to admit that I still felt quite the same way even recently to have some serious stuff published because I thought I had accomplished something and made some meaningful contributions. As for photography, I have my passion. However, after all, it is just a hobby for giving me pleasure in a relaxing way. I have fully realized that a (small or large) number of the photographs contained in the book to be published may not be of good quality at all although the book itself may look nice.

On the other hand, it is not unreasonable for each person to attend a photography convention as mentioned in the previous post at his or her cost. I have some experience to present papers in international technical conferences. It is normally not the responsibility of the conference sponsors to get the attendants to the venue. I did have a chance to go to Europe as an invited speaker with some travel subsidies, but that's not the case most of the time. I am also an amateur athlete to go for competitions from time to time. In addition to the participation as a Province Team member (in which case the provincial association pays the airfare), everything is at my own cost. I like the sport also as a serious hobby because it gives me pleasure, makes me healthy and let me feel energetic in a much more enjoyable way than doing something in a boring fitness room.

All I did to get that photograph into publication was to submit it at their website. It cost me nothing. Unless I really want to have some holidays in the D.C., I don't think I am going for the event. In fact, most likely, I won't even be here in North America at that particular point of time. A business trip has been scheduled for me in the near future and, hopefully, I will also have opportunities to take some interesting pictures and share them with my friends here at BytePhoto.

Photography is fun. Enjoy it!

[RTaylor]

Cant wait to see where you go and the photos you bring back to share.

I have found a new passion for life since I have been getting heavily into photography. I try not to miss the beauty of anything.

Friends I have met here seem to be the same nice and helpful type of people I ran into 9 years ago when I decided to research my family on the internet. Everyone was so willing to help me learn as people here seem to
That's part of what makes photography fun.. the sharing with friends who have the same interests.

http://www.geocities.com/longleggedblonde1378

Congrats Blueskies,
This is my first post, but felt compelled to write.
I, too, received the same letters, everyone of the above mentioned. The first letter that I received stating that I was a finalist and that my picture was to be published in "Endless Journeys" was last summer. It was just like a dream come true. Also to have my first real copywrite was quite an honor. I paid for 2 books at that time and then looked up my picture in www.pictures.com. They said that I would make 10% of everything that my picture was put on, ie: tee-shirts, coffee mugs, etc.... Excited as I was, I then clicked on the link to buy one of the items for myself, only to have my picture dissappear and a runtime error message pop up saying I could not get to that site. If that wasn't bad enough, I got another letter asking for more money to receive a beautifully framed blown up picture of the one I submitted. You guessed it.. I wrote the check and mailed it immediatelly. As of this date I have yet to receive it. I also got 2 letters requesting that I be at the convention in Washington DC, and would get a free digital camera along with everyone else to go around the city taking more pics that would be placed in their gallery for viewing. Plus saying that I would be one of their guest speakers. When I didn't respond, they sent me another letter saying that since I wouldn't be attending the convention that I could send them yet more money for the large gold cup, among other things. That was the last that I heard from them. If you would care to go to www.picture.com and look up my then un-married name, please feel free to do so. It's listed under "Nature". The title of the pic is 3D Wild Flowers by Linda T. Cowan. (There are 2 other Linda Cowan's listed) so you have to put the T. in there. I haven't looked at the site in awhile, so I can only assume that it is still there. Don't get me wrong, I definitelly still feel honored, but my intuition tells me I was taken for a ride.....
Please let me know when you receive your book, as I have emailed them with no response regarding the runtime error. I asked quite plainly how anyone could purchase something when they couldn't even get to the picture to purchase it.
Sorry for being so long winded, it's just that maybe if enough of us complain, then maybe it will help others not to get their hopes up so high.
Take care,
softwhispers aka Linda T. Sinclair

[WendyT]

You guessed it the book finally arrived. Nice book I guess but after all this time ....well. It arrived in May. Just over 12 months from the original photo entry. Not sure its worth $120 Australian though.
They are also very difficult to contact as they have no email presence that they let you have and they do not answer their phones.
I did get an answer of sorts when I sent a registered letter (but that obviuosly costs more money ....)
I also got the letters inviting me to spend more money. I certainly wont be doing it again.
Hope you get your book soon.

[RTaylor]

afer reading both of your msgs, Wendy and Linda, I can see that this company takes everyone for a ride. For them to tell you that you make 10% of whatever your image is printed on is a bunch of #$#$ lol
I bet every image that is sent them, they make money on somehow.
What I would do, if you live in the US, is to call the hotel that they say the convention is being held, to see if it is in fact for real.
The fact they invited you , but you spend all the money to get there and pay for rooms etc, seems fishy.
They wont give out their email because they dont want to listen to complaints. I would bet someday someone is going to attempt to put them out of business for the money they are scamming people.
You can take your own print to a photo place, have it printed, and buy your own gorgeous frame and hang it a lot less than they were probably charging you.
If your check wasnt cashed yet, I would call your bank and stop the check. I never send checks anymore for things online. Only credit card, because you can have the credit card company reverse the charges for you
Going to see if I can find your picture now.. I'm sure its lovely

[RTaylor]

I'm still looking at the photos at 100 and so far many of them in that category are not fabulous, Some are very nice, but one in particular of a woman with her pants hanging off the back and her butt showing.. come on now.. that won the finals LM*O We have better POTW entries at byte
Cant believe that they even picked that one. I think they pick every single person who ever sent them a photo and publish them.

Still flipping through, they dont let you seach by name, you have to go 1 by 1

[RTaylor]

Wendy and Linda,
I browsed through all 519 and found no Wendy of any Linda Sinclairs.

I just went back to www.picture.com to check it out again. I used the send this to a friend (me) method. When I got the email, I clicked on the link and tried to order something to see what would happen. This is the message I got after I copied and pasted after I clicked on something to buy......

Sorry, but our Selection Committee has not yet accepted this photograph for publication in our hardbound anthology series.
6.12.04

How's that for a slap in the face. Does anyone know who to report these crooks to? I have sent them more money than I care to admit.... Now, I'm pretty P*****. Pardon my french.

Oh by the way, go to http://www.picture.com and when the sign on comes up just type in Linda Cowan (previous married name). It will bring up three Linda Cowan's. Click on the one that says Linda T. Cowan and please let me know what happens from your end.

I just want to receive the 2 books I ordered and the framed pic. My Mother is dying and she was so proud when I told her. I ordered 2 books so I could send her one also.

Thanx for checking on them and responding rct4905, and when I get back, I'll do just that.

Linda aka softwhispers

I will be out of town for a few days, but I'll be sure to sign back on when I get home.

http://www.geocities.com/longleggedblonde1378

[ImKayd1]

I searched by Linda's name and found the photo. Nice photo but crimminies. . . Another way for people to get scammed on the internet. Great for the scammers as they have such a huge base of people to abuse.

Suzan

[BjCnMxS]

Unfortunetly, I wouldnt enter another photo contest online! I'm starting to think their all runned under the same roof!

Benjamin