Great Escape Publishing

Posted December 1st, 2010 by The Photographer's Life & filed under Travel Photography.

December’s Photo Challenge theme is: Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice. When I think about December, I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the whirlwind of activity that takes place. Endless shopping…cooking… wrapping gifts – you name it. It seems like there’s always something left to do. But this month, I encourage you to take a step back from your busy day and look around for the calming, peaceful moments that surround you. Try to capture the essence of the age-old saying “sugar and spice and everything nice.” Remember, each month’s first-place winner gets a $30 gift certificate to our online bookstore. And the first-, second-, and third-place winners are automatically entered into the grand prize photo challenge — coming up next October — for a chance to win $2,000 before the next holiday shopping season. Scroll below for some specific ideas on what to photograph and details on how to submit them for this month’s challenge… Happy December! –Lori Lori Allen Director, Great Escape Publishing DECEMBER PHOTO CHALLENGE THEME: SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE This month’s theme gives you a lot of room for creativity. You can follow the literal meaning of this phrase and photograph delicious winter-time treats… Or interpret “everything nice” in a way that captures your personal favorite parts of this time of year. Remember to include a good description alongside your photo entry. A good description can make your photo stand out. Here are some ideas to get you started: **Something sweet and sugary **Something spiced, like gingerbread, or a warm coffee drink **Children enjoying the holiday season, or maybe their first holiday… **First snow of the year Have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to get creative. Remember to keep in mind proper composition, good lighting, and clear focus on the subject. Submissions for December’s Challenge are due by 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, January 3, 2011 (I’m giving you an extra week since our office will be closed over Christmas). You can submit your photos by clicking on the “Enter to Win” tab on our website. This month’s first-place winner will get a $30 gift certificate to the AWAI E-Bookstore, and the first-, second-, and third-place winners will all be entered into the Hall of Fame to compete for next year’s annual $2,000 Grand Prize. Stay tuned for November’s winners, coming up later this week. [Editor’s Note: Learn more about how you can turn your pictures into cash in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel. Sign up here today and we’ll send you a new report, Selling Photos for Cash: A Quick-Start Guide, completely FREE.]