Microsoft Future Pro Photograher Contest

Microsoft Future Pro Photographer Contest

The Microsoft Future Pro Photographer contest is a great contest put on for student photographers. If you are presently a student at a two or four year advanced degree institution and are over 18 years of age you are eligible to submit photos. If you are a college student this is an excellent contest to participate in and possibly win up to $20,000.

Submissions are being accepted from March 1, 2009 to April 30, 2009 and the winner will be announced at the Microsoft Pro Photo Summit this July. The Grand Prize winner will receive $20,000 in addition to three of First Place winners in categories of Nature and Landscape; People and Portraits; and Sports and Photojournalism who also receive a cash prize of $3,000; all winners will receive a digital workflow prize package as well.

All entrants can submit up to three original images in the following categories: nature & landscape; people and portraits; or sports & photojournalism. The image must be a JPEG that is no larger than 1024 pixels and 2MB. Each image will be treated as one entry. These images must not be published, released or distributed for commercial use and must be created and owned exclusively by the entrant submitting the image. Each image will be judged on its originality, technical execution (focus, exposure), visual impact (composition, impact, lighting) and relevance to it’s category (nature, portrait, sport). All rights remain with the photographer. Microsoft will only use winning images, with photographer credit, for the sole purpose of promoting the contest.

You can learn more about the competition here. A video of last year’s winners is here.

  • March 16, 2009 at 7:24 pm Thomas Hawk
    The Microsoft Future Pro Photographer contest is a great contest put on for student photographers. If you are presently a student at a two or four year advanced degree institution and are over 18 years of age you are eligible to submit photos. If you are a college student this is an excellent contest to participate in and possibly win up to $20,000. Submissions are being accepted from March 1, 2009 to April 30, 2009 and the winner will be announced at the Microsoft Pro Photo Summit this July. The Grand Prize winner will receive $20,000 in addition to three of First Place winners in categories of Nature and Landscape; People and Portraits; and Sports and Photojournalism who also receive a cash prize of $3,000; all winners will receive a digital workflow prize package as well.
  • March 16, 2009 at 7:54 pm Stephen Mack
    Do you have to promise to be a pro in the future?
  • March 16, 2009 at 7:59 pm Thomas Hawk
    I don't think so Stephen :)
  • March 16, 2009 at 8:12 pm Sam Posten
    I just saw this on the blog, I'm somewhat bewildered, this doesn't seem like a TH Post to me. There's not a single 'I' anywhere in the post, it seems like pure advertorial pimping than anything I've ever seen you do. I don't mind ya making a buck Thom but hell any time you've given good rep to a product it's been something you use and you can say good things about from a personal perspective... Something just doesn't seem right here. Thumbs down.
  • March 16, 2009 at 8:17 pm Stephen Mack
    "Future Pro" is just such a weird name for a contest, has a very '50s hovercar-with-tailfins kinda feel to it.
  • March 16, 2009 at 8:20 pm Thomas Hawk
    Sam, I didn't receive any money or compensation for this post. In fact I've never received money or compensation for any post period. The post was based on a press release on the contest that came from Edelman. I think more than most PR agencies they do a pretty good job at sending me targeted stuff. For what it's worth I do think it's great seeing Microsoft making a contribution to photography this way and did attend and enjoy (on my own nickel) their Pro photography summit last year.
  • March 16, 2009 at 8:26 pm Thomas Hawk
    I don't know, I kind of like "Future Pro." The only thing is I think the future of photography is going to make it very very difficult for anyone to make a living at it. But I do think having a contest to encourage college students is a pretty positive thing overall. I'm going out shooting with some high school students tomorrow afternoon who are super passionate about photography. I love seeing that.
  • March 16, 2009 at 8:27 pm Jemm
    @Thomas: The way certain groups of people see it: if one makes the mistake of writing something positive about the Microsoft he must be a paid shill or at least a worshipper of the Devil. :) For me this was interesting news to know, even though I'm not so much into photography (though I enjoy the results)
  • March 16, 2009 at 9:00 pm sofarsoShawn
    I wonder if Thomas Hawk will enter... :o)
  • March 16, 2009 at 9:20 pm Thomas Hawk
    you've got to be a college student sofarsoshawn. If I were a college student though I would though. :)
  • March 16, 2009 at 9:22 pm Mona Nomura
    This is such a neat contest.
  • March 16, 2009 at 9:28 pm sofarsoShawn
    You mean you're not??? :) You look so young and devilishly handsome...& yeah cool to be seeing MS getting into this realm.
  • March 16, 2009 at 9:29 pm Adriana E. Reyes
    Oh, interesting...

3 Comments

  1. Sam says:

    Wha? Where’d this come from, is it product placement run amok or do you have some personal reason for promoting this?

  2. Thomas Hawk says:

    Sam, no product placement here. I like the contest and like the idea. I think encouraging young people to take an interest in photography is a very positive thing. Edelman sent me the press release on this and I think they do a really good job at keeping me posted on interesting things happening by their clients in photography. Edelman or Microsoft, however, did not pay me for this post nor have I ever received money for any post I’ve run.

  3. Sam says:

    Gotcha, just seemed outta line that you didn’t say something like that in the original post…

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