PHOTO CONTEST with CANON 5D MARK ll or $2,000 prize!

[johnnabrynn]

Win a Canon 5D Mark ll (21 megapixel DSLR) or $2,000 in photo contest benefiting children's charity.

Details at http://starshootercontest.org. ($25 submission fee per photo)


All proceeds benefit nonprofit organization, Star Shooter: phototherapy for kids. http://starshooter.org

[Dooms_day]

hmm i wonder how many people are entering, to see if i have a chance

[malcolm027]

You have to pay to enter. That kind of ruins it..

[SlickMeister]

You have to pay to enter. That kind of ruins it..

No doubt. I have not got $25 worth of faith in a possible entry of mine.

[CAL Imagery]

Take the 5D2, sell it, and make more than 2k!

[3Honu]

I was having a hard time finding information about this group to put my faith in the $25

[heycow]

Yeah I don't think I'm giving these guys $25... :) Total lack of any information about "the kids" who get the "donation" money from entering. Nothing shows up on a quick Google search...and this is in the rules:
The first place winner has a choice between $2,000 or a new Canon D5 Mark II with lens.

[steveathome]

I reported it as spam, new op just one post? No action so far, maybe the mods know more about it?
I would rather just give £25 to a charity of my choice.

[heycow]

Steve, didn't even notice that this was the OP's first post...good call on reporting it.

[tedBalog]

After reading their blog, it looks legit to me.

[clickclickclick]

0! I would love a MKII

[Alleh]

Just another scam photo contest most likely.

[Radtech1]

You have to pay to enter. That kind of ruins it..

I reported it as spam, new op just one post? No action so far, maybe the mods know more about it?
I would rather just give £25 to a charity of my choice.

Just another scam photo contest most likely.

Don't know about THIS contest, but just to clear up some of the knee-jerk reactions:

Entry fees are the norm for contests. In fact I just ponied up $165 in entry fees for a contest here in California with a $2000 first prize. (Actually I would prefer to win second - a professionally built website)

And, I doubt that it is "just another scam contest" - usually with the scam contests the photographer has to give up the rights to the shot. Not the case here.

Rad

[obnoxiousmom]

It seems like a cool idea but I know I have taken nothing worth $25 and I wish it gave more specifics as to what kind of photo its looking for kwim?

[Karl Johnston]

Mission:
To equip underprivileged children with a tool for expression using photography.

It's crap, its got scam written all over it. "Up to 5x7 100 dpi jpeg" ...Fail.

I've never seen an entry fee for a contest, especially not one that says "25$ per image." That's also crap.

mission:
To equip children with a tool for expression using photography and allow them the opportunity to discover the "star" within themselves.

vision:
For all children to be emotionally healthy to live out their destiny with confidence.

core values:
SAFE- an environment that provides physical, mental and emotional safety for the child.
BELIEVE- to believe in the child so that they will believe in themselves.
RESTORE- allowing the camera to transform the eye of the child, ultimately the way they view themselves.




I've never read such drivel

[Agnu]

I've never seen an entry fee for a contest

I don't blame you, it's hard to see much when there's a rock above where you live.

ALL contests have an entry fee. Atleast all reputable ones. The Elinchrom strobist challenge had a $25 entry fee as far as I remember, I bet if that was up here none of you would be going "Oh my god, $25 entry fee! Obviously not a legit company!"

The money here is supposed to be going to a charity, and this competition is obviously a fund raiser. They are probably expecting to get about 10K or so from entry fees so they are then going to give the winner 2K of that and spend the other 8K on cameras for the kiddies. If this is true then I can't believe how selfish some of you are in complaining about the entry fee. What do you want a charity to just give you a camera because you're so pro? It's a charity for christs sake, you don't have to enter, but don't condemn their attempts at a fund-raiser either.

[Radtech1]

I've never seen an entry fee for a contest, especially not one that says "25$ per image." That's also crap.

I've never seen a quality photo contest that didn't have an entry fee. $25.00 is pretty standard. Click here and become educated:

http://www.artofphotographyshow.com/index.html

From the Pospectus Page:

ENTRY FEE:
$25 for the first entry, $10 for each additional entry. There is no limit to the number of entries an artist may enter. Artists who entered work in any previous Art of Photography Show or Art of Digital Show will receive a $15 discount towards the Art of Photography Show 2009. (The registration system will recognize your email address, so be sure to register with the same email address that you used when you registered previously).

And as far as entry fees being crap, well, it was a $25.00 entry fee that got me in the juried competition that led to this: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=693672

Rad

[steveathome]

I would have expected the OP to chime in by now, but still only 1 post?

Those that want to enter, good luck.

[Pruddock]

Have to agree with the others about the entry fee. Pretty standard and since its a charity trying to raise money what would be the point of having the contest? Just to generously give away a camera? Come one people...

As for the legitimacy I'd say it looks pretty legit. I looked over the organization's website and it looks like they're fairly new, but have done one or two events so far and looks like they're really trying to do something good here. I might give it a shot if I think I can find something worthy of a $25 entry. Check their site out if you want to look at the stuff I found and check the legitimacy for yourself. - http://www.starshooter.org/

[3Honu]

I don't blame you, it's hard to see much when there's a rock above where you live.

ALL contests have an entry fee. Atleast all reputable ones. The Elinchrom strobist challenge had a $25 entry fee as far as I remember, I bet if that was up here none of you would be going "Oh my god, $25 entry fee! Obviously not a legit company!"

The money here is supposed to be going to a charity, and this competition is obviously a fund raiser. They are probably expecting to get about 10K or so from entry fees so they are then going to give the winner 2K of that and spend the other 8K on cameras for the kiddies. If this is true then I can't believe how selfish some of you are in complaining about the entry fee. What do you want a charity to just give you a camera because you're so pro? It's a charity for christs sake, you don't have to enter, but don't condemn their attempts at a fund-raiser either.

Comparing the two contests is like saying that IBM and the start up company in the garage in Encino are the same thing. They're not. Apples and oranges. Once this charity gets more time under its belt and more recognition then I am sure the naysayers (me included) will go find something else to complain about.

[Karl Johnston]

Still smells like a scam to me, but I won't dispute anyone burning their money on it..

[jsphotos]

The web site looks pretty non professional. I wouldn't give them $25 per photo. It showed like 6,000 already entered. I feel a scam.

[Radtech1]

The web site looks pretty non professional. I wouldn't give them $25 per photo. It showed like 6,000 already entered. I feel a scam.

A lot of charity efforts are volunteer efforts, with the lions share of funds going to the recipients. "Looks pretty non-professional" is no surprise in that context. Tell ya what, if you feel that you can't afford to give $25.00 to charity, then don't. That's on you.

But scam or not, you just solidified my decision to enter 4 shots, because win or not, scam or not, it will allow me to feel $100.00 worth of good about myself.

Rad

[dgoakill]

seems pretty ill thought out charity. so they get cameras but who pays for film and processing? computer and printer?..........maybe they have a sister charity that does a contest to provide these things as well.

[monty28428]

This is from the Secretary of State office in S.C.

STAR SHOOTER

DOMESTIC / FOREIGN: Domestic
STATUS: Good Standing
STATE OF INCORPORATION
/ ORGANIZATION: SOUTH CAROLINA
Non Profit
REGISTERED AGENT INFORMATION
REGISTERED AGENT NAME: JOHNNA BRYNN BOCKOVER
ADDRESS: 4390 HWY 905
CITY: CONWAY
STATE: SC
ZIP: 29526
SECOND ADDRESS:
FILE DATE: 07/02/2008
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/02/2008
DISOLVED DATE: / /

just FYI.

[monty28428]

This is the photographer's website and she has a link from there to her star shooter organization -> http://johnnabrynn.com/#

I read the blog on starshooter and she mentioned Teach My People - an organization I know of so I called them up and they confirmed that they had worked together as mentioned in the blog. She just seems like a photographer trying to help her community out to me.

[Karl Johnston]

A lot of charity efforts are volunteer efforts, with the lions share of funds going to the recipients. "Looks pretty non-professional" is no surprise in that context. Tell ya what, if you feel that you can't afford to give $25.00 to charity, then don't. That's on you.

But scam or not, you just solidified my decision to enter 4 shots, because win or not, scam or not, it will allow me to feel $100.00 worth of good about myself.

Rad
It's slightly suspicious that you seem very defensive of protecting the validity of this contest.. where is the OP anyway? How could spending 100$ on a scam make anyone feel good? I'd feel awful.

Maybe it isn't a scam if that data was pulled up, but then again, its website is hardly very informative.

[Radtech1]

It's slightly suspicious that you seem very defensive of protecting the validity of this contest.. where is the OP anyway? How could spending 100$ on a scam make anyone feel good? I'd feel awful.

1) Very defensive? Nah. Just trying to educate the ignorant. Various posters accused the contest of being a scam - and they base their accusations on things that are just plain wrong or worse, they base their accusations on nothing at all. One of the points of ignorance is that of an entry fee. Virtually ALL legit contests have entry fees. People who say "Dude, and entry fee! It's a scam!" are proudly showing what little they know. (FYI, GTK, that's nothing to be proud of.)

Another aspect of this contest that convinced me it's legit is the fact that they do not want to retain the rights to your entry. I have seen very few legitimate contest that require you to give up the rights to your work. Conversely, I have seen LOTS of contests that force you to give up the rights to the shot just to enter.

Another thing, people here who accused the contest of being a scam "just because" - no cogent reasoning, "uh, it just looks unprofessional." Basing an accusation of "scam" on something that subjective, and then offering that subjective opinion as evidence, needs to be answered. It might look unprofessional because it IS unprofessional. Volunteer work often is unprofessional.

2) Where is the OP? Grant you that - only one post and she is gone. I guess the mods were smart enough to know that this wasn't "spam" in the sense that we are used to it. I congratulate them for being open minded enough to know the difference between someone wanting to generate interest in a charity versus an advertisement.

3) How could spending $100 on a scam make me feel good? Sorry, I should have been clearer. I feel good when I donate $100 to charity. I don't care if I win or not - the contest isn't the point. The point is being of service to others. The contest is just a bonus. And so what if it turns out to be a scam. If it is, then nothing has changed - I am not one who micro-manages every dollar I give away. When I give the sign holder at the freeway offramp a $5 or $10, I don't feel the need to follow him to see if he goes to the grocery store or a liquor store. When it leaves my hands my part is done, and I trust (trust!) that it ends up OK. My part is to give what is asked for, and then stay the hell out of the results. If I worry about what he does with it, if I worry about what the contest does with it, then the joy is gone. You say you would feel awful? I feel sorry for you.

So I encourage anyone who is following this thread - Submit one. Or more. So it costs a whopping $25 dollars. It's charity.

And those of you who don't want to - then don't. It's not complicated. But think long and hard about accusing this (or anything, for that matter) of being a scam without any verifiable evidence to back up your claim. When you wildly make baseless claims, it tells the world a lot more about you than it does the contest.

Rad

[Radtech1]

So I encourage anyone who is following this thread - Submit one. Or more. So it costs a whopping $25 dollars. It's charity.

These four, some of my most award winning shots, are the 4 that I submitted. And guess what? It feels good. In spite of the fact that it would cut my chances, I encourage you all to join in.

Rad

http://h1.ripway.com/Radtech1/Lovers.jpg


http://h1.ripway.com/Radtech1/Sitting.jpg


http://h1.ripway.com/Radtech1/Wrangler.jpg


http://h1.ripway.com/Radtech1/Sunset32000.jpg

[johnnabrynn]

Hello concerned readers and photographers,

This is Johnna Brynn Bockover, Founder of Star Shooter: phototherapy for kids (http://starshooter.org). Officially a nonprofit organization in the state of South Carolina as of July 2, 2008. Pending approval for 501(c)3 status with the IRS.

I admit, I registered on this site to post this one ad of the "photo contest with Canon 5D Mark ll or $2,000 prize." I apologize for my lack of integrity with this forum.

It is true that this contest is real and not false. The website http://starshootercontest.org (http://starshootercontest.org) was created by members of our Board of Directors -all volunteers in this new organization (and not web designers!). I agree, it is not "polished"; but is the best we have to offer at this time as a nonprofit with no budget.

To explain in more detail... the contest is real and the funds will help our organization. We have had a donor contribute a portion of the cost for the grand prize (Canon 5DM2) and the proceeds from the contest will also go towards the remaining cost of the prize. Remaining proceeds from the contest will go directly to purchasing cameras for the kids in our workshops. Star Shooter has had one workshop so far and is planning more in S. Carolina and Africa (orphanage) at this time. You may read all details of activity in our blog http://starshooterblog.org.

The judges will consist of our Board Members (see here (http://www.starshooter.org/about)) plus three professional photographers.

Again, I apologize for the lack of integrity I've displayed in this forum by not being a true participant. I am a photographer myself and appreciate forums, but starting a nonprofit and conducting a fundraiser (for my first time ever!) has overwhelmed my time that has robbed me from such pleasures as this forum. Please forgive me, and I do hope you'd consider giving to a good cause by joining the contest.

Thank you all so much.

Sincerely,
Johnna B. Bockover

[Big O]

so there you have it ...

[3Honu]

Ok....I'm converted

[Radtech1]

It's crap, its got scam written all over it....I've never seen an entry fee for a contest, especially not one that says "25$ per image." That's also crap...I've never read such drivel

"It's slightly suspicious that you seem" to have just vanished, now that the contest is all that it appears to be. I certainly hope that you choose to enter. In fact, Karl, tell ya what - because I have such a high esteem for people who follow their hearts and dreams to do good (however they see good), as this Johanna is here, I am willing to make you this deal:

If you step up to the plate, Karl, and help support this woman in her efforts by entering the contest, I will personally subsidize 50% of your entry fees up to 4 images. That right, enter up to 4 shots, do a screen cap of your PayPal receipt (with all account numbers deleted, of course), PM that to me along with your PayPal Payee info, and I will pay you back up to 50% of what you spend.

But whether you do so or not, I hope you learned something here. See, to come out and say "it's crap, it's a scam", without looking into it, reminds me of this quote:

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is, contempt prior to examination.”*

And that was the problem, the "prior to examination" part. If you are going to be wrong, don't be wrong at the top of your lungs, in front of everybody, without really knowing what you are talking about. Especially in light of how things turned out, well, lets just say that you have presented a better face to the forum elsewhere.

And everyone else following this thread, come join us. Let's help out her charity, and in the process, you just might walk away with a 5DmkII.

Rad

*William H Poole, 1879, paraphrasing British Theologian, William Pauly

[mzondeki]

Interesting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phototheraphy
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Phototherapy

[johnnabrynn]

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

Just wanted to inform everyone the contest is going great... it is so exciting to see so many participate in a contest for a good cause! You all rock!

There still is time to enter your photograph... deadline is August 1st.
Grand prize winner will receive a new Canon 5D Mark ll or $2,000.
More details here: http://starshootercontest.org.

btw, mzondeki... there are medical definitions for the term "phototherapy," but of course, our organization Star Shooter (starshooter.org) uses this term for other purposes. "Phototherapy" is used as a therapeutic tool with children using photography. A great example of phototherapy being utilized for years by a psychologist can be viewed here: http://www.phototherapy-centre.com/.
THANKS!

[Digital_zen]

I can't afford to enter, but I would!
I have however contacted Johnna about an idea that I had and possibly teaching eventually.
BTW Johnna I failed to mention that I have been into photography for a combined total of about 15 years, and have a good working knowledge of exposure, composition, etc.
I look forward to helping out with great cause and could really have taken a lot from something like this when I was a young'n.

[johnnabrynn]

Yes, Digital_Zen, I received your message and replied. Great idea, thanks!

[Analog6]

The website looks legit to me. Anyone in SC heard of any of these people or institutions?

http://www.starshooter.org/

Oops! I hadn't gone right to the end of the thread