2017 Dith Pran Instagram Photo Shootout Competition

Cambodian photojournalist Dith Pran talks to a reporter after a press conference at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand in Bangkok, Aug. 25, 1989, after getting back from Cambodia. (AP Photo)
Cambodian photojournalist Dith Pran talks to a reporter after a press conference at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand in Bangkok, Aug. 25, 1989, after getting back from Cambodia. (AP Photo)

AAJA is proud to announce the 2017 Dith Pran Photo Shootout Competition to take place at the AAJA National Convention in Philadelphia, July 26-29, 2017. Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love”, so we are looking for the photograph that best depicts this slogan. This contest is open to ALL attendees at the AAJA 2017 convention in Philadelphia.

Top prize is convention registration for next year’s convention.

Instagram PhotoShootOut Rules:

  • Submit photo entries using the Instagram hashtag #AAJAPhoto. Upload your photo submission(s) with caption information using any Instagram App.
  • Deadline: Photo submission(s) must be uploaded on Instagram by 5 p.m. EST on Friday, July 28, 2017.
  • Contestants can start shooting anytime beginning 12:01am EST Wednesday, July 26 and must be uploaded by the contest deadline stated above.
  • A professional grade camera is not required. Images submitted from mobile devices (cellphone or tablet) are acceptable.
  • Each entrant can submit up to three (3) images. Judging will be based on a single image and not a series of images.
  • Entries should be based on the theme. Photos will be judged on theme interpretation, artistic style, composition & technical execution. This year’s theme is a suggestion and photographs unrelated to the theme are acceptable.
  • Entrants also need to email aajaphoto@gmail.com with their entrant’s name, Instagram account name, cell phone number, email address and caption information of 100 words or less. Failure to email this information may disqualify an entry.
  • You must be a current registered AAJA National Convention attendee.
  • Only minor burning, dodging and slight color adjustment, sharpening and cropping are acceptable. NO INSTAGRAM FILTERS ALLOWED! Any significantly digitally modified or altered photograph will be disqualified. No special artistic app filters allowed. Exception only is the black and white filter.
  • There is no cost to enter the competition.
  • Winners will be posted on www.AAJAPhoto.org The First Place winner will have their name engraved on the Annual Dith Pran Photo Shootout perpetual award. First, second, and third place winners will be announced on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at the AAJA Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet. First place prize is the convention fee for next year’s convention, a $250 value. Other prizes will be announced a later date.
  • For any questions, please contact AAJA photographer James Yee (317-640-1873) or Alex Wong (202-438-7050) or email questions to aajaphoto@gmail.com

History: The AAJA Photo Shootout was started in 2000 during the annual AAJA National Convention. The competition was changed in 2008 to honor New York Times photographer Dith Pran, who risked his life in Cambodia during the genocide by the Khmer Rouge to help journalists tell the story of atrocities in his home country. His story inspired the film, “The Killing Fields.” Pran passed away in 2008

10th annual Dith Pran photography & multimedia shootout competiton

Attendees can win prizes and cash worth over $1,500 by entering the 10th Annual Dith Pran Photography and Multimedia ShootOut Competition.

Any AAJA conventioneer can enter their pictures and/or multimedia piece with the theme “The Freedom Trail” during a live contest that best illustrates the theme shot anywhere in the Boston area that can be shot from Wednesday, August 12 through Friday, August 14.

PRIZES:
$200 in cash from AAJA National Office for the 10th Annual Dith Pran Photography and Multimedia ShootOut Award and perpetual trophy.
$350 Olympus audio LS-10 Linear PCM Field Recorder 2GB with SD Slot
$1,000 in ThinkTankPhoto.com camera bags
$125 in Sandisk cards
and more…

MEETING:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12
1 TO 4 PM
WATERFRONT II
ShootOut meeting to discuss rules. Those interested in competing for the 10th Annual Dith Pran Photography and Multimedia ShootOut should come to the meeting. Coordinators will help with assignments and helping out entrants with images to be turned in by Friday’s deadline. (Note: you do not need to attend meeting to enter. This is just an informational meeting.)

DEADLINE:
3 PM Friday, August 14
WATERFRONT II
DEADLINE FOR PICTURES AND MULTIMEDIA

PHOTO RULES:
Turn in maximum of five (5) photos any size. Place caption information in “File Info” in Photoshop. Your name must be in the “File Info”. Save .jpg with your entrant’s last name only. Be sure to include your name, email address and cell phone number/room number on how we can get a hold of you during the convention. Turn in entries in photo room on any media (ie. CD, CF, SD, etc.). Volunteers will help anyone with their images before deadline in the photo room Waterfront II.

MULTIMEDIA RULES:
Turn in only one multimedia piece. This category highlights the use of photographic storytelling, audio, video, and animation in the presentation of web-based stories of any length. Judges will pay special attention to the use of available technology to complement and enhance the art of visual storytelling. Content, usability, and interactivity will also be evaluated to judged. Be sure to include your name, email address and cell phone number/room number on how we can get a hold of you during the convention. Turn in entries in photo room on any media (ie. CD, CF, SD, etc.)

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT:
The perpetual trophy with the 10th Annual Dith Pran Memorial Award will be presented at the Gala Banquet on Saturday night.

EQUIPMENT:
Bring your own digital camera. Laptops will be not be available. Audio recorders and CF and SD cards loaners available.

More info,
Susan Choi, Boston freelance photographer, choi_susan@hotmail.com
Matt Lee, Boston Globe photographer, mjlee@globe.com
Vino Wong, Atlanta Constitution Journal photographer, vwong@ajc.com