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Tips for Promotion on Facebook

Marketers are using promotions techniques to reach the Facebook as millions of users use it every day. There are certain guidelines apart from the other terms and services that developers and advertisers should agree and follow before any promotional activity online.

Also you should follow all the guidelines before starting promotion on social media as Social Media Marketing is a double edged sword. Basic guidelines should be followed before administering and publicizing the contests, promotions or any other competitions. Facebook also clears that it has right to disable the account or page if anyone violates the guidelines and services.

Go through all the guidelines carefully
This is quite obvious, but Facebook guidelines keep on changing, so ensure that you keep yourself updated with the updates, changes.

Clear promotion first with the Facebook
Whosoever likes to run the promotion over the Facebook, must need to have an approval from the company’s representative. It should approve all the interactive advertising campaign promotions manually to make sure that each and every thing is legal. First experiment with the small numbers of users you would like to reach. If you find these efforts useful and successful than you can spend more ad, or a promotion. Although if you are promoting the contest which require Facebook, and that promotion takes place completely on your website, than you do not need any approval. Even than you need to follow basic guidelines.

Do not mention Facebook as partner
The promotional guidelines also state this that you can not mention Facebook as your partner. Not directly and indirectly you will mention anywhere that Facebook has sponsored the promotion or it is the administrator of the promotion. You can not mention that we launch with Facebook. Rather you can write and mention that we launch this on Facebook.

Comprehend the local rules and how can they affect your promotion.
Understand each and every rules and how they can affect your promotional activities. Any prize which is related to firearms, gambling, and prescription drugs is prohibited on Facebook.

Observe the formatting requirement of Facebook
Facebook has the specific techniques. Therefore it is good idea to understand it in detail to before creating the contest. Also they have certain specific languages which you should include in the promotion. For example: the promotion is not endorsed, sponsored or administered by Facebook itself. You need to designate a person for further communication connected with the promotion.

No action
You cannot do anything without a condition of becoming the fan of the page.

Important Tips to Enhance Image Quality

It’s important to note that how you are clicking the photographs and also how to avoid those difficulties which often happen with automatic digital cameras. So, here are ten tips which would help you to enhance your digital photograph and of course help you to increase your portfolio.

1. Pay attention to your subject
Most of the times, we can see that the picture is lacking impact as our subject seems to be far. So, it’s important to avoid the unwanted aspects which are distracting and should only concentrate on the main subject by moving closer or using zoom option.

2. Change the format of the pictures
It’s equally important to change the format of the pictures. The camera should be turned according to the subject as camera makes picture that are rectangular, not square.

3. Shoot for the perfect picture.
Shoot till the time you get the perfect picture. Later, you could easily delete the pictures which you don’t like at all.

4. Avoid blurred pictures.
It’s not very difficult to avoid blurred images, one just need to hold the camera properly, so make sure that you hold your camera with two hands. Also it is important to arch the shooting finger and after that pressing slowly or squeezing the shutter button.

5. Use the flash option
Images which are taken outside are far better by using the flash of the camera. Its mainly because flash helps to fills in the shadows and provide consistent lighting and a more delightful portrait.

6. Remember the range of your flash
For avoiding the underexposures with the flash, it’s important to remember its operating range. So it’s important to check the manual of your camera as flash range occurs to change when you adjust camera zoom lens.

7. Reread your camera manual
Study the instruction booklet properly of your camera, keep on reading it till the time you are not familiar with camera buttons, symbols and if by any chance you lose out the manual, you can very easily log on to the website and download the copy of the manual.

8. Don’t let the date and time to ruin your images.
Be sure that the camera is not set accordingly which would automatically print the time and date of your clicks in the front of your pictures; it will ruin their appearance. With the help of image-editing software, time and date can be embedded.

9. Compose Pictures with Your Viewfinder.
If you have the option available use your camera’s viewfinder rather than using LCD screen as it is easier and faster to compose pictures.

10. Put a Higher ISO for, Non-blurred Images, Sharper and better Flash Range
Always remember that adjusting your camera’s ISO stands for “International Standards Organization” and is a measure of light sensitivity for film, to a higher number, automatically sets smaller lens openings for sharply focused pictures. It helps to broaden the distance range of in build flash unit. Check out by clicking some images at different ISO to compare the results.

Invitation for entries to juried photo exhibit “Swedish Innovations – Indian Interpretations”.

There is a multitude of Swedish innovations, many of which are present in the lives of Indian people in one way or the other. As part of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week, a juried exhibit of photographs, in which Indian photographers have captured these innovations, will be organized.

Background

In October, the high profile Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week will be organized for the fourth time. The week celebrates innovations and their contributions to the development of the world. The fruitful cooperation between Sweden and India is also at the heart of the week.

This year, Nobel Memorial Week will feature creativity as a driving force for innovations. As part of this, Indian photographers are invited to artistically capture and interpret Swedish innovations (in an Indian context or the interpretation in general – this is up to the each photographer). Ten photographs will be selected for the exhibit, which will be first displayed on the Nobel Memorial week party on October 30, 2010, hosted by the Ambassador of Sweden to India. Close to one thousand influential members of society will thereby get to see the photographs already on the opening day. The exhibit will afterwards be screened in the Swedish Trade Commission, among other places.

The photographers of the chosen pictures will be invited to participate in the Nobel Memorial Week party. The photos will be featured with the names of the photographers in a booklet of “Swedish Innovations, Indian Interpretations”. One photographer will be honored with a round-trip ticket to the capital of Sweden, Stockholm.

The jury will consist of Indian as well as Swedish cultural profiles, and the Ambassador of Sweden to India. The decision of the jury cannot be overruled.

Entries accepted until August 27, 2010.

Guidelines:
• Entries should be in landscape format.
• Each entry should be sent in a 8×12 inch print, marked on the backside with the name of the work (also indicating the innovation being captured), the name of the photographer, e-mail address and telephone number.
• Up to five entries per photographer. Entries can be sent in the same envelope.
• Attach a letter in which you briefly describe yourself and give your contact details, including e-mail address.
• Do not attach the original or electronic files in the application.
• Photographers that are selected for the exhibit will be contacted in September and requested to send their high resolution photo in a file on a DVD or CD. If this has not reached the Embassy within 7 days, the photographer has forfeited his or her place.
• Entries arriving at the Embassy of Sweden after cob August 27 will not be considered.
• Winners will be contacted by e-mail on or before September 30.

Applications should be sent to:
Embassy of Sweden. Attn: Sara Aulin
4-5 Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi, 110 021

Applications can also be handed in the reception of the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi during opening hours (can be found on website).

Applications will not be returned.

Below, please find a list of some of many Swedish innovations:

ABBA
Adjustable Spanner
Bearing
Blowtorch
Bluetooth
Celcius Scale
Cellphonesystem
Coca-Cola design
Computer mouse, color comp.color Graphics
Dynamite
Gamma Knife
Hydraulic Rock Drill
Hasselblad Camara
HMS Visby/High Tech Stealth Technology Cruiser
IKEA
Jas 39 Gripen
Kazaa
Lighthouses/Automatic
Mechanical Alpahbet
Milking Maching
Pacemaker
Pipe Wrench
Pippi Longstocking
Position Indicating System
Propeller
Refrigerator
SAAB
Safety Matches
Scania
Seatbealts/Rolling
Seatbealts/3-point
Skype
Steam Turbine
Table Hockey
Tetra Pak
Turbo Engine
Turning Torso
Volvo
Volvo Penta
Zipper

Photowise – Redefining Photography Education

Visit website

Photowise is an educational institution that endeavors to redefine Photographic education and practice in India.
The institution offers courses, workshops and Photo-walks which are structured on a mentorship model and customizable to fit students’ requirements and schedule.

Photowise is giving much-needed professional stimulus to the the photographic education in the country so that the current void between pedagogy and practice can be filled.

Courses:
Introductory Course
Intensive Course
Introductory Course (lighting)
Please Click here to know more about course details.

Why it is essential to have a portfolio website

A photographer who is emerging or in middle of the career, would probably be benefited by having his or her own website to promote his or her work. At this point of the career, it is really important to have an online place where everyone can view and access your work easily. It is equally important that the work looks amazing and wonderful.

While designing a portfolio website we should know certain points to showcase the art for impressive galleries. Let us see some points which we need to keep in our mind while creating an online portfolio website.

Market strategy
The website is quite effective, when it becomes the part of marketing strategy. It includes mails, gallery visits, presentations, showcasing your work, developing relations. A planned website will help you to make simpler your marketing efforts.

Internet marketing
These days internet is the most accepted place to provide a platform to your work and art. Obviously people might want to meet you in person and see the work then, but when they see it on the website for the first time; they get an idea about your work, so it is very important to have an online presence thus it is important to have a portfolio website.

Your Online presence
It is your website; you can promote lots of work in a stunning and pleasing manner. You can promote as many things as you feel like. Good photographer’s website should showcase the work in a beautiful manner.

Showcase the work beautifully
It is important that you should use the professionally photographed images and high quality images. It is important to keep your website elegant, simple and should focus on art. You can create multiple galleries to showcase your work. Use the colors which help to compliment your work rather than making it look duller. For example think about those colors which you will use in a gallery for showcasing the work. Let art speak, do not keep your text very long, keep it short and brief.

Sell your work online
The most important thing is that you should be able to sell the work online. So the most important thing is that you have a clear and updated contact details on your website. So if the buyers like your work, he will simply call you up and would close the deal.

Call for Entries for “The Second International Pixpa Photo Challenge”

Dear All,

We would like to thank everyone who submitted photographs to The First Pixpa Photo Challenge. Given the overwhelming response to the first contest, we are excited to announce “The Second International Pixpa Photo Challenge!”

THEME:  Contrast

We are looking for striking and original images that express Contrast through their subjects – contrast between spaces or shapes, between colors or contrast between themes or protagonists.
The images can be black & white or color under any category – abstract/illustrative, portrait or landscape.

The second international pixpa photo challenge

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- You can post your entries to Pixpa’s wall on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PixpaCommunity
- Or send your entries to photochallenge@pixpa.com
- Make sure you include a caption with each entry.
- Please submit JPG files only with minimum 1000 pixels width.

PRIZE:
- The winner gets a Pixpa Pro portfolio website (See examples here).
- The prize includes two years subscription to a Pixpa Pro website including hosting and support.
- The shortlisted list of finalist entries will also be featured in a website on the competition.
- The winning entry will be published on the Pixpa website and the Pixpa Community on Facebook.

TIMELINE:
You should submit your works before 31 July 2010.
The winners will be announced on 20 August 2010.

RULES:
By entering the Pixpa Photo Challenge you must accept the terms and conditions given below:
- Participants must be 18 years or above on 1 June 2010.
- The Pixpa Photo Challenge is open to all professional and amateur photographers.
- The competition has no entree fees.
- You can submit up to 5 entries.
- The copyright of any entry submitted will be owned by the photographer.
- The participants warrant to the organizers that the copyright of the entries submitted by them is owned by them and required permissions have been taken from any model or property featured in the photograph. In case the work was commissioned by a third party, the photographer must take the permission of the person who commissioned it, before submitting the entry.
- The entries submitted for the competition can be used by Pixpa for marketing and promotion purposes of the competition in online or offline mediums without any payment to the photographer or to any third party. This free use will only be in connection with the promotion of Pixpa Photo Challenge and Pixpa shall give a credit line to the Photographer in case of any such use.
- The organizer of this photo competition is Pixpa – http://www.pixpa.com

Please remember that you must adhere to the above stated terms and conditions to be eligible for the competition.

So all you photography enthusiasts out there – budding students,amateurs or professional photographers,hurry and send us your entries.

About Pixpa:

Pixpa is a platform to deliver custom-designed portfolio websites to photographers, artists and designers. Pixpa portfolio websites empower creative professionals to easily and successfully leverage the power of the internet to showcase their work and promote their business.

For more information, contact:

Arvind Sharma
PIXPA Team
Email: photochallenge@pixpa.com
Website: http://www.pixpa.com

Announcing the winner of the The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge 2010

The jury of the First International Pixpa Photo Challenge 2010 has selected a photograph by Iranian photographer, Saeed Rezvanian titled ‘Days’.

The winner was selected from a wide selection of diverse, evocative expressions that we received as entries for this photo contest. We would like to thank all the participants for the overwhelming response to this contest.

Prize
Saeed Rezvanian will receive a Pixpa Pro portfolio website. The website will include 2 years of hosting and support. The winning entry will be published on the Pixpa website and the Pixpa Community on FaceBook – www.facebook.com/pixpacommunity.

A selection of the shortlisted 50 images is available on www.pixpa.com/retrospect2009. The shortlisted finalists will receive a substantial discount on Pixpa Portfolio websites.

About The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge!

Pixpa was looking for best works from 2009 – evocative, dramatic and interesting images that you have captured in 2009. The images could be black & white or color under any category – abstract/illustrative, portrait or landscape.

About Jury:

The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge 2010 judged by Amit Sharma and Mustafa Quraishi. Amit and Mustafa have brought all their experience and distinct view points for the challenging task of selecting the winners from the many interesting, diverse and evocative expressions that we have received as entries for this photo contest.

Announcing the Jury for “The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge”

The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge 2010 will be judged by Amit Sharma and Mustafa Quraishi. Amit and Mustafa will bring all their experience and distinct view points to the challenging task of selecting the winners from the many intersting, diverse and evocative expressions that we have received as entries for this photo contest.

To view their body of work, please visit:

Amit Sharma – www.amitworks.com
Mustafa Quraishi – www.mustafaquraishi.com

About Amit Sharma:
Amit Sharma is a self taught photographer based in Delhi, working mainly in the field of lifestyle,fashion and travel. He shoots regularly for Publications like Travel + Leisure , Maxim and has shot prestigious assignments for Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Harpers Bazaar, Femina etc.

About Mustafa Quraishi
Mustafa Quraishi specializes in social documentary photography and is based in New Delhi, India.

As a boy he dreamed of flying choppers for the Indian Army, but Mustafa discovered his real calling as early as his late teens. At 18, he joined the Delhi offices of The Indian Express and after five rich and eventful years, Mustafa joined the Associated Press and moved to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. It was while he was in Andhra Pradesh that he began documenting the world of India’s ultra leftwing Maoists who have been running a armed insurgency against the State from their vast jungle bases in Central and South India. It is while working on the underground Maoists in the jungles of Andhra Pradesh that the thought of documenting the movement and its lives and faces through an extended photo-essay struck Mustafa. Since then, Mustafa has made several, and often perilous, journeys to the remote and inaccessible heart of the Maoist struggle to put together a rare and singlular photo archive on a subject that currently occupies centrestage in India.

Mustafa’s work has taken him to other ports of action and human tragedy, the Asian tsunami of 2004, the serial bombings in Delhi in 2008, Inauguration of Hamid Karzai’s government in Kabul 2009 the overthrow of the Nepali monarchy. His work from such flashpoints has found place in prestigious publications like The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, Newsweek, GEO magazine, amoungst others.

Call for Entries for “The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge”

Dear All,
The New Year is here. And Pixpa would like to celebrate the new beginning by announcing “The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge!”

Call for Entries for “The First International Pixpa Photo Challenge”.

Theme: Retrospect 2009
We are looking for your best works from 2009 – evocative, dramatic and interesting images that you have captured in 2009. The images can be black & white or color under any category – abstract/illustrative, portrait or landscape.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- You can post your entries to Pixpa’s wall on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PixpaCommunity
- Or send your entries to photochallenge@pixpa.com
- Make sure you include a caption with each entry.
- Please submit JPG files only with minimum 1000 pixels width.

PRIZE
- The winner gets a Pixpa Pro custom designed portfolio website valued at USD 1000.
- The website will include 2 years of hosting and support.
- View examples of Pixpa Pro custom-designed websites.

The shortlisted list of finalist entries will also be featured in a website on the competition.
The winning entry will be published on the Pixpa website and the Pixpa Community on FaceBook.

TIMELINE
You should submit your works before 28th February 2010.
The winners will be announced on 15th March 2010.

RULES
By entering the Pixpa Photo Challenge you must accept the terms and conditions given below:

- Participants must be 18 years or above on 1 January 2010.
- The Pixpa Photo Challenge is open to all professional and amateur photographers.
- The competition has no entree fees.
- You can submit up to 5 entries.
- The copyright of any entry submitted will be owned by the photographer.
- The participants warrant to the organizers that the copyright of the entries submitted by them is owned by them and required permissions have been taken from any model or property featured in the photograph. In case the work was commissioned by a third party, the photographer must take the permission of the person who commissioned it, before submitting the entry.
- The entries submitted for the competition can be used by Pixpa for marketing and promotion purposes of the competition in online or offline mediums without any payment to the photographer or to any third party. This free use will only be in connection with the promotion of Pixpa Photo Challenge and Pixpa shall give a credit line to the Photographer in case of any such use.
- The organizer of this photo competition is Pixpa – http://www.pixpa.com
Please remember that you must adhere to the above stated terms and conditions.

So all you photography enthusiasts out there – budding students, amateurs or professional photographers, hurry and send us your entries.

About Pixpa:
Pixpa is a platform to deliver custom-designed portfolio websites to photographers, artists and designers. Pixpa portfolio websites empower creative professionals to easily and successfully leverage the power of the internet to showcase their work and promote their business. For more information visit http://www.pixpa.com

For more information, contact:
PIXPA
Email: photochallenge@pixpa.com
Call us at:
US : +1.917.267.8978
UK : + 44.20.8144.1041
India : +91.98101.89321

Study: Photographs Help Ease Pain

We feel better when we look at a photographs of people we love. Need some science to prove it? Here you go: Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles recently published a study showing that looking at photos helps people experience less physical pain.

The experimenters applied painful heat to the arms of female volunteers under several different conditions. The subjects were asked to rate the discomfort they felt while…

(a) holding the hand of their long-term romantic partner (as he sat behind the curtain),
(b) holding the hand of a male stranger (also behind the curtain),
(c) holding a squeeze ball,
(d) viewing the partner’s photographs (taken upon his arrival) on a computer screen,
(e) viewing photographs of a male stranger (ethnicity-matched to the participant’s partner),
(f) viewing photographs of a chair, and
(g) viewing a crosshair.

The subjects reported the lowest levels of discomfort under condition (d), viewing a photograph of their partner. Surprisingly, looking at a picture made them feel better than when they were holding their partner’s hand.

The researchers conclude:

“The findings suggest that bringing loved ones’ photographs to painful procedures may be beneficial, particularly if those individuals cannot be there. In fact, because loved ones vary in their ability to provide support, photographs may, in some cases, be more effective than in-person support. In sum, these findings challenge the notion that the beneficial effects of social support come solely from supportive social interactions and suggest that simple reminders of loved ones may be sufficient to engender feelings of support.”

The study was published in the November 2009 issue of the journal Psychological Science. View a PDF of the report or read more in a UCLA press release. Spotted via The New York Times Well Blog