Lonely Planet launch travel photography competition

Get your photo on the front of a Loney Planet guide

22 August 2008 15:54 GMT / By Verity Burns

Lonely Planet has launched a competition for both amateur and professional photographers that could see their travel picture end up on the cover of a Lonely Planet guide.

The world-leading travel guide publisher has linked up with the new photo-sharing website Pikeo.com for the competition, and is looking for photographers to submit their most "unique and inspiring" pictures of London, Pairs, Barcelona and Istanbul.

The judges will choose four winning shots for the cover of each Lonely Planet ‘Encounter’ guide. The panel of judges consists of travel photography experts including representatives from the Association of British Photographers and Lonely Planet Images.

As well as getting their picture published on the front of the guide, the winners of each cover will also receive a free trip to India, Russia, Morocco or Kenya courtesy of Intrepid Travel.

There will be 12 runners up and a small selection of highly commended entries that will also win prizes, but it has not been announced what those prizes will be.

The winning images, plus Lonely Planet and Pikeo’s favourite shots, will be launched and showcased at a gallery exhibition in London when the guides go on sale next year.

Here are some tips from Lonely Planet and Pikeo abou thow to snap a winning photo:

- Images must be taken from a street perspective
- Use a reportage/documentary style
- Make the viewer feel they are actually there
- Have a central focal point
- Ensure composition is bold and colours are rich
- Avoid things looking staged by showing locals going about their everyday life
- Use iconic sights or architecture in an everyday context
- Always include people within your shots

So there you have it. If you fancy entering, head over to the competition page on Pikeo's web site and follow the instructions. It's open to entries from the UK, France, Spain and Canada ad entries close on September 8th, so not that long. Get snapping!

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