If you want to maintain control and ownership of your images, be sure that contest language states that the "photographer retains all rights to the images," and then be sure you are comfortable with how the promoters may use your photos. If you are uncomfortable with the rules, don't enter the contest. There's always another competition to choose from.
If you're not ready to enter a contest, you can learn a lot by studying the winning photos. What makes these images different from yours? Often it's the capture of unusual moment, a telling expression or unique colors in nature. Winning images can provide great inspiration for that New Year's resolution to get out and make more pictures in 2012.
Here are some of the top contests and their deadlines for 2012:
- 2012 San Francisco International Photography Competition. Enter by January 20, 2012
- Photo District News Photo Annual. Enter by January 25.
- Google Photography Prize. Enter by January 3.
- Food Photographer of the Year 2012 Enter by January 31.
- Alaska Airlines Photo Contest. Enter by February 15.
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Enter by February 23.
- Kellicut International Juried Photo Contest. Enter by February 29.
- Birds as Art First International Bird Photo Competition.Enter by March 31.
- The Open Photo Contest. Enter by March 31.
- Nikon Small World Competition. Enter by April 30.
- Nature's Best Photography. Contest opens in mid-2012
- Nature’s Best Photography Picture Of The Week. Ongoing
- International Photography Art Competition. Enter by October 30.
- Joys of Travel Photo Contest. Contest opens in fall 2012. Prize: trip
- 1st Annual International Teen Photo Photography Contest. Contest opens in fall 2012.
- National Geographic Your Shot. Ongoing