Photo-games site Phoozl.com today launched the “Summer” edition of the “Alphabetography Photo Challenge: the Four Seasons” contest. The challenge runs for approximately 45 days to its conclusion on 7 August. The concept is the following: photo enthusiasts submit photos that apply or relate to the current letter that’s in play. So during the “S” letter period, for instance, participants upload photos that are associated with a word starting with the letter “S”. When the gameplay moves to “U”, “U” photos are submitted. And so on through the six letters of the word “Summer”. Contest participants need only a Facebook account to enter, and they must be at least 18 years old. Photo submissions are acceptable from anywhere in the world, and there are no restrictions on when photos are taken or if they have been manipulated.

Website: Alphabetography on Facebook

Phoozl Press Release

“Summer” Alphabetography Photo Challenge Starts on Facebook

Charlottesville, Virginia, USA - June 27, 2011 — Photo-games site Phoozl.com today launched the “Summer” edition of the “Alphabetography Photo Challenge: the Four Seasons” contest on Facebook. The “SUMMER” challenge or contest runs for approximately 45 days to its conclusion on August 7. You can find the Facebook Application at: http://apps.facebook.com/alphabetography (requires a Facebook account and “allowing” the Request for Permission screen)

A Unique Alphabet Photo Concept

During each season’s contest (using “Summer” as the example), photo enthusiasts submit photos that apply or relate to the current letter that’s in play. So during the “S” Letter Period, for instance, participants upload photos that are associated with (whose subject matter includes in the Title) a word starting with the letter “S” (examples: Summer, Swim, Surf, Serenade). When the gameplay moves to “U”, “U” photos are submitted. And so on through the six letters of the word “S-U-M-M-E-R” with each letter active for one week only. Entrants are allowed up to 5 submissions per letter maximum, and all submissions are free. Photos can be submitted via Facebook or photo-sharing sites, or uploaded from local computers or mobile devices. Participants can even join the contest late as there are six Letter Periods in this (“Summer”) Challenge, so there are multiple chances to enter.

Contest participants need only a Facebook account to enter, and they must be at least 18 years old. Photo submissions are acceptable from anywhere in the world, and there are no restrictions on when photos are taken or if they have been manipulated.

Voting, Judging, Galleries, and Prizes

Alphabetography includes photo galleries and public voting, and the Top 10 vote-getting photos for each letter move to the Judging Phase where a panel of three professional photographers – Tom Hubbard, Andy Katz, Joe Nalven for this contest—judge and score the 60 Finalist Photos based on published criteria.

The Summer 2011 Alphabetography Photo Challenge costs nothing to enter but is offering (to 11 different winners) prizes sponsored by such companies as: Blurb, Datacolor, Frame Destination, SanDisk, and Course Technology PTR. Winners are selected in four categories: (1) Total Overall Scores, (2) Best Letter, (3) Voters #1, and (4) Phoozl Awards (“Most Phun Photos”).

The full “Spring” Winners’ List (with photos) is available for viewing on Phoozl.com: http://www.phoozl.com/article-29-Spring-Alphabetography-Winners-Announced.html

First Two Challenge Seasons a Success

“Our first two seasons were great!” says Alphabetography creator Harald Johnson in describing the debut “Winter” and following “Spring” contests earlier this year. “Looking just at ‘Spring,’ we had more than 27,000 photo views, 3,500 votes cast, and more than 1,000 photo submissions from 19 countries. And we awarded 11 Prize Winners with some great prizes from gift cards to books of value to photo enthusiasts. We’re all about offering a safe place for people to share their photos in a fun and unique way.”

“Spring” Contest Kudos

Feedback from the recent Spring contest by entrants and judges…

“I was so stoked when I happened upon your photography contest! Finally found one I could enter that didn’t cost a dime AND it was a challenge each week when a new letter came into play…I had to get outside and find new ‘masterpieces’ for the letter G, for example. I only wish I had happened upon the contest sooner. I’m looking forward to the next contest. Bring it on!”—Cyndi Romey, Phoozl Award Winner, “N” Letter Category “I always seek new projects for my photography, and a source of ideas is to look at other people’s work and develop a new angle. A world-wide contest such as this has brought a whole new dimension to that by giving me exposure to a lot of different approaches to photography in different cultures. Needless to say I am very pleased to have won given the standard of the competition; there are some great photos there, and I still spend time flicking through the galleries. Thanks to Phoozl for arranging the contest and to the sponsors for supporting it.” - Ove Alexander, 1st Prize Winner “I enjoyed the wide variety of images from the finalists and the different takes on the Spring theme. The Phoozl contests are a great way for people to share their work and have a chance to win some prizes!” - Jon Canfield, “Spring” Judge “This contest was really fun and a great way to share life’s most beautiful moments with the world.” - Heidi M. Dickey, 2nd Prize winner

“There were many images that ‘captured the moment.’ One that I really liked was under the letter ‘I’—the bird in flight with the eel in its beak. But a tip for future contest submitters: make sure to read the rules carefully; pay attention to and include all parts that are mentioned. The title is part of the package, too.” - Rick Allred, “Spring” Judge “Alphabetography Photo Challenge gives a new photographer a chance to display and capture beautiful images. Well done to the organizer… till the next season’s photo contest!” - Wilfredo Lumagbas Jr., 3rd Prize winner

Start Alphabetographing!

To learn more about the Alphabetography Photo Challenge: the Four Seasons, or even better, to take the challenge and to participate, go to Phoozl’s Fan Page on Facebook and click the “Challenges” tab to enter the Application: http://www.facebook.com/phoozl

OR… go directly to the Facebook Application:

http://apps.facebook.com/alphabetography (requires a Facebook account and “allowing” the Request for Permission screen) About this Contest and the Four Seasons Each temperate, astronomical season (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn) comprises its own complete Alphabetography Photo Challenge from photo submission to announcement of winners.

The four seasons are based on the traditional names used in the temperate and sub-polar regions on the globe. Taking Winter as the example, this is the season with the shortest days and lowest average temperatures, due to the tilt of the earth’s axis and the lower intensity of sunlight striking its surface during that time. In the Northern Hemisphere, Winter corresponds to the months of December, January and February In the Southern Hemisphere it’s reversed: Winter is June, July and August. So even though the Winter game takes place December-February, a Southern Hemisphere resident could select photos from THEIR Winter, if they want to meet the “Wintery” judging criterion (there are four different criteria). However, photos from ALL seasons are eligible for submission regardless of the season or the player’s location.

About Phoozl

The Alphabetography Photo Challenge is run and administered by Phoozl.com. Phoozl is a website destination or portal that provides a safe place to have fun with photos and photography (and other visual arts). The core of Phoozl is the many online Flash or “videogames” organized in different categories. Games range from puzzles to quizzes to “click mysteries” to “first-person-shooters” and other unique categories. But Phoozl is more than just online photo games. There’s information and learning, too, in the form of Photo IQ quizzes, Photo Tips from experts, and educational games that even include “brain-training.” Plus there are contests, creative challenges, missions, hunts, and “secret events.” There is also a PhoozNews blog and a Community section.

Phoozl’s tagline says it all: “photo games & more.”

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