The first round of submissions for the Story Behind the Still contest, which Canon is currently advertising on our site, has another week to go. Initial entries must follow in the footsteps of a video entitled "The Cabbie", shot with Canon's EOS 7D digital SLR by professional photographer Vincent Laforet. Vincent's piece ends with a shot of a locked chest picked out by a beam of light in a dark and almost empty warehouse. From that starting point, it's up to the entrants to decide where their video will run.

Entries must be shot in high-definition 720p (1,280 x 720 pixel) or higher resolution, have a running time of between two and four minutes, and end on a static image for the final five seconds of the clip. Model releases must be signed by all identifiable persons in the videos, and it's important to note that the contest is only open to US residents who are above the age of majority in their state of residence.

Once the deadline for entries in the first round closes on February 11, 2010 at 11:59:59PM Eastern time, there's a two week period for judging. After the winner is announced, the next round of the contest will continue starting from the final image of the winning entry. Chapter winners will receive their choice of a Canon EOS 5D Mark II or EOS 7D digital SLR, plus one of a selection of fifteen lenses. They'll also receive a trip to work with Vincent Laforet on shooting the final chapter of the film, and a one year Vimeo Plus membership. The final chapter is to be shot inside the continental United States between September 8th and December 31st, 2010.

For more details, visit the Story Behind the Still website.