Viewbook PhotoStory 2010 invites all serious photographers from around the world to submit their best photographic narrative. First prize: exhibition in Amsterdam, lifelong Viewbook Pro subscription, publication in GUP Magazine and much more.

07.09.2010 – Rotterdam, The Netherlands - Viewbook PhotoStory 2010 opened its submissions today and invites photographers from around the world to submit their best contemporary collection of images that conveys a compelling narrative. "While a single image has a narrative in itself and can be strong in isolation, Viewbook PhotoStory’s focus is specifically on showing series of images, in a well-chosen sequence that triggers a reaction and combines a narrative with photographic excellence," says contest director Alrik Swagerman. Viewbook PhotoStory is the ultimate international arena for showing and proving the impact of these narratives, and offers an engaging and prominent platform for photography artists.

The Contest
The submissions will be screened and the narratives with potential will appear on the Viewbookphotostory.com website for everyone to view and comment on. October 1st, public voting will open, allowing everyone to vote for their favourite photo stories, resulting in a vibrant public competition. In October, also the weightier part of the contest will start, when the jurors review the many submitted works and select the jury prize winners and honorable mentions in the documentary and conceptual categories. In the last months of 2010, the work by the winning photographers will be celebrated and shared in a physical exhibition in Amsterdam, as well as in a book and magazine and online publications. There are special prizes for the public winners.

Viewbook PhotoStory 2010 is open to pros and emerging talents alike at no cost. All participants can easily create and submit their online slideshow by signing up for a free, no-obligation, two-month Viewbook Pro account.

Prizes
The two first jury prize winners will win an exhibition in the Kahmann Gallery in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (including a flight to the event and accommodation), a lifetime Viewbook Pro website account, a custom-designed book by Blurb, publication of their work in GUP Magazine and several other exciting media and product prizes. There are prizes for second and third prize winners as well in both categories.

International Jury
The submitted photo stories will be judged by an international panel of industry professionals. They will assess the photo stories on their narrative strength, photographic excellence and artistic brilliance. The 2010 jurors are: Marcel Feil (curator FOAM), Sam Barzilay (director of exhibitions NYPH), Ernesto Bazan (international photographer), Roy Kahmann (curator Kahmann Gallery Amsterdam) and Kadir van Lohuizen (documentary photographer).

The Watchers Network
The Watchers Network is a network of photography enthusiasts who follow the Viewbook PhotoStory competition closely and may offer constructive critique of competition entries. The network includes: Frank Kalero (artist, OjodePez, Berlin DE), Grant Scott (editor Professional Photographer Magazine, UK), Peter Bas Mensink (publisher GUP Magazine, Amsterdam, NL), Tim Clark (editor 1000 Words Photography Magazine, UK).

How to Submit
Photographers can submit their best series at Viewbookphotostory.com until October 1st 2010.

Viewbook PhotoStory is organised by Viewbook.com, in association with GUP Magazine, backed by Blurb and numerous supporters. Viewbook.com is an innovative online portfolio service that enables photographers to create their own professional portfolio websites, photo galleries and client presentations, so they can present and promote themselves actively online. Viewbook.com organized the first remarkably succesful Viewbook PhotoStory event in 2009 and won numerous awards for best portfolio website service earlier this year.