It's time to submit beautiful photos for 2010 visitors guide

(Updated: Thursday, July 02, 2009, 12:00 AM)

The Yosemite-Sierra Visitors Bureau accepts submissions of photographs each year for inclusion in the annual Yosemite Sierra Visitors Guide. One hundred thousand guides will be printed this year and distributed locally, throughout the United States, and around the world.

The guides are produced as a travel-planning piece for anyone asking for visitor information and a guide to the area while visiting. To continue producing a high-quality guide that will serve to attract visitors to the area, the Visitors Bureau, through its publisher, the Sierra Star, is looking for new stunning photographic images for the 2010 edition of the Yosemite- Sierra Visitors Guide.

See the 2009 Visitor's Guide by visiting http://www.yosemitethisyear.com or http://www.uniflip.com/online-magazines/3/9515/28049/pub/

Requested images

High-quality photographs that depict the scenic vistas, attractions, events, culture and activities of Madera County (including foothills and valley) and the Southern Yosemite region are requested. Photos of attractions, events and activities should include participants having fun.

Images of Yosemite National Park are desirable and will be considered for the cover and some inner pages, but the majority of images used in the guide will be from outside Yosemite. Shots with stunning imagery and showing things to do will make up most of the guide.

Photographic format

Photographers must own all rights to any photograph submitted and model releases must be available upon request. If you do not have a model release form you can download one by clicking here.

Submission of images is a two-step process:

1. Initial submission:

Previews of images must be submitted on CD for review and selection.

Prints and color transparencies will not be accepted.

Each disc must be marked with:

• Photographer's name
• Photographer's address
• Photographer's phone number
• Photographer's e-mail address (if available)

Fill out an Image Submittal Form and attach an itemized list.

Include for each photo:

Description of photograph

Location of each photograph

Format of the original image

(example: 33mm, digital image 3019x3894px)

Images should be in jpg format and at least 600px wide.

Larger is acceptable. Please make sure your original images meet the final image requirements before submitting for initial submission.

A maximum of 100 images per photographer will be considered.

Package your submissions carefully with discs in appropriate sleeves or jewel cases. Enclose the accompanying Image Submittal Form.

Initial Submission Deadline: Aug. 15

Submissions received after this date or those that are incomplete could be returned without consideration.

Send submissions to:

Sierra Star
Attn: YSVB Photos
Post Office Box 305
Oakhurst, CA 93644

Return of CDs

If you want your CDs returned you must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your CDs for them to be returned. For return by registered, certified or insured mail, include the completed forms from your preferred shipper with proper postage.

2. Submission of originals

Selections of image finalists will be made no later than Sept 1. A request will be sent to all photographers whose images have been selected as finalists and a request will be sent for the original images.

Original images (slides, transparencies, etc.) or drum-scans of originals (1200dpi CMYK) must be of acceptable quality for magazine printing. Those images not meeting these standards will not be used and backup images will be selected from the finalists. Slides are discouraged, as often these images are not of acceptable quality to use as a large image for print.

Package your originals carefully in appropriate sleeves or jewel cases. Enclose the accompanying Image Submittal Form.

Examples of acceptable resolution:

The size of the pages are 8.625 by 11.125 inches with bleed

The image resolution needs to be 350dpi

This means for an image to be acceptable to use for a full page it needs to be at least 3019x3894px in size, and 5950px wide to be considered for a double-page spread. Smaller images are acceptable but will not be considered for the cover or full pages

Send your original images to:

Sierra Star
Attn: YSVB Photos
Post Office Box 305
Oakhurst, CA 93644

Deadline: Sept. 30

Questions? Call: (559) 683-4464 ask for Betty Linn or e-mail Lisa Baker at lbaker@sierrastar.com.

All photographs will include the photographer's byline.

The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau would also like to reserve the rights to use the winning photo in the bureau's library. The photographer retains copyrights to their work unless other arrangements are made.

The YSVB reserves the right to use images published in the online guide on the YSVB Web site with no additional payment to the photographer.

The YSVB and its agents also reserve the right to crop and manipulate images as needed for layout design.

Liability

While every effort is made to ensure all entries will be handled with the utmost care and protection, the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau and its agents will not be responsible for loss or damage to any submittal from any cause whatsoever, including shipping.

All decisions of the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau Board of Directors are final.