Last Day to Submit: 2013 Photo of the Year Contest Announced - Win $10,000 Cash and a Specialized Demo

Sep 30, 2013 at 8:46
by Karl Burkat  

It's time for the 3rd Annual Pinkbike Photo of the Year Contest, where 1/1000 of a second could net you $10,000 and a Specialized Demo kitted with a full SRAM gruppo. Think you have a banger? This is your chance to see how you stack up against the best mountain bike photographers in the world. Just upload your shot and you can nominate up to three photos of your own or others. Last year more than 357,000 votes were cast to choose the winner, and this year's total is sure to be even bigger. You have until October 23rd to nominate photos, with voting starting October 28th. The photo of the year will now be part of the Pinkbike MTB awards with the winner grabbing the title and soon to be announced trophy.

How Does it Work?

All photos taken and uploaded this year that are nominated by users are eligible. So upload your photos now to enter. Each Pinkbike user can nominate up to 3 different photos into the contest (see how to nominate below). The judges will then spend several sleepless nights narrowing the nominated photos down to 32, after which we will open things up to the public. We will pit each photo randomly against another photo in a college basketball bracket-like showdown. At this point users will vote on the match ups and the photo with the most votes will move onto the next round. So 32 photos will narrow down to 16, then 8, 4, 2 until there is a single photo deemed the 2013 Specialized Photo of the Year Powered by SRAM. Deadline for nominations is October 23.

2013 Photo of the Year
  Each photo uploaded this year can be nominated by any user by clicking the 'Nominate this Photo' link. All nominated photos will then be viewed by the panel of judges and narrowed down to 32.


Judging

We're switching up the judging this year in order to allow all biking photographers access to the contest. Huge thanks to Sara Bielecki from Outside Magazine, Myles McCutcheon from Sportsnet Magazine, and Gordon Nicholas from Color Magazine for taking the time to judge for the Pinkbike Photo of the Year.

Rules

• Everyone is eligible except for judges
• Only one photo can be selected from each photographer into the final 32
• You must be the photographer who took the photo and have it uploaded on your personal Pinkbike account to be eligible

photo


Author Info:
karl-burkat avatar

Member since Jan 1, 2000
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169 Comments
  • 339 25
 I always get excited for this...then I remember, only the pro photographers end up getting in
  • 265 3
 yeah, but there is a reason they are pro photographers.

It kind of sucks that your average joe shmoe won't win, but it's a nice perk for the guys who do actually go out and put in lots of work to get great shots. If I could take a pic with no effort with my iphone and win, it doesn't say much for those who are lugging 50# of gear up the hill and setting up complex strobes
  • 29 8
 The average photographer isn't going to get a photo of the year because most likely they do not have the time or the money to get the shots that the pros do. It just is what it is.
  • 22 70
flag taskmgr (Sep 30, 2013 at 13:58) (Below Threshold)
 yea, theres no way I will win being in Penticton, using my iphone 4s... Frown some dude with a $6000 dollar camera who will be in some gnarly spot like the congo will win.
  • 76 1
 You don't win races without dedication, practice & yes, gear. The same goes for photography.

This community takes amazing photos so I'm excited to see what floats to the top even though I know I would never have a chance. I would do bad things for the bike though.
  • 33 2
 it better not be that pod not long ago of that maxxis tyre, people will be so pissed at that hahaha
  • 8 14
flag MendelMu (Sep 30, 2013 at 14:06) (Below Threshold)
 @drunkinmcnut Yea?! You would do bad things(!) for the bike or a bike? Send me a PM!
  • 13 0
 I just hope something from hecklefest makes in haha
  • 9 5
 @elanto You're right.

It better be a Kenda.
  • 41 0
 You could still win this contest with an iphone im sure. People complain to much and use gear cost as an excuse. Its not like your 400-800 basic SLR kit is really any different then the $8000 bodys. Great locations help thats no dout, and I myself can only dream to go to the places photographers and riders are going to these days, but at least everyone and anyone has the chance to win this contest which is great.
  • 67 3
 Hint: Last year a semi-pro bloke won, taking a pic of a totaly not pro rider i a quite non-epic location. So you guys are making up not existing problems.
  • 4 25
flag bigboybmxlover95 (Sep 30, 2013 at 15:09) (Below Threshold)
 i like photo of the day better stupid bish
  • 4 0
 They are pros but that makes sense that they win..maybe a amateur will win this year and then go pro!
  • 18 1
 @waki how else would the mtb industry (or any industry) exist if someone wasnt making up non-existant problems?
  • 7 0
 Im an amateur and have a banger from heckel fest!
  • 4 2
 I just happen to have a friend with access to a $7000 camera, but unfortunately I live in western New York, and the terrain here isn't ideal.....if only I lived in Utah..or New Zealand or something....
  • 4 0
 or you took the time to travel... I can't wait... so many banger pictures and very um... interesting choices.
  • 3 1
 You cant shoot great photo with the most expensive gears. Fyi.
  • 7 0
 @logcabm77 street hucking isn't dead bro Wink
  • 12 1
 i would love to see this one in the top 32!!
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9984437
  • 2 2
 @makripper if one were given a $7000 camera and flights to all the comps/locations in the world, that person would still have to be incredibly creative and technically knowledgable to produce a comp winning image. It's not all about gear, hence "all the gear, no idea", and this is particularly apposite when it comes to photography. The fact this comp is open to all photographers, pro or beginner - iPhone or 1DX, makes it really exciting! I can't wait to see the submissions Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @someguy It was a joke! Lol
  • 7 3
 Complaining that you can't win a photography competition with iPhone (if you haven't realized it, it's a telephone, not a camera) is like complaining that you can't win Red Bull Rampage on a $200 bike from Walmart.
  • 7 1
 Thank you captain obvious!
  • 3 6
 Someone with basic photography knowledge but a wiz on photoshop can win.. the camera isnt the main factor in photography. Have you saw a pro photographers photo before they edit them.. some of them look nothing like the original.
  • 1 0
 dmr-smiffy - not sure if serious...
  • 1 0
 @dmr-smiffy - also not sure if serious...
  • 1 1
 Im trying to say that an average camera can still be used providing your talented with photoshop. However.. you still need to have an eye for photography to capture the moment with one snap.
  • 2 1
 Smiffy has a point guys, anyone with experience of photography would know that it's not only the subject of the photo but also the colour, saturation, lighting, etc. If you don't have all the professional kit Photoshop is a brilliant way to gain the desired effect. I doubt highly that smiffy was suggesting create a 'fake' image.
  • 1 1
 Aghh yes ^^ I was not implying making a fake image but if you peel away all the layers of a well edited photo.. the original can look pretty boring
  • 1 0
 sort of depends what you're referring to when you say "If you don't have all the professional kit Photoshop is a brilliant way to gain the desired effect" ?
  • 1 1
 @dmr-smithy Bit of a debatable issue really. Again it depends what you both mean by layers and photoshop effects. For example, if you literally un-processed a stacked landscape image of multiple exposures, individually the images could look poorly executed (e.g., burnt out sky, underexposed foreground). Correct me if i'm wrong but this sort of thing (focus stacking, blending exposures) isn't really done in mtb photography. So, if you literally mean adding colour and light, i'd argue this sort of approach in Photoshop generally buggers images (albeit an originally boring image).
  • 1 0
 My vote is for the roadie POD.
  • 2 0
 Im pretty good at photoshop. Thing is a bad pic will always be a bad pic and photo shop will not save a bad pic.
Yes all my shots get some sort of tweaking to get the results perfect.
Plenty of pro photographers have very little experience with photo manipulation.(photoshop).
  • 2 2
 I thought that many of pro-photographers do not use Photoshop that much because there are better programs to work on RAWs... like ones released by Nikon or Canon. Just sayin...
  • 2 0
 naaaa. there are lots of other programs out there (including plugins for photoshop) to create waky effects that do not reflect reality, but nothing comes close to photoshop for processing images
  • 2 0
 @Sshredder - totally agree

Don't know whether you're pretty good at photoshop tho ;-)
  • 1 0
 But none of POY contenders ever used "waky" effects and plug-ins... No good shot needs that, and no bad shot will get anything by using them. Good Photoshop work does not look shopped at all. You are blowing yourself a bubble... nobody expects anyone to prove anything in comments, stop trying so hard Wink
  • 1 6
flag Sshredder (Oct 6, 2013 at 10:01) (Below Threshold)
 I don't use" photoshop". Photoshop is a generic name for software that is used to manipulate an image. I use Correl soft ware. If you know what you are doing all the different software does the same functions. Layers, curves, and a hundred other tools are not wacky filters. They are the equivalency of what was done in the dark room when all we had was film.
Checked your skill as a photographer somguy.................keep practicing. Smile
  • 2 1
 Not when you're talking about Adobe Photoshop the program that's part of their CS3 series.
  • 2 3
 Comments from teenagers are always so enlightening and informative!
  • 4 0
 Sshredder, I was being sarcastic, no need to be a douche
  • 4 0
 Then you should do yourself a huge favour and stop using that Corel piece of crap and start using Adobe products like PS and Ai ASAP. If only to get a better job. I went through gymnasium, studies and I see which other companies are using what. Corel is a weapon of Losers who think they are saving money by buying a cheaper program. It was the same with 3D Max and Maya, Nikon and Canon, Wacom and Pentagram, Mac or PC and many more.
  • 1 7
flag Sshredder (Oct 6, 2013 at 10:57) (Below Threshold)
 Hmmmm maybe I should look at your fantastic pictures WAKI. As a gymnast you must be an expert at photo manipulation. The exact tools are used on all the software out there. They all use the same names such as levels, curves, layers, Opps I just went over everyones head on this subject. Nothing sadder than peeps shooting there mouth off with out any proof of what they are talking about.
  • 1 0
 Whatever mate. Sony DSLR has same buttons as a Canon one, just as VW Golf has doors, steering wheel and blinkers like Porsche Panamera. However gymnasium is not the same thing as the gym. I'm off... Have a nice life!
  • 3 1
 Pussy is pussy, but if she's a fat chick its a little different Wink
  • 5 0
 Thank you Sshredder for making yourself look like an absolute prat.
  • 1 0
 pahaha
  • 1 0
 Try real photography other than doing selfies
  • 1 3
 If it's a photograph contest, the price should be a 6000$ DSLR body not a bike...
  • 8 0
 ^no cause then theyd win again next year
  • 1 0
 hahahah Razz
  • 1 2
 @Mikeripper.....are you a teenage girl??




You said "El oh El"...grow a sack!!!!
  • 1 2
 Makripper....I said MAKRIPPER!! Well I'm a dick!
  • 1 2
 haha i nominated my own crappy photos
  • 1 0
 Can we nominate our own pictures?
  • 1 0
 Well yes but you'd need a shitload of other people to nominate as well and it'd have to appeal to the judges to win so you'd be better off just nominating the photos you like the best. Don't wanna put a damper on your chances of winning but we're talking about a microscopic chance unless you readily have a few thousand people who'll willingly make Pinkbike accounts just to nominate your photo I wouldn't waste your time.
  • 1 2
 It's tough to compete against the pros; no doubt. But I have to say there are a lot of really talented amateurs here as well.
  • 2 1
 Oh no doubt and I hope very much that they get noticed but getting people to vote for an am instead of just flicking through suspended production's photos is a bit of an ask. I know for sure that I'm guilty of nominating all pros.
  • 1 3
 Well guess what camera I took this photo on?

m.pinkbike.com/photo/9884515

My iPod, and look at the beauty of this perfectly timed photo no filter.... I had a photo-gasm when I took it!
  • 1 0
 hahahhaha so blurry
  • 1 0
 Yes elanto finally someone broke it down properly!!
  • 1 0
 Mine was blurry!?
  • 1 0
 No doubt you can take a good photo, I've taken some brilliant shots using my phone that look as if they'd been done professionally. Not sure why I've been neg propped above? The point I'm making is that the camera used and photo taken are minor factors compared to how big an audience the photo gets bearing in mind that this competition is based firstly on the number of nominations the photos get. Greater audience = Greater level of views = Greater chance of nomination on a good quality photo. It's logic.
  • 1 0
 Ya i got neg proped too but im use to it
  • 2 0
 Meh it just annoys me when people get neg for a genuinely valid opinion.
  • 2 0
 Im having a hard time breaking into the pinkbike popularity zone. Seems that even if you have a great picture taken with a good camera you can still get overlooked. Good luck to all. Just keep taking the best photos you can. Hope to see you in the top 32.
  • 3 0
 Didn't you do the shoot for the article on Tippies flatline the other day?
  • 2 0
 Sean do wanna know something awesome....not only do we have the same first name, but you should be in the top 32 i hope you are ur an awesome photographer.!! Best of luck!
  • 4 1
 seanstdenis - with all the respect, do not consider "Pinkbike popularity zone" as any kind of target... there is no publicity value here, as "people on the internet" have nothing to give you but props. Nothing for you unless you are one of the best out there. And then all it has for you is traffic under your own portfolio website, that can attract sponsoring giving you few pennys. You will better spend your time working on your skills and getting into good shot opportunities. Then you can aim at companies that might buy your pictures.
  • 4 1
 Yeah definitely listen to this guy he seems to know everything about everything...
  • 1 0
 @WAKI your last post "I'm off... Have a nice life!" kindly don't make statements you don't intend to act on
  • 1 0
 Just pissing around bro but seriously Pinkbike popularity is no less important than anything else. There is publicity here. This is the biggest cycling forum in the world, who says he can't post here and also do what you suggested.
  • 2 0
 Im not seeking popularity here, I have my weird reasons to smear the place with smelly creations of my beain. I just warn people from trying to get any famous through PB or any other site. Then I warn of having a very thought to attempt to cater to likes of "people onthe internet". I was off from talking to sshredder. But yea, I can be off totaly from this thread. You're welcome Smile
  • 5 0
 boobs ( . )( . )
  • 2 0
 The way i see things is.. I need to get noticed now if I intend to have some people's vote for next years Deep Summer wildcard entry. Also. I need this win so I can afford a new camera and im still riding an 08 sx trail. And i believe I can be an amateur that can go toe to toe with the big boys.
  • 2 1
 Do all you can to get the best shots. People delivering good pictures get to contests and eventually win them, not people being liked by as many people as can be found. Aim at being a big boy. Bike site users are a terrible target group to determine whether a photo is good or not... it's like asking golfers if some natural fertilizer is of a good quality. Most of us can't give a quality opinion whether some bike is good or not after riding it for a year (because eventually we get used to anything) Don't ever aim to be an underdog that can run with the big boys. Only big boys run with the big boys. You can aim at being the best of underdogs, but that will make it quite hard to win a competition as your standards might be too low if your reference group is "underdogs"... if you are really into photography, theon open a Sterling Lorence website and look for a feeling inside: I'm gonna be so much better than this guy. If it's not there, cheer up, world cannot be fed by best photographers ever.
  • 33 2
 Should have both a amateur and a pro category. Pros get the cash and the amateurs get the gear.
  • 7 9
 Why? There are tons of amateur photos all over the Internet, if I want to see them, I don't need a 'Photo of the year' competition.
Moreover who will decide who's an amateur and who's a pro? Anyone can borrow a pro camera.
  • 10 2
 Your name goes very nicely with your attitude. Razz
  • 3 0
 How do you define a pro and an amateur?
  • 10 2
 How may cheeseburgers they can eat at one time.
  • 1 0
 The Pro make s a living from photography. Advanced amateurs (Who do it for fun)are generally as good as pros. You can find them at camera clubs. Then there are Art photographers. where do they fit in? .
A pro gets up before dawn and sets up a shot of a particular rider. Generaly the rider is asked to "Do the shot" more than once. This isn't something you do on a friendly casual bike ride.
Getting the money shot is lots of work.
Oh wolfe38 (.) (.) nice.
  • 1 1
 As an amateur I love the fact that I get a chance to run with the big dogs.
  • 30 2
 Can't wait to nominate this
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9873407
  • 22 0
 I'm in class so I'm too afraid to click that for fear its a woman in a thong sitting on a cruiser.
  • 5 0
 Maximum apprehension level right there!
  • 4 2
 Yes. VERY yes. Polka-dot roadie gettin sideways, foot out, probably stopped to take the pic but whateves. I REALLY want this to win.
  • 8 0
 Ahhhh. I ride. I take photos. I can't take photos of myself riding!
(Can't do it well at least. I need the one guy's set up that gets the selfie PODs)
  • 2 0
 Brad Walton!!
  • 9 1
 No people, a picture of your bike with an Instagram filter is not going to win.
  • 14 1
 challenge accepted Wink
  • 3 0
 I think the bracket idea applied to products like new bikes, equipment, manufactures and innovations is creative and interesting and I hope PinkBike uses that format for products as well as pictures.
  • 3 0
 it seems so weird to hear so many people, making so many reasons for themselves and others, for an excuse not to enter the contest before they even try to enter. suprise yourself....
  • 1 0
 Ahhh!! I'm so glad I caught this contest last minute! Hopefully you all check out my entries from Colorado Springs, CO and Charlotte, NC! Smile www.pinkbike.com/photo/10249378
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=529791663779941&set=a.529791277113313.1073741855.521899264569181&type=1&theater
  • 5 0
 oooh yah! Here we go people get ready for another sick round
  • 1 0
 Are the pros taking there shots for serious reasons ( Is there a corrupt sinister plot underneath the purpose that goes well beyond a new demo and some cash), or is it an (afterwork) kinda thing? Are they shooting for fun?

I love this contest! I love being apart of it! and I really like the cool photos,

I really like the photos of pool riders, or concrete or half pipe riders..
  • 2 0
 What counts as This year? Jan 2013 and newer, or after last years contest. For example is stuff shot in say December still be eligible?
  • 4 0
 Yes. Should be from Nov 4, 2013 on.
  • 4 1
 Nov 4 2012?
  • 5 0
 that makes more sense robaussie99 Wink
  • 2 0
 So anything between 2012 november 4 to .... ? Please make this clear i think a lot of us hasnt got a clue about this Smile Salute
  • 4 0
 deadline is oct 23rd.
  • 1 0
 I want to nominate a photo that was posted on nov 4th but it won't let me!
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8866009
  • 2 0
 edit ignore this bit
  • 1 0
 Is possible upload a hdr or something like this?
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I want to nominate the photo from Kempten (www.pinkbike.com/photo/8866009) as well
  • 1 1
 Overall I think this is a great contest to promote, but I always end up asking myself the same question... I would you make a photo of the year contest 2 months before the year has actually ended?!? That means that any photos posted from late October to the 31st of December are not eligible... it would make more sense to run the contest after the end of the year, just like the Oscars or any other award for the best aything from the previous year =)
  • 4 1
 if you search me, i'm already outside.
  • 2 0
 If the winner is just someone posting a picture of a pro rider I'm going to be so pissed.
  • 1 2
 Given mine was taken with grainy 80's technology I realize i'm never gonna win from the artistic/technical side but I think the nostalgia factor in capturing what was possible with a highlighted mullet, a dodgy 80's fashion jumper and ridiculously skin tight jeans back then is worth something... err ok maybe not.... www.pinkbike.com/photo/9728149
  • 2 0
 Red Bull's best but also help even negative slopes Pink \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ DH.LOVE
  • 3 0
 always one of my favorite times of year on pinkbike!
  • 5 3
 Am I the only one that feels that they should have a contest with only amateurs. And not 10,000 cameras
  • 16 0
 Wow thats alot of cameras
  • 15 0
 I feel like $10,000 would make up a good percentage of several "professional photographer's" annual income, compared to the "amateur" who has a normal job with regular paycheques, benefits and complains that their snapshot didn't win them $10,000. I feel like mountain bike photography isn't as lucrative as you might think...
Porn on the other hand!
  • 1 1
 ya that's true, but I meant like for young guys who are too young to get jobs Smile and just love the sport
  • 1 4
 and i was being sarcastic
  • 1 0
 Spot on Liam! haha. Seriously, many "amaetur" photos are just as good as many of of the pros. No reason to split the competition. Stoked to see everything!
  • 2 0
 This isn't the lottery, a$$ faces who wine a boot it....you actually have to TRY.
  • 3 0
 Me and my Nokia brick have got this Wink
  • 1 0
 How about they give the demo to the person with the worst photo! Then I have a chance Wink
  • 1 0
 I'm new at this. I don't get how you submit your photos? Can someone help me please.
  • 2 0
 So excited to see what goes down this year !
  • 1 0
 I'm going to team up with a pro photographer. If we win, he can have the money, i'll take the Demo.
  • 1 0
 My wife has a digital camera and asks me if i want to take it for rides....I say NO because I'm RIDING
  • 1 0
 A great photographer gets 1 nugg out of every 200 shots....wasting film to get the gold
  • 2 0
 saturday training


www.pinkbike.com/photo/10184580/?s5
  • 1 0
 I really like the mud pic but (IMO) would have liked to see all of the rider
  • 1 0
 yeah true but the focus was on the mud Smile
  • 1 1
 I am having a hard time uploading pics on my android because there isn't a add or upload option.and i have some gopro bangers.
  • 1 0
 There are so many PODs that haven't been nominated yet, a bit of a shame, really.
  • 1 0
 Love it! Finally get a chance to showsome pics of my own of an Iphone4 and get appreciated i hope!! Goo luck to everyone!
  • 1 0
 Just submitted my photos for the contest! If I win I'm going straight to vegas! Haha.
  • 1 0
 Can we have maybe actuall riding photos compeet this year ? not landscapes, posing and soo on.
  • 1 0
 I'd have a great shot a winning, if it weren't for all those professional photographers!
  • 2 0
 I think your shot is way cool
  • 1 0
 Shit!!! Missed the deadline!
  • 3 2
 ...better add that low-fi filter...
  • 1 0
 oh .. so win demo and 10000 hmm LIKE THIS !
  • 1 0
 why only 3 possibilities?
  • 1 0
 Anyone know if there are runners up prizes?
  • 1 0
 Where do we submit too? That link only goes to the PB photo Forum.....
  • 1 0
 Does every photo submitted get viewed by judges?
  • 1 0
 yes
  • 1 0
 Cheers Paris
  • 1 0
 Vote for me! Vote for me! Vote for me!
  • 1 0
 winning
  • 5 5
 Guess Gwin won't be entering this year
  • 1 0
 Good Luck For All
  • 2 5
 people will probably hate for trying to promote my picture but here goes, hope you like www.pinkbike.com/photo/10151786
  • 1 2
 sweet
  • 1 5
flag wheeldrop (Oct 7, 2013 at 11:19) (Below Threshold)
 That paint scheme is shoddy on the bike offered, looks like the 2010 .Why can,t they offer one that Troy Brosnon was riding in Leogang.
  • 2 1
 www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150397414450789&set=a.10150397414260789.375554.378143935788&type=1&theater
  • 2 1
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/10213124
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