Bing Wants YOUR Photo for the Next Homepage Image

Happy World Photography Day! In celebration of the holiday, Bing is partnering with Discovery to kick off a contest for photographers of every level. At Bing, we love great photography that shows us the world from a new perspective and we work hard to inspire viewers daily with our homepage images. While we generally source these images from the world’s best professional photographers, we know that people everywhere take amazing pictures every day.

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So, today, we’re excited to invite you to be a part of Bing’s Hometown Homepage Photo Contest*. It’s easy! All you have to do is submit one of your own photos to the new Bing Homepage App on Facebook between today (August 19) and September 3. What we’re looking for are images that highlight and capture the beauty of your hometown. Is there a special landmark, view-point or natural wonder that captures the essence of your town? Snap it and send it to us!

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On September 10, we’ll announce the top ten finalists and fans will be able to vote for their favorite on Facebook. The image with the most votes will be declared the winning picture and will be showcased on the Bing homepage (along with the talented photographer) on October 1. The winner will also receive a new Nokia Lumia 1020, 500px membership and canvas of the winning photo. But that’s not all! The same day, Bing and The Nature Conservancy will celebrate the winner’s creative contribution and hometown pride by hosting a day of service in their hometown.

“We’re thrilled at Discovery to team up with Bing in celebration of World Photography Day, as we both work to inspire people to explore and uncover wonders around the world each and every day,”—Conal Byrne, Vice President of Digital Media, Discovery Communications.

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So what are you waiting for? Sift through your digital photo albums or get out there and take photos of features that you feel illustrate your hometown, and submit them for a chance to not only share your work with Bing’s millions of visitors, but to give back to your community with a day of service.

Whether you’ve been taking pictures for years or bought your first camera this week, here are some photography tips from World Photography Day founder Korske Ara:

  • Lighting is the secret sauce of a great picture. When shooting indoors, Ara recommends moving lamps or adding candles to change the atmosphere and mood you’re capturing.
  • Change your vantage point by laying on the ground or standing on a chair to capture a unique perspective of your subject.
  • Practice is key, so bring your camera with you everywhere. Learning to create beautiful photographs is a lifelong journey and there’s always something new to learn, see and capture.

We look forward to seeing your submissions. Best of luck!

–Michael Kroll, Principal UX Manager

* This contest is open to US residents only.