Get Your Cameras Ready!

For the third year, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is offering amateur photographers and general aviation enthusiasts the opportunity to hone their skills, possibly see their photos in the organization's member magazine, AOPA Pilot... and, win some cash.

"AOPA Pilot encourages both pilots and nonpilots to capture the beauty and spirit of general aviation," said Tom Haines, editor-in-chief of the magazine. "Since its popular debut in 2006, we have seen a lot of great submissions. Last year alone, we had more than 2,000 photos entered into the contest.  I invite you again to share your photographs and celebrate general aviation."

Persons may enter photos taken since January 1, 2004, in the following five categories: general aviation aircraft, airports, pilots, aerials and altered images. Each entrant is limited to one photo per category per month. Each month between January and August, AOPA ePilot subscribers will be asked to go online and select a photo of the month. Those photographs will be published each month in AOPA Pilot.

Once the contest ends on September 2, 2008, AOPA members and a panel of AOPA judges will select three winners in each of the five categories and an overall grand award winner. All of the top photos in each category will be published in the December 2008 issue of AOPA Pilot.

The first place winner in each category will receive $500. The second place winner in each category will receive $200. The third place winner in each category will receive $100. A grand prize of an additional $1,000 will be awarded to an entrant selected by the judges from among the first place winners in each category.

Photographer Marcia Gitelman took top honors in 2007, with her photograph of three Swearingen SX-300s and an L-29 in formation over Ormond Beach, FL. Gitelman was riding as a passenger in the lead plane, and captured her fast-moving shot during a celebration flight honoring the 100th anniversary of Glenn Curtiss' motorcycle speed record (photo shown above, courtesy of AOPA Pilot.)

People may view all the winning photos, and a slideshow of honorable mentions for 2007, here.

FMI: www.aopa.org/photocontest/rules.html