I dont know about contests, but this site offers photography challenges. I suppose the difference is that there are no prizes awarded to challenge winners. What the winners gets is the privilege of hosting the next challenge, and picking it's topic..

Take a look through the Canon Talk Forum, or whatever forum relates to your camera type. What you are looking for is an announcement of the current challenge topic..

Here are two that I participate in from time to time..

Http://www.pbase.com/ctfchallengehttp://www.pbase.com/cslr_challenge/.

Http://www.pbase.com/cbeck.

One does not achieve success by being at the right place at the right time, but rather by being ready when the right place and time present themselves for your inspection...

Thanks for the links Charlie. I found a few through google and other forums, but I think some of them are for professionals. Here's a few I came up with -.

Photoshop User magazine's...I think it's yearly.

Http://www.photoshopuserawards.com/rules.php.

The IPA contest...I believe it's yearly too..

Http://photoawards.com/.

This one is from a new forum I believe. It looks to be aimed at everyone, but I'm not sure how legit it is since it's a new forumhttp://www.fotozumi.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=26.

The pdn networks contests, which all seem to be good.

Http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/contests/index.jsp..

Nice one JRP! I think the only way for me to get really good with photography is to enter contests, so if anyone else knows of other sites with photography contests please post them here..

Not sure I understand how entering photo contests will improve your photography skills. I don't have much experience in that area, but wouldn't it simply be a matter of either winning or not winning a particular contest?.

My own photography has improved by reading these forums (Canon 30D specifically) and posting pictures there for critique by fellow members..

Do the photo contests give you tips on why your photo does or doesn't do well with the judges, etc.?Just trying to clear this up,JonGive me something to shoot..

J Fulks wrote:.

Nice one JRP! I think the only way for me to get really good withphotography is to enter contests, so if anyone else knows of othersites with photography contests please post them here.

I know that the allure of "winning" is tempting .... BUT ......

Be aware that many, many contests are just fronts to get FREE stock photography..

IF the rules demand that you "give up all rights" to your images, .... that is what it is..

You essentially GIVE THEM YOUR IMAGES ....

They may indeed award a "winner" ... (or they may not) ... but it was a CHEAP way for them to get access to ALL the entries..

Thanks for reading .... JoePhoto.

( Do You Ever STOP to THINK and FORGET to START Again ??? )..

Since you mention wanting to improve your skills, an actual contest where a judge picks the winners probably isn't going to be very helpful. The sites listed below have "challenges" where the participants vote on the images and are encouraged to give feedback..

FujiMugs was started as a site for Fuji cameras only, but over time they have added an Open category for any camera. I started there with a Fuji and still participate with my Nikon DSLR's from time to time. The winner of the Main category (Fuji only) gets to choose the next topic, but perhaps someday that priviledge may be extended to Open winners as well. (In fact there has been one instance where the Main winner couldn't come up with a topic and passed that honor on to the Open winner.) The current topic is "Addictions". Be sure to look back through previous challenges to see the kind of entries and feedback that are common..

Http://www.fujimugs.com.

Panachallenge is a sister site for Panasonic cameras which also has an Open category..

Http://www.panachallenge.com/.

Chefziggyhttp://www.pbase.com/chefziggy/lecream..

Some challenges require you to be a paid member, others are open to everyone. What I like about this site is that the winner frequently describes how they captured the shot and what post processing they used to achieve the result. Some great photographers contribute and there are different types of challenges ranging from very little post processing to very advanced..

Jr.

Http://www.dpchallenge.com/index.php..

Actualy, most photo constets are won by people who know what kind of photo to submit. Not necessarily the best shot in the contest..

If you want to have other people help you improve your photography by critique of your work, try DPchallenge.com.

J Fulks wrote:.

Nice one JRP! I think the only way for me to get really good withphotography is to enter contests, so if anyone else knows of othersites with photography contests please post them here.

Chris, Broussard, LA..