Calling Shutterbugs for National Geographic Photo Contest! Novices welcome! (w. giveaway)

Congratulations to Lauren who won the Canon SLR camera bag and a supply of Energizer Lithium batteries!

Have you ever envisioned one of your photos in National Geographic? Well, now is your chance to make it happen!

National Geographic and Energizer have teamed up to present the 3rd annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest. The winner will have their photo featured in the December issue of National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries, and they’ll also be awarded the trip of a lifetime – a National Geographic Expedition for two to the Greek Isles.

One thing I love about this contest is that this contest is open to everyone from novice photographers with point and shoot cameras (like myself!) to those with the fancy DSLRs that I covet. In fact, one of last year’s winners was shot by a zoo employee on a regular point-and-shoot camera!

National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson serves as a contest judge, and will also be doling out photography tips and participating in a Q&A session on the contest website.

“You don’t have to be an expert or have professional equipment to capture a magnificent shot,” said 20-year National Geographic photographer and contest judge Jim Richardson. “One of last year’s Category Winning photos was shot by a zoo employee on a regular point-and-shoot camera. Great photography is often about being in the right place at the right time and making sure you’re prepared to capture the moment when it happens.”

To enter, submit your best photos – in categories like animals/wildlife, nature, people/cultures, travel, weather, and action/energy- until Wednesday, June 30 to the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest site for your chance to win the National Geographic Expeditions trip to the Greek islands and be featured in an ad in the December issue of National Geographic magazine.

After the entry period closes, Richardson will review all of the entries and select two finalists in each category. Then, from Aug. 17 through Sept. 15, Americans will be asked to go online and review each of the Category Finalists and vote for their favorite in each category. Once the Category Winners are determined, Richardson will help choose a Grand Prize Winner, to be announced on or about Nov. 4.

To get you ready to shoot award winning photos, National Geographic and YouCast are providing a lucky reader with a prize package containing a Canon 2400 SLR Gadget Bag ($65) and Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA and AAA batteries. Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries are the world’s longest lasting batteries in high-tech devices. They last up to eight times longer than Energizer® MAX® in digital cameras (results vary by camera)-which means you can take your mind off your batteries and focus on capturing that winning photo.

Enter to win by telling me about a photo you plan to enter in one of the categories and I’ll choose a winner using Random.org by Wednesday, 5/26. Please be sure to leave your email address or make sure I can find you on Twitter when you win!

Tweet this for an extra entry: @TechSavvyMama shares @NatGeoSociety photo contest details & giving away @Canon_Camera SLR bag + @Energizer batteries: http://bit.ly/cXv7iQ

Thanks to National Geographic, Energizer, and YouCast for providing giveaway items. No compensation was received for sharing this information however, I am getting some Energizer Lithium Batteries.