Canon Chooses Finalists in Football Photography Contest

Canon has posted the finalists in its annual “Why Do You Love Football?” photo contest and is inviting the public to vote on the first-place winners and grand prize winner.

The deadline for entries was November 27, and Canon’s panel of judges has selected seven finalists in each of two categories: action and feature. The Action category focuses on any image that captures football action during game play, while the Feature category comprises any football imagery outside of game action on the field. Click here to see the results. Canon doesn’t say how long voting will go on, but plans to announce the winners in early January, so vote soon.

Co-sponsored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the nationwide amateurs-only contest is in its second year.

Judges included Sports Illustrated photographer Peter Read Miller, Associated Press photographer Mark Duncan, U.S. Presswire photographer Craig Melvin, Cleveland Browns team photographer John Reid III, freelancer Tony Tomsic and former NFL quarterback Archie Manning.

Each first place winner will receive a Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera, while the grand prize winner will be awarded a trip for four to attend Super Bowl XLI in Florida and will have his or her photo displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Additionally, the winner will receive a trip for four to the 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Celebration in August 2007.Details and rules are at www.usa.canon.com/nfl. The web site also features a great Day in the Life video showing how Miller shoots a game, and another video offers tips on how to shoot football.

Copyright 2006