Nothing like this ever happens to me . . .
I submitted that into a contest a few weeks ago. I got a letter in the mail today. And this is what it says ...
Re: Your contest entry
Dear Rachael,
After thouroughly reviewing and discussing your photograph, I am pleased to inform you that our Selection Committee has advancd your contest entry, "Dying In The Sun," to semi-finalists in the Nature category in the International Open Amateur Photography Contest. Your photo will now be automatically into final competition to be held in the Spring of 2005, where you now have an excellent chance of winning one of over 114 cash or gift prizes--including the $1,000.00 Grand Prize--you may even win the $10,000.00 Annual Grand Prize ! We wish you the best of luck as you compete for these awards in the coming weeks.
And that's not all . . .
Rachael . . . Imagine Your Photograph featured in a beautiful coffee-table edition!
In celebration of your unique talentm, and the priceless moment you have captured, we also wish to publish your photograph in our forthcoming anthology. . .
Endless Journeys
Endless Journeys, scheduled for publication in the Summer of 2005, will be a classic, coffee-table quality hardbound volume--printed on fine-milled paper specifically selected to faithfully reproduce the unique texture and character of your photograph.
Before going any further, Rachael, let me make it clear . "Dying In The Sun" was selected for publication because of its unique perspective and your artistic vision. . . we believe it will add to the importance and appeal of this edition. In this regard, you are under no obligation whatsoever to submit and entry fee or subsidy payment, or to make a purchase of any kind.
Again, congratulations, Rachael. We feel you have a special talent and look foward to the publication of your photograph in Endless Journeys.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Bryan
Managing Editor
P.S. Rachael, you should be genuinely proud of your accomplishment. of the thousands of photographs we see each year, only a fraction can be published. We are pleased that "Dying In The Sun" will appropriately achieve the recognition that a national publication can give it. We are so confident that you will love both the quality of the edition and the way your photograph is presented.