Contest: Favourite Travel US Photo Contest | Flight Centre

Made the Travel US Photo Contest Shortlist and Checked It Twice!

August 25th, 2009 by Gregg Tilston

The Flight Centre crew (along with our very own Mariel Clayton) have made a short list and checked it twice – and it’s Public Voting time! Not sure why that was in capitals aside from the fact that we are super excited to launch the public voting part of the Favourite Travel US Photo Contest.

So we are down to the top fifteen pictures and we need your help to pick your favourite photo. Come back each day and vote for the picture you think best represents travel across the US of A. The top photo, as voted by you, will walk away with a cool prize pack courtesy of our friends at MOO and earworms and the gang here at Flight Centre.

Want to share your votes on Facebook? Simply sign into the blog using your Facebook login, post a comment saying which photo you think should win, and click ‘Post’ to your profile.

Want to read all the ivory tower legaleze? Click here.

Remember, come back each day to vote for your favourite Travel US photo! Voting ends Monday, August 31, 2009 at 12:00 PM EDT.

In no particular order we present the Top 15!

1›	2›	3›	4›

5›	6›	7›	8›

9›	10›	11›	12›

13›	14›	15›

[poll id=16]

Categories: Contests

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 at 9:20 am and is filed under Contests. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Cpitty

I am trying to vote for my favorite pic, but I can’t find anywhere to actually “vote”. If I select a pic it just enlarges it…..help.
Boyd

I also am trying to vote for my favorite pic, but I can’t find anywhere to actually “vote”. If I select a pic it just enlarges it…..help.
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Hey Cpitty and Boyd,

First – thanks for the comment.

When you click on the picture it does enlarge the photo so you can view the pic in all its splendour. Below the pictures is the poll where you can select your favourite photo and vote. Once you’ve voted you will then see the results. The poll will reset when you are able to vote again (tomorrow).

To ensure fair voting we have limited the votes to one vote per IP per day… I don’t like techie mumbo jumbo either :) … so essentially it means you may not be able to vote from work if someone already has. In this case you can vote for your favourite photo from home.

Don’t hesitate to hit us up with any questions or comments.

Cheers,
g
http://www.writergal.ca Ashley

Hello Gregg,

Can you check your Bit.ly link to the “ivory tower legaleze” I don’t think it’s working?
-Ash
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Hey Ashley, thanks for pointing that out but it’s odd because the link works for me and I had someone else (outside of the office) try it too. Now, we all know that the interweeb is 100% stable ;) so perhaps it was a blip in the system. Can you try it again and let me know if you are still have challenges.
Thanks and cheers,
g
http://www.writergal.ca Ashley

Much better! Thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/marie.micklena.norman Marie Norman

hey guys vote for my photo number 7
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Oh I can sense the rivalries starting already (g ducks) :)
Judy Sharp

Great photo, Karen!
Hope you are the winner!
Susan

#5 – Live is Magical

This is a picture of my daughter when she first met Mickey Mouse in Orlando last year. It truly was a magical moment for us, as Morrie, who’s always been terrified of characters (you should have seen her at her Dora birthday party), made a connection that we were lucky enough to catch with the click of a camera.

When I showed her that the picture was on this website she was so excited. She wants everyone she knows to vote, vote, vote.

Congrats to all those selected in the top 15!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadadan/ Dan Doan

Congratulations to all who made it to the Top 15. Let the voting begin! Good luck!
http://www.writergal.ca Ashley

#13 @WriterGal39 – Disneyland Donald Duck

In October 2007, I went to Disneyland in my first trip as an adult and it was just as magical as when I was a kid (we used to go almost every Christmas and we would drive down from Vancouver, Canada every time).

My boyfriend had a DSLR camera and we took a break from riding the rides so he could take some shots. I only had a little Canon PowerShot SD800 but I was determined to take some great shots. One of them ended up being this Donald Duck portrait.

This photo, and the Disneyland trip, was the kick-off for a year of great travelling with our cameras (Australia, South East Asia, and Europe)…A year full of amazing experiences that I’ll never forget!

I appreciate all your votes so far! It’s gonna be an exciting week with so many amazing travel pictures from so many talented photographers!

–WriterGal
Lauren

number five is an adorable picture of the girl and mickey mouse.
its great.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=576311600 Barrie Blake

That Donald Duck pic is a great shot.
Traci

Cool contest!!! Thanks for the props on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=531816801 Traci Gregg-Albanese

Vote for #10 :)
Anonymous

Great pictures you have posted in the top 15.

While I came to support a friend, I had wanted to honestly choose the photo that touched my heart the most. My choice was the little girl smiling at Mickey Mouse.

It’s obvious that those who have the largest network will receive the most votes, but I would suggest to all that they vote for the picture that touches them the most. That’s truly the only way to pick the true winner – otherwise, it’s just a popularity contest. Be true to yourself, and may the BEST photo win.

Sorry friend, your picture is great, but it wasn’t my first choice.
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Judy, Susan, Dan, Ashley, Lauren, Barrie, Traci, Anon… phew… thanks to everyone for your great comments.

Susan and Ashley, thanks for posting background info on your pictures. It would be great if each photographer would join in and do the same. And to that point – Anon has a great point.

Cheers,
g
Susan

Thanks so much for your vote Anonymous!
Your great point of view was very refreshing. Thanks again.
Bernice

More than 24 hours have gone by and my computer has not reset itself so that I can vote today.
anonymouse gal

I would totally vote for the girl in #5 anyday! just the cutest thing in the world!
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Hey Bernice,
First off – thanks for the comment.
My question is where are you voting from and is it possible that someone from there voted before you today? The polls reset by 9 AM each day.
If someone did vote from the same location then you will have to vote from somewhere else.
Let us know.
Cheers,
g
photographernot

how appropriate is it to beg for votes
Vancouverite

Is this a competition for amateurs, professionals or both? It seems that the leading photo has been taken by a local photographer/writer who has posted begs for votes on blogs, etc. If you google Flight Centre US Photo – her listing comes up. How balanced can this type of voting be? Just wondering.
http://www.flightcentre.ca/blog Jason Rundell

@Vancouverite

Good questions! As stated in this contest’s Terms & Conditions, under Eligibility (see ivory tower legaleze) …

“Contest is open to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence as of December 1, 2008. The following persons and their dependents are not eligible to enter or win: employees of The Flight Shops Inc. dba FLIGHT CENTRE, Infinity Holidays, GoGo Worldwide Vacations, FC Associates, FCm Travel Solutions (“Flight Centre”); Earworms (Publishing) Ltd.; Moo Inc.; and their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertisers, sponsors, advertising and promotion agencies, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) of each of the above.”

So, the contest is open to all photography skill levels (be it amature or pro). As for voting and balance, you can consider that a competition on it’s own. The more you advertise to have people vote for your photo, the more votes you will get.

I hope that answers things for you :)
http://kyegrace.com Kye Grace

Those questioning how some may be generating votes and whether or not the ‘best’ picture will win are 100% right to be curious or firmly entrenched in their opinion :) should recognize this contest for what it is.

The host of the contest (in this case Flight Center) has created a contest designed to drive traffic to their site daily via a ‘popularity’ contest rather than a contest that truly measures the public’s opinion on who’s photo is the best.

This is not to say that Gregg and the staff at FC aren’t into the photos and the travel community. But allowing people to vote daily is done to encourage people to return to the Flight Center site daily which increases their brand awareness and may also generate page views else where on their site which in turn may generate revenue.

I do think in time this contest model will join other traffic driving methods in the SPAM family as the are just not genuine or really about the consumer.

At the same time the internet and its social attributes are still in their infancy.

So before you lay into the Flight Center (which I kind of just did…sorry about that FC!) we should at acknowledge and appreciate them bringing us together for the opportunity to share, communicate, learn and look at some pretty rad photos.

In the mean time it is what it is and I think you all took some great pics and deserve a pat on the back for sharing with us all!

PS

I say this as a guy who won a similar contest format that had a prize package worth $2000. In that one you could only vote once…per email address…I was told by people they voted from all their email addresses. Even though I won, it didn’t feel great…
http://www.flightcentre.ca/blog Jason Rundell

@Kye Grace (and everyone else as well)

Gregg and myself are ‘Care Bears’ (aka: we love this stuff!) when it comes to social community interaction. Many times, Gregg and I have challenged each other on what is right and what is wrong when it comes to interacting with the community of users on the web (not just the blog, but also Twitter and Facebook). Him and I rely on this relationship, and the feedback from our users to keep us honest. Gregg also maintains transparency with the rest of the staff of Flight Centre (both our main office and global offices) which helps to filter community interaction just that little bit more.

Lay into us! With the structure we have in place, it should only help us provide a better experience for our community members. If we find things are not going well, we will adjust and try something different.

Edit: Just so there’s no confusion, when I say

If we find things are not going well, we will adjust and try something different.

I mean for future endeavours we will try something different – not this photo contest :)
Sally

Fishing at the ocean is the best of all of them!!! It says what life should be.
Susan

Sally …
it is a beautiful picture.
http://www.facebook.com/marie.micklena.norman Marie Norman

I took the picture of the Monorail in Seattle Washington in July of 2008. I had travelled on the Train earlier that day and was a little freaked to know how high I was and that is was on only one rail.

While looking for photo oportunities I seen the rail and the rad sculpture waiting patiently for the train to come. I snapped the picture and many more that day in the streets of Seattle. I suggest Seattle for a holiday it is very beautiful, try visiting Pikes market and watch them toss the fish, its amazing.

Yes whoever has the biggest network and the time to remind their friends to vote daily will win but that is the name of the game when public gets to vote. Just happy to know mine made it to the top 15.

Congratulations to all the photographers.
Michelle

I’ve tried for two days to vote again, but the results are showing, with no place to vote again.
http://www.flightcentre.ca/blog Jason Rundell

@Bernice and @Michelle

Please try to refresh this page again and see if you can vote now. If not, then please try in 24 hours from now. If you still have problems, please get back to us.
Bernice

I am no longer having difficulty voting and am doing so daily for the darling little girl in #5. Her expression of joy at meeting Mickey is truly magical. She deserves to win!
Susan

Tried to vote all weekend, and could not vote Saturday, or Sunday.
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Hey Susan,

Thanks for the comment and apologies if it seemed like you could not vote. I took a look at the voting logs and I can see that someone from your IP voted for your picture on Sat the 29th at 11:34 am and Sun the 30th at 3:51 pm.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
g
Sally

Have not been able to vote for 4 days! My aunt tried to vote too and couldn’t. Today is 8/31/09 and a lot of people have lost a lot of votes because they were not able to vote each day. Will the results really be from a fair voting system, then?
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Hey Sally,

Thanks for popping on again and letting us know that you were having problems. There were a few hiccups but over all people have been able to vote, or if they thought they were not voting they were in fact.

Can you send me an email to gregg.tilston (at) flightcentre.ca so we can take a look for you.

Trusting any lost or spoiled votes were at a minimum and would be proportionally distributed across the entries.

Thanks and cheers,
g
http://www.flightcentre.ca Gregg Tilston

Travel US Photo Contest winner is announced here http://bit.ly/ZBHlH
Dan

Congratulations!

Made the Travel US Photo Contest Shortlist and Checked It Twice!

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