This is just too good to be true:

Surely it could not just happen that way! It just doesn’t seem like it could. And now they have invited me to a convention and symposium in Las Vegas this coming 27-30 March 2008 where I could receive this “crystal award trophy”, which in itself is valued at $300, in front of renowned professional photographers.

Well, actually, I was more interested about the $10,000 prize. I mean, who wouldn’t? But it wasn’t quite clear in the email message.

. . .for this photo alone, you will have the opportunity to win one of the cash prizes . . . including a Grand Prize of $10,000–one of the largest cash prizes ever awarded to an amateur photographer.

And, Charl, new this year we’re hosting the 2008 International Open Invitational Photography Contest, where you’ll use your brand new digital camera to photograph any one of the many sites and scenes in Las Vegas and enter your best photo, which could win a second Grand Prize of $10,000!

We want to reward you for all your outstanding work and achievements by giving you not one but two chances to be a Grand Prize Winner of $10,000!

Hang on… I thought that I’d already won the $10K… why then does it say that I have the opportunity instead of YOU HAVE WON THE $10,000!!!

Like I said, it was all too good to be true.

The photo in question is the one I submitted on picture.com — long ago — for one of their competitions:

I have completely forgotten about it until they (picture.com) sent me an email — sent before this one — on my nomination to be a Distinguished Member of the International Society of Photographers (ISP). Shortly after that there was another email saying that my photo entry – Night Chiquitas – could make it to the home page of their website. Then, a day later, I was notified with yet another email saying that my photo had received the Editor’s Choice Award. And, of course, the most recent one is where I have won the 2008 Amateur Photographer of the Year.

Bit premature, if you ask me as it is only the beginning of 2008. Surely, there will be more entries that people (might) submit. Something-of-the-Year awards are typically done at the end of that year, right?

Anyway, so what’s the catch?

Well, it is hard to say.

When I received the “Distinguished Member” email, I checked out whether this site or group was legit. That it wasn’t one of those money-making scams that tells you have won $5,000 provided you send them a handling fee of $250 now! There were several forums that discussed this and there were mixed messages from the people. Some say that it is a geniune organisation and it will be down to the individual, like me, to provide for the transport and accommodations. Of course, there were people who said that it was a complete bogus! Even people who claimed to be associated with picture.com participated in these fora. So, I am still none-the-wiser.

But what put me off is the fact that I have to pay either $595 as registration fee to attend the convention and symposium. If I was indeed the amateur photographer of the year, why should I be paying? I can understanding that I would have to spend my own money for the plane ticket and my hotel but not to get into the convention… surely. It is this matter that leads me to believe that this is indeed a scam. I am tempted to ring the hotel where the convention is to be held to find out whether there is really a convention that will happen on the said dates.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Much as it feels good to be chosen as the best, I just don’t think it happens that way. If I really am the 2008 Amateur Photographer of the Year then, would it suffice that they send me my trophy through the post? Isn’t that the way they do it for the Golden Globes, Baftas and Oscars? So, c’mon picture.com and ISP… send me mah trophy!

© The author of this post reserves the copyright to all photos, except those mentioned as linked or downloaded from another site.

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