Ever wondered what it would be like on assignment as a National Geographic photographer?

This is your chance to go to Oman and be mentored by Nat Geo veteran and host of National Geographic Channel’s Pure Photography series, Jason Edwards!

WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel are giving one aspiring photographer the opportunity to accompany renowned wildlife and natural history photographer, Jason Edwards, on assignment in Oman. Find out firsthand what life is like in the field for a travel photographer and learn the tricks of the trade during this 8-day mentorship experience.

Allow Peregrine Adventures and Oman Tourism to help you explore the historic city of Muscat and drive along the coast to the bubbling fishing village of Seeb. By 4WD, travel to the rugged interior and the splendid forts of Nakhal and Al Hazm, framed by the spectacular Jebel Akhdar Mountains. Continue on to explore the beautiful oasis at Wadi Bani Khaled, before entering the vast Wahiba Sands – where you’ll sleep at a rustic desert camp under a blanket of brilliant stars.

The charming oasis of Lisq and the village of Mudaibi, further reveal the local life of Oman, as does a browse of the fabulous souk of ancient Nizwa. Meet the people, learn of their delicate silverware, woodwork and embroidery, and unwind in the cool heights of the Mountain of the Sun, all before a further wander of the wonderful maze of Muscat.

And what better way to capture the entire experience than from behind the lens of a new Canon EOS 6D?!

Here’s the deal:

• You must be available to be in Oman between March 7-16, 2013.
• On the trip you will work alongside Jason Edwards photographing the people, culture and landscapes of Oman at various times of the day and night.
• You will gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience in everything from shot set up, technique and composition through to insights into his many years of diverse experience as an award-winning photographer.
• Your assignment will involve observing and assisting Jason as well as undertaking your own photographic work. This will involve long days, early mornings and late nights working!
• Most of all, you’ll be experiencing what it’s like to be a photographer on-assignment with National Geographic!

Your Brief

• You will work through a specific shot list of 30 photos that will be commissioned by the scholarship partners as part of your assignment.
• You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this to a WorldNomads.com travel journal (minimum 200 words per day), including pictures you’ve taken.
• On your return you will work with Jason Edwards through the editorial process to shortlist your top photographs and colour balance to achieve professional looking shots for submission to National Geographic Channel for publication.

A selection of your best photos will be published on National Geographic Channel where they will be viewed by thousands of travellers worldwide, offering you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your foot in the door of one of the most revered exploration organisations in the world!

The Prizes

The Winner will receive:

• An 8-day bespoke trip to Oman with Peregrine Adventures and Oman Tourism.
• Round-trip airfare from your country of residence to Muscat courtesy of Etihad Airways where you will meet your mentor and small film crew.
• An advanced photography kit from Canon, including:
  • Canon EOS 6D: the world’s most lightweight DSLR with full frame sensor
  • Canon Speedlight Flash 430EX
  • Canon Lenses: 50mm f/1.4; 17-40mm f/4; 70-200 f/4
  • a Canon Academy course
  • Canon PIXMA PRO100 printer
• Travel insurance for the duration of the trip from World Nomads.

The 3 Runner’s Up will receive:

• A Canonprize pack including:
  • a Canon Academy course
  • 3 application photographs printed by PIXMA PRO printers

Who can apply

• This opportunity is open to any non-professional trying to start a career in Travel Photography - photography students or keen amateurs/pro-amateurs looking for a foot in the door.
• Minimum age 18 by the application deadline with a good level of physical fitness.
• This is a global opportunity - you may be a resident of any country.
• You should be an exceptional photographer with a lust for adventure, have a strong desire to be mentored and grow your photographic knowledge and skills, an ambition to forge a career in Travel Photography, and of course a desire to travel to Oman.
• Remember this is a scholarship, a learning experience, and therefore will not be suitable for professional or semi-professional photographers.

Am I eligible? What makes a non-professional?
We appreciate that the photography industry is difficult to break into and there are a lucky few who can count themselves as professional full time photographers.

This scholarship is very much about the mentorship opportunity, and the judging panel will be selecting the person or team who they feel will most benefit from the learning opportunity. So, if you currently make more than 25% of your income from photography activities, you are not eligible.

You will be asked to outline your experience to date in the submission process, and it will be the judging panel who decides who is most suitable based on their photos and written component.

Important Dates
**You need to be available between March 7th-16th, 2013 to participate on the assignment.**

• Applications Accepted: November 12 - January 14
• Judging Period: January 14 - February 3
• Winner Announced: February 4
• Assignment: March 7-16, 2013

Apply now!

1. Shoot a series of photos (maximum of 5)
They must tell a story about a place you have visited. ‘Place’ may be anywhere; somewhere in your own community or much further away. The judges will be looking for:

• originality
• ability to convey a story through photos
• excellent technique

Each of the 5 shots must have accompanying caption text to help contextualize the shot.

2. Add your photos to WorldNomads.com.
Firstly create a journal, which is where your photos will be hosted, and fill in the entry form. Upload your photos either as a Flickr set (they need to be the only 5 photos in the particular Flickr set) or directly in the journal. This year we have a new functionality in Journals that allows you to view your photos in a much larger format, similar to Flickr. (If you are already a member or have a journal, please sign-in.)

*Please don’t remove the tags and title of the gallery we have set up for you - this is how we find you*

3. Tell us in 1200 characters or less about yourself and why you should be chosen.
Your written response will have significant weighting in the judging process, so think carefully about why you should be chosen. Tell us about yourself, your passions, why you love photography, what drives you to take a better shot, where you would like to go with your photography etc. Help us form a picture in our mind of you as a person with your text.

Remember this is a once in a lifetime learning opportunity, not a junket for professional photographers.

One entry per person

Applications close: 2pm January 14, 2013 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

Please Note: Last year we almost had a server meltdown because applicants left it to the last minute to submit. Don’t miss out! Apply well before the closing date to ensure your application is successful!

The recipient of the Scholarship, along with the best entries, will be published on WorldNomads.com on February 4, 2013.

For more information, please visit official website: journals.worldnomads.com.

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Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.