PARACHUTING'S NEWSMAGAZINE
Photographer's Guidelines
This has been prepared as a guide for photographers who wish to contribute photos to Skydiving newsmagazine. Nothing here is an unbendable rule; these are just suggestions that should make it easier for the photographer and Skydiving to work together.
General Considerations
Skydiving will consider any photograph for publication. However, we are most interested in photos that will be of interest to a good percentage of Skydiving's readers.
This does not mean all photos have to be spectacular shots of world-record formations. It simply means that we want photos that are at least interesting, ones that are unusual, beautiful, educational, funny, informative or even shocking.
Skydiving is especially interested in news photos. We're looking for shots of new products, competition winners, award recipients, incidents, etc. Such photos (especially those of products) won't win a Pulitzer prize, but they are valuable nonetheless.
Technical quality is a big consideration. A muddy, fuzzy or damaged photo stands little chance of being published unless it is otherwise so unique or spectacular that we can't pass it up.
What Kind of Subjects?
All kinds, as long as they relate to parachuting or parachutists in some way. And remember that parachuting also includes military, emergency and other non-sport applications.
As mentioned above, we want news photos, freefall photos, people photos, aircraft photos and . . . practically everything else. If you're not sure we'd be interested, send it.
What to Send
Digital files are preferred, although prints or transparencies are acceptable, too.
Digital files
The best formats are JPEG and TIF. Formats to avoid are application files such as PSD (Adobe Photoshop) and proprietary formats used by some digital formats.
Resolution should be 300 dpi or better. A JPG that's about 1 Mb in size or better is adequate. But photographs for the cover or center section will be much larger.
Avoid manipulating digital files, except to remove artifacts. Excessive sharpening, for instance, sometimes ruins an otherwise great shot.
Smaller files can be emailed to Skydiving at sue@skydivingmagazine.com, sending one file per each email.
Larger files are best supplied on CD or DVD, or FTPed, or sent via www.yousendit.com. Follow this link for information on FTPing files.
Be sure each photo is accompanied by a short description of what it contains.
If you scan color prints or transparencies and send the resulting digital files to us, read the hints contained on this page.
Prints and Transparencies
If you send prints, 8x10s and 5x7s are best, but any size is usable.
Prints created by inkjet printers are sometimes unusable, even though they look good to the eye. Rather than send Skydiving an inkjet print of a digital photo, it's usually better to send the digital file (see above).
Be sure to identify each photo. Each print or slide should be individually identified with the photographer's name and address, the approximate date the photo was taken, and a short description of the subject matter. If you know the name(s) of subjects and where the shot was taken, list them.
Be careful when marking photos. We prefer that you use a plain graphite pencil to carefully put the above information on the back of each print. If RC paper is used, use a pencil to write the data on a small slip of paper and then tape it to the back of the photo. Do NOT use any kind of ink, anywhere. No matter what type is used, it always seems to transfer to the front of the next photo in the stack, or ìit bleeds through the paper to the emulsion side. Please use pencil.
(For transparencies, use a little rubber stamp to put your name and possibly address on each cardboard-mounted slide. A self-adhesive label can be used on plastic carriers. Number each slide and enclose a sheet of paper that gives the caption for each slide by number.)
Never write on the front of a photo. Use a piece of tracing paper as an overlay, taping it to the front of the print at the margins. You can mark on the paper to point out something special.
How to Ship Photos to Skydiving
Prints should be sent in a manila envelope between two pieces of corrugated cardboard for extra stiffness. Slides should be first slipped into a transparent plastic holder and then sent in a cardboard-reinforced envelope. (The transparent carrier means we don't have to take the slide out to view it--no fingerprints!)
Ship via First Class mail or UPS. Be sure both our address and your return address are clearly attached to the parcel or envelope. Insurance is suggested.
A Word About Timing
Skydiving is a newsmagazine. All the material it publishes, ìincluding the photos, should be as fresh as possible. So please rush your photos to us! If developing and/or pinting is a hassle for you, send us the exposed roll and let us get it done locally. (We'd rather avoid this, as we can't accept responsibility, but you might consider it if the photos are very time-sensitive.)
Skydiving's Policy
We appreciate the effort it takes to produce good photographs. Like all artists, photographers take real pride in their work and frequently view it as an extension of themselves. Therefore, we'll do our best to comply exactly with all requests and restrictions that may accompany a photo sent to our magazine.
We would appreciate the courtesy of being notified at the time of submission if any photo is under consideration for publishing elsewhere. Although we do not expect exclusive rights to any photo, this courtesy will help prevent the embarrassment of simultaneous publication.
Although a photo, once published, is protected by Skydiving's copyright, it is understood that the photographer may use the photo for any purposes whatsoever. It is also understood that by sending Skydiving a photo, the photographer is granting us permission to publish the photo and that he has the right to grant such permission.
Skydiving reserves the right of occasionally republishing a photo in Skydiving or in material and media related to the magazine, unless the photographer states--for one-time use only--at the time of submission. Credit will usually accompany any such reprinted photo. Skydiving's publisher retains the right to use as he sees fit images of the pages from previous issues of Skydiving.
Prints and transparencies will be handled with care and returned to the photographer as soon as possible, if requested. (Note: we really need to build up our photo file, so donations are welcome.) Although we'll do our best to safeguard your work, we cannot guarantee it won't be damaged or even lost. By submitting a photograph, the photographer agrees to this possibility and forgoes any reimbursement for lost or damaged photographs.
Payment & Credit
Skydiving pays after publication for photographs it prints. Payment for a color cover is $50. Payment for inside black and white photos ranges from $5 to $25, depending on the size we print.
Skydiving does not usually pay for photographs (or articles) that are under consideration by other magazines or have been published previously. This is not a hard-and-fast policy, however, and the author should discuss the matter with Skydiving's editor when the photograph is submitted.
Contributors are welcome to contact Skydiving about its payment policies before submitting a photograph.
Photographers are given credit for their work when it is published in the magazine. Photo credits are usually included in the captions that accompany photographs, although they may be published in other ways. A credit will include only the name of the photographer.
Summary
We want your photos to publish in our magazine. We'll do our best to treat you and your work professionally. Let us know if you have any suggestions or complaints--we intend to do the same. But first, send us some of your best work.
PARACHUTING'S NEWSMAGAZINE
1725 Lexington Ave.
DeLand, FL USA 32724.Telephone: (386) 736-4793, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern time.
Fax: (386) 736-9786.Click here to return to Skydiving's home page.
Or here for writer's guidelines.
