Submit your favourite photo for a chance to see it on next year's cover of Tracks of the NYC Subway!

I'm looking for the best pictures to reflect the focus of the book
--tracks and signals--to be the cover art for the upcoming edition.

Essentially, a winning image will be a front-looking view of complex trackwork, preferably encompassing at least a couple of signals, a train or two and a striking background image. Images must be from the modern era (within the last couple of years) and trains must be of the stock presently in use or expected to be in revenue service in the year in which the book is published.

What will NOT win or be considered is a simple view of train run-bys or 3/4 views of rolling stock in stations, etc. This isn't a picture book of trains, after all! So, what WILL be considered? First off, the image must have visual appeal to someone browsing a bookshelf or mailing list circular. It's gotta "pop." Nice sunny bright blue sky if it's outdoors, or a stunningly-lit night or twilight shot. Pics post-blizzard in the winter would probably do well, as would a gorgeous underground shot with reflections of rail, signals, work-lights, etc. I'm a sucker for high-zoom shots (300mm or greater) as well.

This also means that those who have LEGAL access to cab views, tracks and other parts of the system may have a better chance at a winning photograph. No, it's not fair to all, but that's life!

Winners will receive two free signed copies of the edition of the book with their winning picture, 11x14" blowups of both the winning image itself and the image with the cover overlays as well as recognition inside.

You must hold the rights to any photograph you submit! If you're the photographer, that's ideal. By submitting an entry you agree to a release of the image for use on the cover and in any promotional materials.

NOTE: If your photo was taken from a location that the fare-paying public does not have access to, I may ask for proof that you were legally permitted to be where you were. I don't condone trespassing by the railfan community and I certainly won't encourage or support it.

To enter, simply send either the image itself in either .jpg or camera RAW format, or a link to a site like Picassa or Photobucket or Flickr. Anything sent as an initial entry can be at any resolution or size, but the underlying image must meet the specifications shown below in order to be printed. You may send as many links and images as you like. Judging will be by me and me alone. If no suitable image entry is received I reserve the right to use one of my own. You can send as many images or links as you like.

PLEASE MAKE ALL SUBMISSIONS TO ME VIA E-MAIL, to nyctrackbook@gmail.com

and include "PHOTO CONTEST" in the subject line.

DEADLINE is midnight NYC time October 31st.
Submissions received on Nov. 1st or later will be automatically considered for the following year's contest.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRINT

The final print must be in electronic format (JPG, PSD, TIFF, RAW formats), must be at least 300 dpi in resolution and sized roughly 9 x 12" or larger. I CANNOT use any picture that was shot using "digital-zoom" in a pocket-style camera. Those images may look OK on a computer screen but they do not print well. NOTE, and this is important, DO NOT USE PHOTOSHOP TO ENLARGE YOUR PHOTO! If it's a little smaller than ideal, I have a lossless way of enlarging the image.

RAW or Photoshop-native PSD-format images are preferred. Images may need to be sligtly cropped or retouched, but no changes will be made without the winning photographer's consent.