We’ve been really busy putting the finishing touches to the 2013 Photomarathon and, as promised, we’ve written to all entrants with the final bits of information you’ll need. Just in case you haven’t been checking your e-mails we’ve posted the information on this site as well.

The information pack gives you all the important facts about the day. Please give it a really good read. It will ensure you know what’s going on on the day – allowing you to focus all your efforts into capturing the best 12 images you can. [23.05.13 We originally posted a shortened version of this document by mistake - the link above now contains the full version. Oops!]

And while you’re waiting for the big day here’s two top tips for you… go give your camera, batteries and memory card a quick check and make sure you’ve got some comfy shoes on stand by. You have been warned!

As many of your know, Photomarathon is run by a small, but very dedicated team of volunteers. We survive for most of the year on diet of tea and biscuits. However, on Photomarathon day, we do reach out and ask for some help. We are therefore looking for two teams of volunteers to help out on the morning and evening of the event.

The morning team is needed between 8.15am and 10am to help register our entrants and make sure everyone is ready for the off at 10am.

The evening team is required between 6.30pm and 10pm to help download entries to our computers. This shift is usually made up of non-entrants, so please spread the word if you know someone who’d like to help out!

If you think you could give up a little time before the event gets underway, or know of someone who’d be willing to help out in the evening, please drop us a line to let us know. We will be eternally grateful – and will even throw in a free T-shirt!

Last year, we introduced a selection of products to a brand new Photomarathon shop. Well, we’ve just added a 2013 edition T-shirt to the store and it’s now available as a men’s and ladies T-shirt or hoodie and in a variety of colours. We’ve also got the popular  ’photo, photo, photo, collapse’ t-shirt for sale and there’s a mug and a tote bag to choose from too. Spoilt for choice, we hope.

All the products all produced to order by our friends at cottoncart.com in Cardiff and are dispatched within about 5 working days, so there’s plenty of time to get hold of one before the event.

To see the full selection of products please visit the shop at http://photomarathon.cottoncart.com

We’ll shortly be announcing the details of the prizes for this years event as well as details for the Photomarathon exhibition. In the meantime, make the best of the time available – give the camera a run-out if it’s been locked away for a while, top up the batteries, take some pictures, and make sure you’re fit and raring to go for the big day!

Thanks.

Thanks.

After a winter locked away recharging our batteries, we’re excited to announce that Photomarathon will return once again in 2013. So, put a date in your diaries for Saturday May 25^th (and block out the Sunday too for recovery while you’re at it). Once again, we look forward to welcoming 400 photographers for a day of creative adventure, enjoyment and no doubt a little exhaustion. Just the way you like it.

We’ll be announcing details of exactly when and how to enter in early March, but if you want to make sure you receive all the latest information, please sign up to our mailing list.

2013 will also see another exciting development in the world of photography in Wales with the very first Diffusion: Cardiff International Festival of Photography. Diffusion will be a month long festival of exhibitions, screenings, performances, events and celebrations throughout the month of May and we’re delighted that Photomarathon will be taking place right at the heart of this exciting new festival.

May 2013 really does look set to be a special time for us all.

So, we look forward to seeing you all soon, but in the meantime, don’t forget that you can also keep in touch with us via facebook and twitter.

1. Excited

2. Decorated

3. Just what I wanted

4. Our tradition

5. Stuffed

6. Bah, Humbug!

Original post

We know a lot of you will be wielding your cameras on Christmas Day, so we thought we’d throw in a few topics for those who fancy a little festive Photomarathoning. It’s all just for fun but it wouldn’t be a Photomarathon without a few rules – even if we break some of the usual ones.

1. We’ll post 6 topics on this page late on Christmas Eve (just in case you want to pop them in anyone’s stocking!) We can’t give an exact time, but some time after food and before bed.

2. All pictures should be taken and shared on Christmas Day 2012. You can pick and choose the order in which you tackle the topics during your Christmas Day – just go with the flow of your day.

3. We ask that you use twitter and/or our facebook page to share your photos (or links to them). You can host your photos anywhere – flickr, tumblr, instagram, etc but if you share the links via twitter and facebook that’ll help us keep tabs on what’s been posted and where.

4. Please ensure your photos are tagged, so that we can find and see them.

- Twitter. Please add the following hash tags to each photo: #PHMXmas #topicname (obviously the second is the topic name itself not the phrase topicname. Just to be sure).
- Flickr. Please add the following 3 tags to each photo: Photomarathon, Christmas 2012 and the relevant topic name.
- Facebook. You can post your pictures on the Photomarathon page, or share links to them there. If you do share, as opposed to post them, you’ll need to make sure your privacy setting for the photos are set so that all can see them.

5. You can post up to three photos per topic if you’re struggling to make your final pick. With all that carol singing, present opening, sherry drinking (over 18s only!) and dishwashing to be done, it wouldn’t be fair to ask you spend too much time editing.

6. You can use whatever gizmos, gimmicks, apps and filters you fancy. We’ll be too full and potentially a little tipsy to start a debate about whether technology is debasing real photography.

7. There’ll be no judging, but we encourage you to share pictures you like. We’ll do the same.

8. Have fun.

And finally, a Merry Chritsmas to you all, and remember, a camera is for life, not just for Christmas.

It’s hard to believe that almost 5 months have passed since this year’s photomarathon – it really does seem like yesterday. But before we wrap up the 2012 event for good, we’ve been given one final opportunity to share some of the images with you, courtesy of one of our sponsors – the Waterloo Gardens Teahouse. Starting tomorrow, and on for the the rest of November (excluding the 12-14, when they’re closing for a make-over) , they’ll be hosting an exhibition of 44 images from the 2012 event.

The following photographers have had one of their images selected for this exhibition;

Sophie Leslie, Rachel Rendell, Jason Hooper, Philip Walsh, Sarah Fowler, Tim Smith, Ben Morson, Helen Phillips, James Alexander, Chris Meaker,Machelle Salmeen, Danothy Bennett, Sharon Breeze, Christopher Wells, Tracey Beacham, Matt Joyce, Rhiannon Williams, Eloise Dawes, Kieran Harvey, Kim Yeates, Kate Jones, Caroline Lloyd, Eddy Street, Steve Martin, Lowri Wyn Jones, Ian Wootten, Owen Crawford, Kirsty Dent, Debra Forsdyke, Chloe Homes, Martin Briggs, Si Morgan, David Manton, Richard Nosworthy, Catherine Blyth, Adele Page, Carwyn Jones, Claire O’Shea, Chris Hoyle, Sioned Birchall, Virgil Scott, Chris Burns, Jeremy Fisk

The exhibition will also feature three images from each of the photomarathons held in Berlin and Copenhagen – under the topic City Life. As you may recall this topic was shared with our German and Danish colleagues this summer, with three images from each photomarathon selected to be exhibited during the European Month of Photography in Berlin, held in October.

We’re pleased to include all nine selected images as part of this exhibition.

Cardiff
Danothy Bennett
Sharon Breeze
Christopher Wells

Berlin
www.fotomarathon.de

Sebastian Noack
Sandra Bendyk
Lilli Bombei

Copenhagen
www.fotomarathon.dk

Jan Andersson
Martin Hjort Eriksen
Sanne Lykke

So, if you looking for a good reason to sample some of the finest teas under the sun (not to mention a mean, award winning coffee), there’s only one place to head to in November. Enjoy.

We’re really thrilled to announce a special edition souvenir book of the 2012 Photomarathon. Produced in conjunction with our sponsors bobbooks.co.uk it features all the winning images and a selection of shortlisted ones too.  You can view the book on the Bobbooks.co.uk bookstore. The books cost £34.99 (+P&P), are produced to order and take about a 7-10 days for delivery.