Hot Pic of the Week

Get published, get famous! Each week, we select our favorite reader-submitted photo based on creativity, originality, and technique. Every month, the best of the weekly winners gets a prize valued at between $15 and $50.

Here's how to enter: Send us your photograph in JPEG format, at a resolution no higher than 640 by 480 pixels. Entries at higher resolutions will be immediately disqualified. If necessary, use an image editing program to reduce the file size of your image before e-mailing it to us. Include the title of your photo along with a short description and how you photographed it. Don't forget to send your name, e-mail address, and postal address. Before entering, please read the full description of the contest rules and regulations.

This Week's Hot Pic: "Slippers," by Erika Barrientes, Brownsville, Texas

Erika says: "I was setting up my studio lights when my daughter quickly grabbed her slippers so she could dance for me while I worked on my lighting. Since I shot at ISO 400, I wanted to bring out more of a grainy feel in the photo. To do that, I blurred the floor a bit, adjusted the levels, and added a slight spot light filter to enhance the dark side of the frame. Lastly, I added a slight diffused glow to the image."

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