Let Your Fingers Do The Snapping & Win!

BMW Motorrad is having a little contest now through May 31 that involves you, your bike and your best bike-related photos.

They are looking for the 'most inspiring' BMW motorcycling pictures from around the world to feature in their 2010 calendar. The theme for the competition is ‘Travelling with BMW Motorrad’ and it is open to all aspiring amateur and professional photographers.

Winning and having your photo printed would be neat, but the 'prize package' for winners leaves a little to be desired (Like airfare. Seriously.) 13 winners (one per month and the calendar cover) will be invited to BMW Motorrad Days 2009 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany in July, where they will enjoy a "fantastic" VIP package that includes two nights at a hotel, a fan merchandise package, free food and drink on site and special access to the VIP area in the main entertainment marquee in the evening. Winners must pay their own way to Garmisch. Ah, well.

Entering the competition is easy, according to BMW. Photos can either be directly uploaded online or sent in by snailmail. The main requirement is that one or more BMW motorcycles of any vintage are in the photograph and the overall theme is travel. Along with the photo, you should include a short report, a route description and a rider profile, including picture. If there is a GPS file to go with it, then so much the better. You should also include a brief statement as to why you chose this BMW motorcycle. Digital images are best, but prints and transparencies (slides from 4.5 x 6 cm, or copies 24 x 30 cm) can also be submitted.

Out of all pictures submitted by the deadline, 30 will be short-listed. These will then be shown online in advance and all visitors to the http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/ website can enter a rating for their favorite pics, although allegedly this will not have any direct influence on the final decision of the judges.

From the short-listed pictures, a panel of judges will then select the best pictures for the 2010 BMW Motorrad calendar.
To become part of the competition, visit http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/