Jason Janik: Life as a Dallas Photographer: Louder Than Hell Is Also Copyright Hell...

I was forwarded an email with this info in it recently. Do I suggest you submit images to the book. Heck no!!! They should be able to pay for images they use, plain and simple. I've only given one photo to a book for free, and it was because my friend wrote it. Sure, he got paid to write it, and I should've charged for that photo, too. However, I'm not so black and white, like some photogs are. I think there are gray (or grey, if you are British) areas, when you CAN allow use of a photo for free. This "contest" is NOT one of those times, in my opinion. Read the info below and see if you can spot the numerous reasons you shouldn't submit your images...

METAL BOOK “LOUDER THAN HELL” LAUNCHES PHOTO CONTEST!

Authors of upcoming Harper Collins heavy metal history seek amateur concert shots and candid photos of metal bands for possible publication in groundbreaking book

(January 10 – NYC) – The upcoming Harper Collins book "Louder Than Hell: The Unflinching Oral History of Metal," by seasoned journalists Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman, is a comprehensive chronicle of metal told by the people who created it and features thousands of facts, anecdotes and jaw-dropping stories that exemplify the power and insanity of one of rock most long-lived music genres. Each chapter will be accompanied by exclusive portraits and concert photos, many shot by experienced professionals. But since some of the best metal moments are captured by fans, not magazine staffers, we’re giving amateur photographers a chance to have their pictures published in this one-of-a-kind book.

The “Photos from Hell” contest is our way of recognizing the contributions of the fans and reward their efforts on the Web site and possibly in the book. Anyone with quintessential metal images, killer crowd shots or pictures of recognizable bands rocking onstage or raging behind the scenes is encouraged to contribute. The winners of the contest will have their shots published in the book with photo credits, and many others will be featured on www.louderthanhellthebook.com.

We’re not just looking for great onstage pictures of Ozzy and Metallica (though we’ll take those, too!) We’re interested in images of bands from all genres: (classic metal, NWOBHM, thrash, crossover, death, black, grunge, industrial, metalcore, deathcore, etc…). The top five entries in the “Photos From Hell” contest will also receive a copy of “Louder Than Hell: The Unflinching Oral History of Metal” and memorabilia signed by Alice Cooper.

This is a rare opportunity for aspiring photographers to have their work featured and credited in a book by a major publishing company.

The photos MUST be of hard rock/metal bands (i.e., Jonas Brothers concert pics won’t be looked at), audiences or metal scenes. They must be digital and you MUST own them). For more information and to submit your greatest shots, go to www.louderthanhellthebook.com. The contest will run through March 1and winners will be notified by email. In addition, winners will be announced on the book website and published in 2011/2012 in “Louder Than Hell: The Unflinching Oral History of Metal."