We are less than two weeks away from Luminance 2012, PhotoShelter’s conference happening this September 12-13, and we want to make sure that all in attendance are surrounded by people who love photography.

Luminance speakers are leaders from Facebook, Google, Lytro, Behance, 20×200, Christie’s, Hipstamatic, and many more. If you’re a photographer, technologist, designer, or care about the direction of photography, this event is right up your alley.

So we asked, “Why do you love photography?” and every week we’re picking 3 winners to win two tickets each to the event, plus the #ilovephotography party.  We will be announcing the winners every Thursday on The PhotoShelter Blog. This means just one more chance to win!

We combed through all of the entrants up to August 29th, and after rounds of deep thought and careful readings, we have come up with our top three photography-lovers. In no particular order, we’re all set to share them with you now. Here are this week’s winners:

1. Julie Fischer McCarter:

“Why I love photography! While I am quite aware that I DO love photography, I don’t believe I have ever really reflected on the WHY piece of that puzzle. In order to answer that question, I have to give a little background. Quite uniquely, my “other” profession that I still dabble in is as a therapist (yes, the mental health kind). So with all of that analytical “knowledge” you would think that I had fully analyzed why I chose to dedicate my life to photography. Nope. Now that I reflect, I realize that when I experienced profound loss & grief at the age of 18 there wasn’t much that I felt like doing. Drinking, yes. Talking, no. Taking pictures, YES!?! While shooting it was almost like having a conversation (mini-therapy session) with myself about where I fit into the world, what was important and how I could possibly move forward & connect with others despite my bleak feelings. I distinctly remember looking thru the viewfinder and seeing a good ole’ crumbling Southern Railroad car in New Orleans and immediately feeling connected to generations of my ancestors from the South. That brought me tremendous strength and comfort. Photography connected me to something mystical that I would NEVER have connected to if it hadn’t been for the camera. Pretty cool. Thanks for motivating me to reflect.“

2. Michael Newman:

“Photography trancends time. It takes you to places you have never been. It makes the world a smaller place. When I am photographing a landscape, a person, a family or the stars in the sky my worries in life just fade away and I become one with my subject and my surroundings. It is a very real experience for me. I just love the photographic medium for expressing what I love about life nad the people and creatures on Earth. A planet we take too much for granted.“

3. Donald Schwartz:

“Photography is all engaging, I forget everything else when I take a picture. But the craft and creation has risks and that’s why I love it.

A director of photography told me that he once nearly walked off an elevated crane because he forgot he was there. His whole world was inside the camera’s frame and he wanted to make the adjustment that would enable him to tell the story he wanted. So what was lacking? A suggestion of another world existing outside of the frame and he needed to reposition his camera to get to it.

I too forget where I am when I compose an image: maybe if I pan the camera this way or that, or maybe if I get closer or drop to my knees the image will work. Moving images have the benefit of time; stills must capture a whole world in an instant.

My instructor, the DP was saved by his seat belt. What will save me from falling off a ladder, backing into traffic, or tripping over a light when getting the shot is all consuming? For me it doesn’t matter. If I get the shot I’ll be happy.”

Once again, we would like to thank all of our enthusiastic entrants on their fantastic posts and contributions.  Remember, you still have just one more chance to win tickets to Luminance 2012.

Enter for your last chance to win! We’ll be picking 3 winners for just one more week.

To enter:  

1. Share this link on your Facebook page, tweet @photoshelter, or hit the ‘Like’ button on this blog post to help spread the word and let people know you’re excited for the event. Then,
2. Post your response to “Why do you love photography?” as a comment below in this blog. Be sure to enter your full name and website in the comment fields provided so we can contact you.

Contest Rules:

1. We ask that contestants share this blog post link on their Facebook page, on Twitter by tweeting @photoshelter, or by hitting the ‘Like’ button on this blog post.
2. Contestants must submit their response to “Why do you love photography?” as a blog comment on this post.
3. PhotoShelter will announce the winner every Thursday on PhotoShelter’s Facebook and Twitter page. We’ll also shoot the winners an email to let them know it’s their lucky day.
4. Contest ends on Thursday, September 6, 2012.

Good luck!