UPDATE: THE GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD HAS NOW ENDED. THANK YOU TO THE 161 PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL. THE JUDGES WILL BE GOING THROUGH THEM, AND HOPE TO HAVE A WINNER CHOSEN TO BE ANNOUNCED AT GEEKFEST OAKLAND (tinyurl.com/geekfestoakland).

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Summary:

APhotoADay’s inaugural Backyard Storytelling Grant is a $4,000 grant awarded to a visual storyteller to aid in a project within 350 miles (or roughly one tank of gas) of the journalist’s home.

Our goal is to reward and encourage finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, while also focusing on community. Often time the best stories - the ones that resonate most - are the ones that hit closest to home.

A hand-picked panel of judges from APhotoADay and speakers from GeekFest Oakland 2015 will review the applications and award prizes. On top of that, APhotoADay will help find the completed project a home with at least one prominent industry photo blogs. Yes, think the NYT Lens Blogs and TIME Lightboxes of the world.

Application Process:

In a statement not to exceed 500 words, please describe the project you’re interested in completing. Also include research you’ve made and the ways in which the grant will directly help you achieve your goals. In a bio not to exceed 250 words, please tell us about yourself. Keep it real. Be yourself.

If you haven’t started the project already, but you have a great idea that you need help starting and funding, that’s cool. Please describe how you would approach it, while illustrating some tangible research you’ve done and contacts you’ve made.

In a selection of up to 20 pictures (or a 5 minute sample reel if you’re doing a video project), please show us work that highlights your abilities as they relate to the type of work you’ll be doing.

Photographers and visual journalists from any country may apply for this grant.

Proposals for projects that have already received grants or awards of more than $5,000 in the previous calendar year are not eligible. The grant is awarded to an individual photographer; project proposals that involve multiple content producers will not be accepted.

To submit your project (here’s your checklist):

Please place up to 20 sequenced images (2000 px on the longest side x 72 DPI) in a folder titled with your first and last name. For those working on a video project, please include a 5-minute (or less) video that pertains to the story and/or is representative of the work you’re looking to do.

In that folder, also include a text document with your statement/proposal.

Include a second text document with YOUR contact info, including:

• name

• mailing address

• phone number

• email address

• social media handles



* and also, three references that can vouch for you as a photographer and a human being. we need their names and a way to contact them.

And lastly, include a third text document with your 250 word bio. Again, keep it real. Be yourself. This isn’t a resume as it is a bio.

DO NOT INDIVIDUAL FILES. SEND ONE .ZIP FILE.

One entry per person.



The deadline for submissions is midnight (PST) on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015.

The announcement of the winner(s) will be made during GeekFest Oakland (Sept 11-13, 2015).

Any questions: please email m[at]melissalyttle.com.