Tom Boellstorff (better known in Second Life as Tom Bukowski - pictured right) is holding a contest for the image on the cover of his upcoming book, Coming of Age in Second Life: An Anthropologist Explores the Virtually Human to be published in April 2008 by Princeton University Press.

Entries for this competition close at 5pm SLT (US Pacific) on 7 August. The contest terms and conditions are reproduced below the fold. Happy snapping!

DEADLINE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 5PM SL TIME

I want your picture on my book!

I (Tom Bukowski, Tom Boellstorff irl) am holding a contest to select a picture to appear on the cover of my book Coming of Age in Second Life: An Anthropologist Explores the Virtually Human, which will be published in April 2008 by Princeton University Press. This book is an anthropological study of culture in Second Life, based on two and a half years of research inworld. For the cover of the book, I would like to feature a picture taken by a Second Life resident! Here's a chance to have an example of your picture-taking talents disseminated to a wide audience. You've got until August 7, so start snapping!
CONTEST RULES
1) Employees and staff of Linden Lab, Princeton University Press, and Cetus Gallery District Association/Ruttan Development/Ruttan Properties are not eligible.

2) The author of winning picture will receive 2,000 Linden Dollars as a prize, and will be named in the book as the author of the picture if the picture is used. The "most popular" winner (see below) will receive a 1,000 Linden Dollars prize. The author of the winning picture can be acknowledged in the book with their real-life name, Second Life name, or both. There is a chance that in the final phase of producing the book cover, a decision will be made that a picture from Second Life will not be used; for that reason, I reserve the right not to use the winning picture.

3) To be named as winner of the contest and receive the prize, the author of the winning picture must be willing to sign over all rights for the picture to me (Tom Boellstorff), for publication by Princeton University Press.

JUDGING CRITERIA AND TIMELINE
1) Because the idea behind the book is what happens when an anthropologist goes to Second Life and treats it like a strange, exotic culture, I'm looking for some kind of picture that conveys the idea of unexplored territory or a mysterious new world. The preference is for an image that has a theme of social life. This could be community, commerce, dating, friendship, or something I haven't thought about: surprise me! Because the book is reaching out to a broad readership, including people with no experience in Second Life, a picture that requires some familiarity with Second Life to be understood (like a Tringo game, for instance) will probably not work so well.

2) If your picture includes recognizable places or people inworld, it is your responsibility to obtain permission for those places or people to have their likenesses reproduced on a book cover.

3) Pictures should be in vertical format (like a book cover) and the highest resolution possible: ideally, 2100 x 2850 pixels. Jpg or bitmap, please. You can use the Second Life client's own snapshot capabilities, or some third-party program like Fraps.

4) Email your pictures to tboellst@gmail.com.

5) The deadline for sending in pictures is AUGUST 7, 2007, 5pm Second Life time.

6) There will be a panel of 2 or 3 judges. Our first task will be to select 5 to 10 top finalists.

7) On August 14, 2007, I will display the top finalists at the Cetus Gallery District (elektra spark gallery), with the kind support of Ruttan Development/Ruttan Properties/Cetus Gallery District Association. Just teleport to (Cetus 216, 6, 40). Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite picture.

8) We'll have an event in the Cetus Gallery District on Tuesday, August 21, 2007, beginning at 6:30pm, to announce the winner! The party will include the musician Nance Brody from 7-8pm and Dj Jaxx Tardis from 8-10pm. If the winning picture the judges select to appear on the book's cover is the same picture with the most votes, the person who took the picture will receive 3,000 Linden Dollars. If the winning picture the judges select to appear on the book's cover is not the same picture as the picture with the most votes, the person who took the winning picture will receive 2,000 Linden Dollars and the person who took the picture with the most votes will receive 1,000 Linden Dollars.