iStockphoto Video Contest Winners Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Role of Technology in Our Lives

iStockphoto®, the world’s busiest image market, today announced the winners of "Future Now!,” the first iStockvideo contest, which awarded over $25,000 in equipment and prizes. The winners are photographers, designers and videographers from Portugal, the U.K., the U.S., and Canada. The finalists were short listed by the 1.8 million-member iStock community, and the four winners selected by a panel of industry judges. Entrants had to use at least one designated iStock image or video clip in their submissions to demonstrate the theme of technology’s effects on modern life. Winning entries can be viewed at: http://www.iStockphoto/futurenowcontest. The judges, who included representatives from Pixel Corps, Videomaker magazine and the UK edition of DV magazine, said the winning clips were recognized for a variety of reasons, including: technical quality; a true grasp of the theme, interesting approaches to integrating the iStock imagery and clips; or because they managed to do something funny on a small budget. "This contest found several new talents who will make exceptional stock artists,” said Bruce Livingstone, CEO of iStockphoto. "The standard of the videos entered was fantastic, and it was great to have so many international entries with such different cultural views of how technology will influence our future.” He continued, "iStockvideo can offer extra income to video artists in addition to providing great value-priced images and videos for use in their other creative endeavors.” 'Funny' First place winner: Title: Crosswalk Full name: Telmo Martins, iStock member name: crossandwalk From: Covilha, Portugal Video Description: Amongst the noise of the lights there's always someone who misinterprets the truthfulness of the sounds. www.istockphoto.com/contest_view_entries_closeup.php?id=1992   'Funny' Second place winner: Title: The Ultimate Control Full name: Lance Fernandes (Photographer), iStock member name: lance555 From: Markham, Ontario (Canada) Video Description: The Ultimate Control is the revolutionary multipurpose controller that puts the control, back in your life. Have the technology of the future today!!! www.istockphoto.com/contest_view_entries_closeup.php?id=2006   'Not Funny' First place winner: Title: Palingenesia Full Name: Qian Tian (Designer), iStock member name: shrewding From: London, England (UK) Video Description: Palingenesia is from the Greek word 'palin-', again, + 'genesis', becoming, birth. After we screw up everything, evolution will give life another chance.   The animation, by London designers Qian Tian and Yibi Hu, was created to demonstrate the relationship between nature and humans and its impact on evolution. www.istockphoto.com/contest_view_entries_closeup.php?id=1953   'Not Funny' Second place winner: Title: A Thousand Words Full Name: Sean Kennedy, iStock member name: mackdadd From: Burbank, California (US) Video Description: What happens in the future if pictures -- memories -- might be worth more than money? www.istockphoto.com/contest_view_entries_closeup.php?id=1994 Prizes All free clips and images were donated by iStock members for use in the contest, which was sponsored by Abel Cine Tech. First-place winners will each receive a Panasonic AG-HVX200 camera, an 8GB P2 card and an accessory pack including a Kata HDV camcorder case. These first-place winners will also receive one year’s membership to Pixel Corps, a dvGarage Power Pak with $1,100 worth of dvGarage training and software, and dvGarage’s Conduit for Final Cut Pro 5.1.2. Each 1st place prize package is valued at $9,177. Second-place winners will receive Sony’s DSR-PD170 DV cameras and Kata Shell camcorder cases. Each 2nd place prize package is valued at $4,034. The top 12 entries in each of the two categories as judged by the community will receive 50 iStockphoto site credits. About iStockphoto iStockphoto, www.istockphoto.com, is the world’s busiest image market, with an image downloaded every 2.5 seconds. iStock pioneered the micropayment phenomenon in this industry, enabling buyers to license images for as little as a dollar. iStockphoto entered the stock video market in September of 2006, selling video for as low as $5 per 30 second clip. In partnership with its members, iStockphoto has turned community into commerce, transforming the digital imagery market by encouraging passionate dialogue and education, while making imagery affordable to businesses that may not have licensed imagery otherwise. iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images. iStock™, iStockalypse™ and iStockphoto® are trademarks of iStockphoto Inc. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.