Another month, another contest. This time around I am sponsoring a contest in cooperation with XShot. You could win a fantastic product called the XShot. This is a perfect accessory for your point and shoot digital camera.
I was contacted by Michael, co-founder of XShot about a month or so ago. He asked me if I would like a sample product to demo and review. I totally jumped at the chance because I take a Photo-A-Day and not many of them have me in the photo with my friends and family. I also travel all over the country and am by myself quite often so there is no one around to take a picture of me at fun place. So I told Michael, “Sure thing!”, and I received the XShot within a couple of days.
Once I got the XShot I immediately started playing with it. I took a couple of pictures with it for past Photo-A-Days.
 Playing with the XShot. I intentionally got the XShot in the picture. |
 Used the XShot to get a different perspective. |
I then took it out to get photos for different events that I have been to. I took it with me to the Double Midnight Comics 5th Birthday and Guys night with friends at Box Seats.
 Allison and I with Spider-Man |
 Hanging out with Neil and Derek |
The XShot puts YOU into the photo, you can be part of the memories rather than just capturing them for everyone else. The 37″ reach is incredible and allows you to get 5 or more friends and family within the shot so easily. Also with the XShot you not only get a picture of yourself but also the background.
There are many things that I like about the XShot, for one thing it is small and light, it retracts down to 9″ and extends all the way out to 37″. That way you can get yourself and your friends and even the background into your photos. The XShot has a great Camera Adapter that makes securing your camera to the XShot so simple. This is one of the most well designed camera adapters out there. No need for coins or screwdrivers, you simple tighten a thumb screw and you are on your way. The handle has a comfortable non slip grip. There are so many places where the XShot would come in handy. And I like this product so much I wanted to offer a contest to my readers and well anyone out in the blogosphere.
So On to the Contest …
Who is eligible? – Anyone regardless of geographic location. I will be mailing the prize to you directly.
How do I enter? You have a choice in what type of photo to use for your entry.
Option #1 : A photograph taken of you and 4 friends or family (heck even strangers on the street) at arms length. You will find that trying to take a photo at arms length of yourself and 4 friends or family might be difficult. That is okay because I am looking for photos that aren’t that great, I mean how well can you fit 5 people into a photo at arms length, not very well. However, the XShot excels at helping you take photos with your friends and family.
Option #2 : A photograph of you and at least one other person and the background. Do you have any photos of missed opportunities and cool backgrounds that involved taking the photo of yourself and at least one other person and a great background. With the XShot you will be able to get great shots of yourself and friends and the background.
I took the XShot with me to BotCon 2007. I got many pictures there. Here are some examples of photos of myself and some volunteers at BotCon 2007 who took photos at arm’s length and then took photos with the XShot.
 At Arm’s Length |
 With the XShot |
 At Arm’s Length |
 With the XShot |
 At Arm’s Length |
 With the XShot |
 At Arm’s Length |
 With the XShot |
 At Arm’s Length |
 With the XShot |
Weren’t those pictures better with the XShot? Do you want one? Do you want to know how to get one? Keep reading….
The contest is over now, rules and instructions have been removed by blog administrator.
Great, Great, Fine, Fine What can I Win?
- First place wins an XShot and a year’s Pro Subscription to Flickr
- Second Place wins an XShot and a $5.00 credit to Kodak Gallery
- Third Place wins and XShot
- BenSpark’s Choice Winner gets – ???? A Surprise.
Disclaimer – I received my XShot free from XShot. I use it and really like it. That is why I put together this contest. XShots were supplied by Michael at XShot and additional prizes will be supplied by me. I received no compensation for this contest other than an XShot of my own. The contest was my idea. If you are a winner of this contest you will need to supply me with your address so I can ship it to you. Addresses will be kept confidential and used for nothing more than to send you your winnings.
I’m going to try my hand at this contest too!
Cool contest. Maybe I will enter this one.
Its Monday! I am making the rounds reminding people to Click & Comment on blogs today.
That has to be one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. As the picture taker, I have very few pictures of me and my daughter but would love more. I’m going to enter for sure. Great contest!
Autumn, I think that this will be a fun and exciting contest. I can’t wait to see the pictures.
Hey There Cyber Celt, I think that this would be a good contest for you to participate in, it is easy and fun. I’ve got to get out and comment.
Hi Raesmom, I certainly hope that you participate in this contest. It should be a fun one. Thanks for posting a comment.
i’m going to try – i can’t promise anything because i leave this weekend and the room my computer is in is currently being occupied by guests. however, it sounds like an awesome way to procrastinate my packing!!
Mo, this is right up your alley, I’m not taking any excuses this time. You can do this easily. I hope you participate.
Hi Drew,
Your pictures are impressive! We could use your equipment. My dear husband Mike is never in the pictures! It really is frustrating! I try to get the camera away from him so I can take pictures of him too, but that means we’re never together.
Thanks Peggy, I hope that you participate in this contest, the XShot will certainly help you get Mike into the photos. Then you can have some together.
Hi Drew! That is a neat gadget, and fun contest! We could have totally used one of those at the Star War exhibit last weekend!
Laurie,
I wouldn’t want that to happen to you again, I hope that you consider entering the contest.
I’ll be entering this weekend. My grandkids will be here and I can get a picture with them. I just have to find one more person to get in the photo.. hubby won’t have his picture taken. lol
Charlotte, That sounds like a good time. Good luck in the contest.
I was so happy when you said take a photo of five people! I’ll try to squish all of us into one photo taken at arms length for the contest. Should be fun 🙂
Hm! If I had that many real life friends I’d enter. Maybe I can round up a crowd of strangers. 😀
Elizabeth, that will be a fun picture to get. Can’t wait to see it.
Skeet, you could go for option #2, There are plenty of beautiful backgrounds in Hawaii, show me that missed opportunity photo of a beautiful background that got cut off because the photo was at arms length.
Oh, I can’t WAIT!! I’m off to take my picture NOW!! 🙂
Great to hear, looking forward to your entry.
Hi Drew!
Thanks for letting me know your wonderful contest. I will not be participating because I do not want my photo on the internet but I will give your contest a few buzzes!
I will email you with the links soon!
Here is mine:
http://www.geekyhousewife.com/?p=208
I may not can wait and will buy one. I don’t want to miss any more great photos. 🙂
Cyberpartygal,
That is quite alright, I appreciate that you will help build some buzz, that is really nice of you.
Great entry into the contest. I will be putting together some posts after the holiday.
Wow, I love that tool. We’re constantly bugging our friends to take pictures of, now we can actually get some real shots of ourselves that correctly showcase what we want. Those are real and not set up?
Alright…the guilt got to me (or I caved into the procrastination!!) so I’m in!
Here’s my link…enjoy!!
http://wereinafight.blogspot.com/2007/07/good-picture-is-worth-thousand-words.html
do pets count as family? heh. I’m going to trty to do this anyway!
Hey ther T-shirts, Those images are real, I took them withmy XShot and my Canon SD800is.
An excellent submission Mo. Good luck to you in the contest.
Lala, Sure you can use pets in the picture too.
Wow, what a neat gadget. I always figured there was a better way of taking self pics other than using a tripod, setting the timer and running to where you wanted a picture.
Thanks for sharing, I’ll see if I can find some of my old “self shot” photo’s!
Don
Don, get those pictures together and submit an entry. That would be great.
I tried and tried to get 5 people in 1 picture.. didn’t work. I didn’t get 4 in very well. Here’s my entry!
http://armymomnj.name/2007/07/07/i-need-longer-arms/
Charlotte,
That is a perfect entry to the contest. I will use the first image as your offical entry, that one truly demonstrates what an XShot can do for you. I love it. I tried to leave you a comment on the post but it got rejected twice. Anyway, glad you entered the contest and good luck.
Really cool tool and contest!
Thanks Kuayin, I hope that you offer an entry to the contest. There is one week left to get an entry in.
OK we are up! It took awhile and it’s ugly but it’s done!
We have entered your contest.
Thank you because I need this!
Great, thanks so much for entering, and good luck!
Sounds good, and what is more I am eligible! LOL! Will read the rules closely and sort something out!
Good, I look forward to your entry into the contest.
I’ll try to get my entry in by tomorrow eve – thanx for the invite!
Awesome Marsha, thanks. And good luck.
oh this is cool. thanks for the heads up about your contest. im going to submit and entry 🙂
that looks so cool!
am not so sure if i still have the time to enter the contest, though…
maybe next time! 🙂
Here’s my entry – please check to see if I’ve completed it correctly. THANX!
My Place in Blogspotdom
I’ve posted my entry! Hope I got it all right 🙂
http://www.mysurfergirl.info/2007/07/x-shots-x-factor.html
Hi Drew, since you invited me to join the contest. Well, I’ll take your offer. I have a shot done 15 years ago, arm length shot with I think 10 people inside the frame. wish me luck if I could find that particular photo. I used a film based camera then. But still I’ll browse my albums on some of our arm length shots with family and friends 🙂 I’ll buzz you when it’s up already in my blog.
Hi maiylah, If you do end up having the time I’d love it if you entered. If not, keep looking for future contests. Thanks for stopping over and commenting.
Surfergirl, Thanks for entering the contest. I am stopping over to check it out right away.
Hi marsha, Good entry into the contest. You completed it almost perfect, it is just missing the embedded video.
Hi Ann, I am looking forward to the entry that you are going to submit. Sounds like a good one. Thanks for entering.
Could you please check to see that I’ve fullfilled all the requirements correctly?
Thanks!
Link to my entry:
http://amanda47.blogs.com/following_an_unknown_path/2007/07/this-is-so-cool.html
Hi Drew,
my entry is up already. you can view it here:
http://jayzanne.blogspot.com/2007/07/xshot-for-you.html
That works for the contest, good luck.
Amanda, the entry is very good. Thanks for playing.
Drew enter me in the contest
My entry is at
http://stephenthedog.blogspot.com/2007/07/xshot-contest.html
I vote for Stephen the Dog. That dog needs an xshot.
I’m in!
Aw man, I was really hoping you’d put in an entry, it is a great gadget and would fit well with one of your blogs. Which I might add are very informative. Thanks for dropping in and commenting. Stephen really needs thumbs first.
Marsha, yep you are in, thanks so much for the entry. Voting begins tomorrow. 8:00amEST
I know I missed the noon deadline, but since we had taken the photo anyway, I wrote the post:
http://table4five.net/2007/07/15/i-want-to-win-an-xshot/
I love the photo and wish I could also include it. But out of fairness I must not. You did a great job on the photo and the post.
I just ordered FIVE of these because of your review. It looks really awesome and I know people are going to love getting this as their Christmas present. I wish I had entered the contest, but c’est la vie!
Wow that is awesome Alli, you didn’t by any chance leave a comment there to that same effect. I am sure that Michael from XShot would love to hear how you found out about the product. Wow that is awesome,5 of them. Great gifts for 5 lucky people.
Hello Ben Spark!
I love this blog, and I wanted to let you know about my new blog theNetFool.com. I focus on money making on the internet, broken down into stock market advice and get paid to website reviews and tips.
We currently have a $10 contest running in our new forums, so make sure to check it out!
http://www.thenetfool.com
-Jim
Well, thanks for visiting Jim. I will have to check out your contest.