Phototuts+ is running a contest this week called “The ‘Memories’ Photography Project,” and they’re giving away a Canon EOS 550D camera to the winner! You can read all of the contest details on their site but the short version is:

Upload up to three pictures that represent “memories” to you. Include 150-350 words describing each photo. Afterwards they’ll post the entries for people to vote on.

Here are my entries and the accompanying copy I wrote for each one. I don’t know how the photos will be presented so I had to write each description so that it could stand on its own. That means there is some redundant copy. Sorry about that.

Superhero Ash

This is my first and only son, Ashton, a few months after he turned two. Every photo of him represents a memory I cherish. This was the first day of summer. Not the official first day of summer, but the first day the pool was open, which everybody knows is the real first day of summer. He put his goggles on at home long before we went to the pool and refused to take them off.

This is superhero Ash.

I’m not a professional photographer. I’m not even an amateur photographer. I’m a neophyte. I don’t own a great camera. I own a cheap point-and-shoot. Having a real camera would mean a lot to me, not the least because it would help me capture more memories like this.

Note: I removed the bird poop from the submitted version.

This is my first and only son, Ashton, when he was about a year-and-a-half old. On a typical sunny afternoon at the park I was lucky enough to capture this shot of him and he was exploring a playscape. I love the inquisitive look in his eyes. That’s something he hasn’t lost with age.

Every photo of him represents a memory I cherish.

I’m not a professional photographer. I’m not even an amateur photographer. I’m a neophyte. I don’t own a great camera. I own a cheap point-and-shoot. Having a real camera would mean a lot to me, not the least because it would help me capture more memories like this.

Photographer: Ashton Clussman

Don’t dismiss this photo! Read this description first.

This is something that I think will be unique in the competition. When my wife and I bought a new point-and-shoot camera last year, we gave our old, 4MP digital camera to our son, Ashton.

He was two years old when he built and photographed this block of Legos completely on his own. He had already learned how to turn the camera on and off, zoom in and out, move close in or back away from his subject. He can switch the display on the camera to preview his pictures and he can even hook the camera up to the computer.

This picture represents a memory that he cherishes.

He has a natural talent and taking pictures is something he loves to do. I want to nurture that love. Winning this competition would mean the world to both of us.

I’ll post again when voting opens up!