© Hilde Lillejord. Above: Vegard and Birgit make their way to their winter wedding outside Oslo, Norway, with a little help from their friends.

Hilde Lillejord is a Norwegian photojournalist and portraiture photographer whose winter wedding procession snap shot earned a win in the Candids category of the 2011 Top Knots the New School of Wedding Photography Contest. The early deadline for the 2012 Top Knots Contest is TODAY at midnight PST.

All photos © Jesse Rieser.

“Beyond the glowing green and red lights, past the shimmering silvery tinsel, around the fragrant pine boughs, another Christmas lingers, a Christmas of contradictions. This Christmas is complex and at times, uncomfortable. It’s awkward and sometimes bleak. But it is also sincere and celebratory, colorful and creative.

This is the Christmas I capture in this first chapter of a photographic exploration of the biggest event on the American calendar. I grew up in a secular home and at times felt like a Christmas outsider, never connected to the holiday’s religious importance, or its more extreme cultural trappings. But in these photos, I become a Christmas insider, working to discover and reveal what holiday magic, or mania, compels so many to devote thousands of hours to hanging lights, to carving and painting figurines, to building miniature villages, to converting their homes, yards, garages and cars into monuments to merriness.

Initially inspired by the absurdity of a five story inflatable Santa who appeared to be guarding a tree lot, I have launched this survey of uniquely American Christmas traditions. “Christmas in America” is an unvarnished examination of the ways people mark the holiday’s meaning.”  – Jesse Rieser.

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© JT Blatty

Flames ignite the night air as patrons revel. JT Blatty‘s image is one of the entrants in PDN‘s inaugural nightlife and event contest, The Scene. It is currently open for entries until August 30, but enter today to avoid late fees. A Fan’s Favorite winner will also be selected.

© Jacklyn Greenberg / JAGstudios

The bride gets a little help from her flower girl. Only her fingers could button the whole dress. Jacklyn Greenberg‘s portrait was included in the winners gallery of the 2011 Top Knots wedding photography contest.

© Pari Dukovic.

This photograph was taken during the Kirkpinar oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey. Kirkpinar is the oldest sporting competition in the world and a fascinating subculture. It is a tradition with a 650 year past. Wrestlers train for this festival for a whole year and their dream is to finally attain the Gold Belt. To the participants it is not just a sport but a way of life: discipline and dedication. In this image, the wrestlers are waiting in the cage area watching the matches taking place on the grass. I have been working on this project, all shot on film, since June 2010. People and their passions are at the essence of my work. By using my camera as a way of capturing their energy and freedom I, in turn, am able to capture my own. – Pari Dukovic.  To see more of Dukovic’s work visit the gallery featuring the 2011 PDN’s 30 Emerging Photographers.