Burrard-Lucas Photography have announced their 2010 Photo Contest for Facebook Fans. The contest theme is “Nature” and you can take part anytime up until the 30th November 2010. There are some fantastic prizes on offer including the chance to win a Canon EOS 7D digital SLR cameras.

SmugMug have provided the following additional prizes: A SmugMug Pro account for the winner and two SmugMug standard accounts for the runners up.

More about the prizes

The Canon EOS 7D digital SLR offers performance with unprecedented versatility. Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an 18.0 Megapixel sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors allowing it to capture stunning images at up to ISO 12,800 and at speeds of up to 8 frames per second!

SmugMug offers you everything you need to kick start your online presence. From displaying photos on your own personal website through to printing and selling your work, Smugmug provides an easy to use, customizable and fully featured solution. Pro accounts also allow you to make a profit by setting your own prices for purchases – exactly what you need to get your online photography business up and running!

To find out how to enter, visit the Burrard-Lucas Photography Facebook Page.
There is no entry fee.
The deadline for entry is 30th November 2010.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The Photographers Giving Back Photo Award was founded in Sweden in 2008. The purpose of this event is to enhance journalistic photography and to strengthen the position for the professional photographer. It is also intended to inspire young and new photographers and get more people interested in photography.

Compete for cash prizes and the honorable bronze statues. Professional as well as amateur photographers worldwide are welcome to participate in The PGB Photo Award.

Participating pictures must have been taken during the year 2009. They do not need to have been published.

For each submitted picture there is an entry fee of US$10.

CATEGORIES FOR THE 2010 CONTEST

You may enter as many single pictures and picture stories as you like in each category. You may also submit the same picture to several categories. The jury has the right to move a picture from one category to another. They may also award a single picture selected out of a picture story.

1. PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

You cannot sign up for the Picture of the Year category. Qualification is automatic when you enter the contest The Photo Award. The jury will select one picture from all submitted entries.

The Award carries a cash prize of $10.000 USD and a bronze statue.

2. SPOT NEWS PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

The category Spot News Picture – refers to a single image of an unscheduled event where no advance planning is possible. The image should not be staged or arranged.

The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

3. GENERAL NEWS PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

The category General News Picture – refers to a single image of an event that is planned or organized. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

4. FEATURE PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

Feature Picture – refers to a picture without news character. It can show an everyday situation or be arranged. It can be taken in a home setting or at work. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

5. PICTURE STORY OF THE YEAR Picture story category

The category Picture Story – The story should contain at least three pictures in each picture story. There is no maximum limit for the picture story. The picture story has to be taken during the year of 2009. No pictures taken before 2009 are allowed in the picture story. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

6. PORTRAIT OF THE YEAR Singles category

A portrait picture refers to a picture of one or more people. The picture can be close-up, half or whole figure and with or without surroundings. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

7. SPORTS ACTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

The category Sports Action Picture of the Year refers to a picture taken at a sports event at the venue where the competition is held. The picture cannot be arranged and the photographer cannot have influenced the situation. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

8. SPORTS FEATURE PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

The category Sports Feature Picture refers to a sports picture taken outside of a sport venue and outside of the exact moment of competition. The picture may be arranged. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

9. SPORTS PICTURE STORY OF THE YEAR Picture story category

The category Sports Picture Story of the year refers to a picture story from the world of sports. At least three pictures have to be included in the picture story. There is no maximum limit for the picture story. The picture story has to be taken during the year of 2009. No pictures taken before 2009 are allowed in the picture story. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

10. NATURE PICTURE OF THE YEAR Singles category

The category Nature Picture refers to a picture with nature elements. A picture where animals and/or nature dominate rather than people.

The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

11. NATURE PICTURE OF THE YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL Singles category

The category Nature Picture Environmental refers to a picture with nature and evironmental elements. A picture where environmental issues are in focus. The picture must consist of a caption explaining the background of the issue.

The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

12. NATURE PICTURE STORY OF THE YEAR Picture story category

The category Nature Picture Story of the year refers to a picture story from the world of Nature. Could be either landscape, animal or environmental. There is no maximum limit for the picture story. The picture story has to be taken during the year of 2009. No pictures taken before 2009 are allowed in the picture story. The Award carries a cash prize for the 1:st prize winner of $1.000 USD and a bronze statue. 2nd and 3d prize winners will receive the honorable bronze statue.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” (Px3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and to introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris. Winning photographs from this competition are displayed in Paris and published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book.

Px3 Judges:
Juried by leading editors, publishers, curators, gallery owners, consultants, creative directors, and art directors, Px3 brings the best of photography from across the globe to Paris.

Px3 Categories:
Advertising, Photojournalism, Book, Book Proposals, Fine Art, Nature and Portraiture.

Px3 Deadline: January 31, 2010
Midnight, Central European Time or mailed entries post-marked by the above date.

AWARDS

Px3 Photographer of the Year
Both professional and non-professional photographers compete for the top award; the Px3 Photographer of the Year and 3,000 Euros. The winner’s work is publicized internationally, receives the spotlight at all events, is exhibited in Paris, and published in the Px3 Annual Book.

Px3 Best New Talent (Non-Professionals and Students Only)
Non-professional photographers compete for the Px3 Best New Talent Award and 2,000 Euros. The winner’s work is publicized and exhibited in Paris and published in the Px3 Annual Book.

Certificates in all Categories
All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from both the professional and non-professional categories will receive a Px3 certificate, personalized press release, and a Px3 winner’s logo for professional purposes.

Honorable Mentions
Px3 judges award several Certificates of Honorable Mention to both professional and non-professional entries to acknowledge talent as they deem fit.

Public Choice Awards
39,481 votes were tallied in the first annual Prix de la Photographie Paris. The names of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Subcategory Public Choice Winners are listed in the Px3 Annual Book.

PARIS EXHIBITION AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLICITY
Winning photographs from the 1st and 2nd place winners in each MAJOR category from both the professional and non-professional entries will be publicized and exhibited in Paris.

Px3 Annual Book
The work of the 1st and 2nd place winners from both the professional and non-professional Subcategories will be published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book (includes Major Category winners). The names of the Honorable Mention recipients and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Subcategory Public Choice Winners will be included as well.

ENTRY FEES
Entry fees cover the cost of administration and promotion.
To make Px3 globally accessible, Px3 discounts entry fees for certain countries.
Professional Photographers:
$30 for each photograph entered
$50 for each series (2-5 images with a unifying theme) or book
Same photograph or series, additional category: $25 per category
Non-professional and Student Photographers:
$20 per photograph entered
$40 for each series (2-5 images with a unifying theme)
Same photograph or series, additional category: $15 per category

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The editors of Nature’s Best Photography magazine invite all photographers to enter the 14th Annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition for 2010. All winning images will be published in the 2010 Collectors Edition of Nature’s Best Photography magazine. In addtiton, the category Winners and a selection of Highly Honored photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The Grand Prize will also win a “Yellowstone in Winter” photo workshop provided by Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Enter up to 20 images for an entry fee of $25 US dollars.
CATEGORIES

ANIMAL ANTICS:
Wildlife in humorous or surprising situations.

ART IN NATURE:
Naturally occurring artistic compositions (colors, forms, textures, etc.) in nature.

BIRDS:
Wild birds in native habitats displaying plumage, mating rituals, nesting, feeding, or other behaviors.

CAMERA CLUB:
Up to 20 photographs may be submitted as a group entry by a camera club. Each individual image in a camera club submission must fit within one of the contest categories, without exception.

CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
Nominate a CPY recipient

CREATIVE DIGITAL:
Any nature-related image or combination of images that is created and/or manipulated using digital/electronic technology (such as Adobe® Photoshop®). Let your imagination go wild! Please provide the details on all techniques used. EXCEPTION: Panoramic images created by digitally stitching two or more images together may be entered into other categories as appropriate.

ENDANGERED SPECIES:
Plants or animals that are listed as endangered species by the IUCN. Please visit www.redlist.org to confirm the endangered status of a species before submitting to this category.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
Images that document current environmental issues, such as pollution, global warming, loss of habitat, etc.

LANDSCAPE:
Dramatic scenes and unusual perspectives of wild places providing expansive views.

OCEANS:
The fascinating world of the sea: tide pools, coral reefs, marine life, waves, etc. Photos taken above the ocean’s surface, related to ocean life or landscapes, are also welcome.

PEOPLE IN NATURE:
People enjoying the outdoors: backpackers, kayakers, divers, hikers, etc., in natural settings.

PLANT LIFE:
Flowers, trees, and other flora in natural habitat. May include wide vistas.

SMALL WORLD SPECTACULARS:
Shots of plants, animals, and miniature landscapes taken with close-up lenses.

WEATHER:
From dramatic storms to tranquil skies—weather in all its fury and forms. (Tornados, hurricanes, floods, rain, wind, beautiful cloud formations, etc.)

WILDLIFE:
Wild animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.—birds are a separate category, see above) photographed in their natural habitat (no captive animals allowed in this category.)

YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
An entry of up to 20 photographs may be submitted by photographers 18 years of age or younger. Each individual image in a youth submission must fit within the contest categories, without exception.

ZOOS & AQUARIUMS:
Images may include animal portraits, behavior, zookeepers working with animals, visitors (may require model release), special events, etc. All photographs must have been taken at zoos and aquariums belonging to the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA). See the complete WAZA list at www.waza.org.

All photographs must accurately reflect the subject matter as it appeared in the viewfinder. Nothing should be added to an image, and aside from dust spots, nothing should be taken away. Normal processing of RAW image files and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable, as is minimal cropping.

Deadline: April 5, 2010

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Nature’s Best Photography and Divers Alert Network (DAN) are proud to announce our new alliance to host the third annual Ocean Views Photography Awards, open to all levels of photographers from around the world. Share your passion for the ocean to help inspire a global audience to learn about and protect this fragile realm. A selection of winning images will appear in an upcoming edition of Nature’s Best Photography and Alert Divers magazine, and will be featured on Pixcetera, Discovery Network International, and other online galleries. Celebrate the ocean through the art of photography.

PRIZES: $2,010 (US) cash • 9-night dive trip to Papua New Guinea with Peter Hughes Diving© • 5-night dive trip at Marina Del Mar, Key Largo, Florida with Ocean Divers© • Scubapro© regulator • Henderson Aquatics© his and hers H2 titanium wetsuits • Backscatter© gift certificate • Ikelite© DS160 digital strobe and charger • DAN© Dive Safety Kit.

DEADLINE: March 1, 2010

Submit up to 20 of your very best images in these topics for an entry fee of $25 US dollars:
• Ocean weather: waves, storms, rain, fog, lightning
• Beaches, shores, estuaries, tide zones, tide pools
• Tropical and temperate reef ecosystems
• Shallow-shore and deep-water environments
• All living things that depend upon the oceans: fish, mammals, birds, plants, etc., in or near the water
• Natural feeding, breeding, and other behavior
• Geologic processes or features on seashores or in the ocean
• People enjoying the ocean environment
• Submersibles and mini-subs
• Sunken vessels
• SCUBA, hard hat, and free diving, snorkeling

Important: All images must be taken in the wild of natural settings and behaviors.
No captive animals will be considered and no entrapment of any kind is permissible.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Burrard-Lucas Photography has launched a new travel photography competition with over $2,000 in prizes!

The theme of the contest is “Mysterious Places”.

Prizes

Overall Winner:
Lensbaby Composer + Optic Swap System
SmugMug Pro Account (1 year) + $50 print credits
($565 total value)

Peoples’ Choice Winner:
Lensbaby Muse with Double Glass Optic
SmugMug Pro Account (1 year) + $50 print credits

2x Runners up:
Lensbaby Muse with Plastic Optic
SmugMug Pro Account (1 year)

8x Highly Commended:
$25 Gift Certificate to lensbaby.com
SmugMug Power Account (1 year)

The “Peoples’ Choice” winner will be selected by public vote at the end of the contest.

More about the prizes…

The Lensbaby Composer is selective focus SLR lens that works on Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Pentax cameras. Based on a unique and innovative ball and socket configuration, the Composer delivers smooth selective focus photography with unparalleled ease. Photographers simply tilt the lens to a desired angle and then focus with a focusing ring. The result is an area of sharp focus (the “Sweet Spot”) which can be moved around the frame.

SmugMug offers you everything you need to kick start your online presence! From displaying photos on your own personal website through to printing and selling your work, Smugmug provides an easy to use, customizable and fully featured solution. Pro accounts also allow you to make a profit by setting your own prices for purchases – exactly what you need to get your online photography business up and running!

The deadline for entry is 31st October 2009. Entry is free.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

As one of the largest photographic events existing today, The Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA), reach far beyond an awards programme for the still image. The SWPA is a convergence of festival events, focused photographic agendas, exhibitions, awards schemes, student programmes and an industry-led gala evening ceremony which marks the pinnacle of the week-long event in April 2009.

The Sony World Photography Awards Gala and central exhibitions that support the awards’ nominees and honourees, occurs once a year in the prestigious Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. The evening welcomes some of the most influential names in the photography industry, from press and media to gallerists, publishers, agents, critics, aficionados and the renowned artists themselves.

From fine art to applied photography in fashion, advertising and sport to humanistic and documentary photography of people, social, cultural and current affairs to the environmental image of landscape, wildlife and ecology, there are few subjects or genres left undiscovered. The celebration of the still image – its roots, conception, adaptation and continuous evolution – is a constant parallel, unifying all categories of the Sony World Photography Awards.

This impressive union of distinct photographic genres has spurred many of the industry’s elite to actively support the SWPA. A very select group of these heavyweights have been invited to form the World Photographic Academy. To date, close to 100 members from the photographic community belong to this academy, from leading international agencies, guilds, galleries, publishing houses, foundations, press and of course renowned photographers themselves, such as Elliott Erwitt, Tom Stoddart, Susan Meiselas, Stuart Franklin, Mary-Ellen Mark and many more.

Beyond the week-long celebration in Cannes, the Sony World Photography Awards continuously create ways in order to support and further promote its existing industry network, the newly discovered photographers and those studying the craft. These many year-long initiatives include the Student Programme, The Sony World Photography Awards Global Tour and the Online World Photography Awards Magazine, Galleries and Store.

Professional Competition

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international, welcoming professional photographers from across the globe to submit their photographs into a highly competitive awards programme.

As an entering professional photographer, you will be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of being recognized by leading industry figures and taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards and, the most coveted prize, L’iris d’Or, given to The Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year, with the recipient taking, amongst other things, prize money of $25,000.

Submitting your images: There are 12 categories in the professional programme, spread across 3 main photographic genres; to view the categories please click on the link to the left. Each photographer may submit up to a total of 10 images into a single professional category. Professionals will be judged on a body of images representing a photographic series or story. Professional photographers may enter bodies of work in more than one category.

The Judging Process: Your images will go through critical rounds of selections by the official 2010 Judging Committee, comprising selected World Photographic Academy members.

A shortlist of 7 photographers in each of the 12 categories will be selected and announced in February 2010.

Of the 7 short-listed photographers in each category, three finalists will then be selected and named as either the first, second or third place winners of each category given. The announcement of the 36 total winners will be made in March 2010.

For the final stage of judging, one single photographer will be chosen by the Honorary Judging Committee from the 12 First Place category winners. This photographer will be announced and awarded in Cannes as the recipient of the 2010 L’iris d’or.

The awards: All 36 Category finalists, will be showcased as part of the official 2010 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes, published in the winner’s book and announced to the worldwide press as Sony World Photography Awards Category Finalists. These finalists will also be part of an annual SWPA Global Tour, have the opportunity to be represented and promoted by the World Photography Gallery, showcased on the SWPA website for all of 2010 and much more.

The first place winner of each category will be flown out to Cannes, receive 2 nights accommodation in a luxury hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010. The winner will also receive week-long passes to attend the World Photography Festival screenings, workshops, exhibitions, talks and other events taking place throughout the city of Cannes from the 13th – 18th of April 2010.

Professional Categories

There are 12 professional categories across three distinct genres:

PHOTOJOURNALISM & DOCUMENTARY: CURRENT AFFAIRS; SPORT; CONTEMPORARY ISSUES; ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

COMMERCIAL: ADVERTISING; FASHION; MUSIC

FINE ART: PORTRAITURE; CONCEPTUAL & CONSTRUCTED; NATURAL HISTORY; LANDSCAPE; ARCHITECTURE

Professional Prizes

Winner of “L’iris d’Or” – Best overall photograph will receive:
Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of The Year”
$25,000
Entry into the “World Photographic Academy”
Exhibition showcase of winning image and 25 picture portfolio at the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards
Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’ website and promoted to creatives worldwide
Flights to Cannes, and 2 nights accommodation in a hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010
Sony Gift

Winners of each individual category will receive:
Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards category name Photographer of The Year”
Flights to Cannes, and 2 nights accommodation in a hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010
Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’website and promoted to creatives
Sony Gift

Amateur Competition

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international, welcoming people from across the globe to submit their photographs into an exciting amateur competition, which is run alongside the Professional Awards.

As an amateur photographer, you also have the opportunity to be judged by the World Photographic Academy in the hopes of taking the stage in Cannes to receive one of the most sought after prizes in the competition: The Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

Submitting your images: Each photographer may submit up to a total of 3 photographs into the competition for free. The 3 photographs can be submitted into any one amateur category or spread across two – three different categories; to view the categories please click on the link to the left.

The Judging Process: Your images will go through various pre-selection rounds by our officially selected 2010 Pre-Selection Committee, iStock – iStockphoto LP is the world’s leading royalty-free stock destination. Browse more than 4 million photos, vector illustrations, video footage and Flash files. iStock pioneered the micropayment photography business model in 2001, selling images starting at $1.

If your image is selected to go into the top 400, you will then be judged by the 2010 Judging Committee, comprising selected World Photographic Academy members.

A shortlist of top ten amateur photographers per category will be announced in February 2010.

The 8 Category Winners, will be showcased as part of the official 2010 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes, be published in the winner’s book and be announced to the worldwide press as Sony World Photography Awards Category Winners in March, 2010. These winners will also have the opportunity to be part of an annual SWPA Global Tour and showcased on the SWPA website for all of 2010.

One grand prize winner will be selected from the 8 category winners by the 2010 Judging Committee and be awarded The Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of the Year.

The overall winner and a guest will be flown to Cannes, receive two nights’ accommodation in a luxury hotel on the famous Croisette, receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony on the 15th of April, 2010, and collect their prize of $5,000 and a Sony gift. The winner will also receive week-long passes to attend the World Photography Festival screenings, workshops, exhibitions, talks and other events taking place throughout the city of Cannes from the 13th – 18th of April.

Amateur Categories

Architecture
Conceptual & Constructed
Documentary
Fashion
Landscape
Music
Natural History
Portraiture
Sport
Campaign Award

Amateur Prizes

Winner of the Best overall photograph will receive:
Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards Amateur Photographer of The Year”
$5,000
Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’ website and promoted to creatives worldwide
to Cannes, and 2 nights accommodation in a hotel on the famous Croisette and receive VIP tickets to attend the evening gala awards ceremony, taking place on the 15th of April, 2010
Sony Gift

Winners of each individual category will receive:
Recipient of the title “Sony World Photography Awards Amateur category name Photographer of The Year”
Exhibited in the Winner’s Exhibition and published in the Winner’s Book
Winning image will be exhibited on the Sony World Photography Awards’website and promoted to creatives
Sony Gift

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The 2009 Travel Photographer of the Year competition opens for entries

Entries are now open for the 2009 international Travel Photographer of the Year competition (TPOTY). This year’s competition has more categories and awards than ever, giving amateur and professional photographers worldwide even more chances to win great prizes, and the prestige of winning a TPOTY title.

With a new sponsor line-up, the TPOTY prize package is impressive. TPOTY 2009 winners will go to some highly photogenic locations, traveling to China, Costa Rica and Morocco with Intrepid Travel and to Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains with Mountain Paradise.

They’ll also receive some great equipment prizes. These include an Apple MacBook Pro 15″ with Aperture 2, 26” NEC Spectra View monitor, Wacom Cintiq 12WX interactive pen display and new Intuos4 pen tablets, Adobe CS4 Web Premium, Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom software, a total of £1,000 to spend with Jacobs Digital Photo & Video, Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio books, HARMAN PHOTO and ILFORD PHOTO paper, prints and darkroom products, LEE filters, Lexar CF cards and card readers, Photo Iconic photo courses, and £300 to spend with Linhof Studio.

TPOTY 2009 features three portfolio categories – Homeland, Natural Wonders and People of the World, and a One Shot category, on the theme Festival, Fiesta and Celebration. In addition, it features New Talent, the award for those who want to start a photographic career, the First Shot beginners’ single image category, and Young TPOTY (for kids with cameras)

Entry is via print submission or online image upload, and entries close on September 22nd, 2009. Entry fees start at £10, and entry to Young TPOTY is free.

About Travel Photographer of the Year

Founded in 2003, Travel Photographer of the Year is run by photographers for photographers. In 2008 alone, entries were received from amateur, semi-professional and professional photographers in over 60 countries. To date, the youngest entrant in the awards was aged 5, the oldest aged 88.

TPOTY winning and highly-placed images have been exhibited at the London Eye, at Focus on Imaging at the NEC, at the Exposure Gallery in London and at the Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel and Cruise shows, and are published in the ‘Journey’ series of books.

Awards, categories and prizes in detail

Overall winner – the Travel Photographer of the Year 2009

To be eligible for the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2009, entrants need to submit images in two of the three portfolio categories. The winner will receive the latest 15” Apple MacBook Pro with Aperture 2 software, and travel to the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia with Mountain Paradise, where they’ll be able to photograph unspoiled landscapes, majestic waterfalls and emerald-coloured lakes set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Their prize also includes the latest Adobe Photoshop CS4 Web Premium software suite, a beautiful, personalised, Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio book to showcase their images, the latest Wacom Intuos4 S pen tablet, a 16GB Lexar Professional UDMA 300x CF card and Professional UDMA Dual Slot Card Reader, plus a 40” x 30” ILFORD Lightjet silver gelatin print of one of their winning images.

Young Travel Photographer of the Year

Open to photographers aged 16 and under, Young TPOTY challenges youngsters to put together a portfolio of four images on the theme ‘A Place I Love’. The winner will receive private photo tuition with Photo Iconic, Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom, an 8GB Lexar Professional CF card and reader, and a Wacom Bamboo Fun pen tablet. Four runners-up will each receive a 4GB Lexar Professional CF card plus Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 & Premiere Elements 7.

New Talent: A Traveller’s Tale

This is the category for amateur or semi-professional photographers who are looking to start a career in photography – and winning it could also give a great boost to a photographic student. They need to construct their own Traveller’s Tale, on any subject they choose, in four images. The winner travels to the Tatra Mountains Photography Centre for a photography course in Slovakia with Mountain Paradise and Photo Iconic, receives Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom plus a £300 spend with Linhof Studio, Plastic Sandwich personalised leather portfolio book, and an 8GB Lexar Professional CF card and reader. And they’ll have their images showcased in the Travel Shooters Photographers’ Showcase online.

The runner-up, Highly Commended and Commended entrant in this category each win a 4GB Lexar Professional CF card.

Portfolio category: Homeland

To prove that you don’t have to clock up the air miles to take great travel images, this category requires entrants to shoot a portfolio of four images that captures the essence of the country they live in. The winner will take in the grand cities, archaeological wonders, lush riverside scenery and beauty of China with Intrepid Travel, and receive a Wacom Intuos4 M pen tablet, plus an 8GB Lexar Professional CF card and reader.

The second-placed entrant will win a 4GB Lexar CF card, plus £250 worth of LEE Filters, while Highly Commended and Commended entrants receive a 4GB Professional Lexar CF card.

Best Single Image, Homeland portfolio category

Every year the TPOTY judges spot some outstanding individual images within the portfolio categories. The photographer whose image is chosen as the best Homeland shot will win Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom, £200 to spend at Jacobs Digital Photo & Video, plus a 40” x 30” ILFORD Lightjet silver gelatin print of their image.

Portfolio category: Natural Wonders

This is the category for the wildlife and landscape photographers, requiring them to submit four stunning images that portray the natural wonders of this planet. The winner will explore the colonial streets, lush cloud forests and white sand, Pacific coastline of Costa Rica with Intrepid Travel. They’ll be able to review their images on a 26” NEC SpectraView® high-end professional widescreen LCD monitor, and also receive an 8GB Lexar Professional CF card and reader.

The second-placed entrant will win a 4GB Lexar Professional CF card, plus £250 worth of LEE Filters, while Highly Commended and Commended entrants receive a 4GB Lexar Professional CF card.

Best Single Image, Natural Wonders portfolio category

The photographer whose image is chosen as the best Natural Wonders shot will win Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom, £200 to spend at Jacobs Digital Photo & Video, plus a 40” x 30” ILFORD Lightjet silver gelatin print of their image.

Portfolio category: People of the World

Wherever we travel, it’s often the people we see that fascinate us the most, so in this category entrants need to produce a portfolio of four images that shows some of the people they’ve encountered on their travels. The winner will travel to Morocco with Intrepid Travel, where they can enjoy the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the sands of the Sahara, the medieval old town of Fes and the spice markets of Marrakech. And they’ll receive a versatile Wacom Cintiq 12WX interactive pen display and an 8GB Lexar Professional CF card and reader.

The second-placed entrant will win a 4GB Professional Lexar CF card, plus £250 worth of LEE Filters, while Highly Commended and Commended entrants receive a 4GB Lexar Professional CF card.

Best Single Image, People of the World portfolio category

The photographer whose image is chosen as the best People of the World shot will win Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom, £200 to spend at Jacobs Digital Photo & Video, plus a 40” x 30” ILFORD Lightjet silver gelatin print of their image.

One Shot category: Festival, Fiesta & Celebration

Capturing the colour and spectacle of a festival or fiesta in just one incredible image isn’t an easy task. The successful photographer will receive Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom software, £400 to spend with Jacobs Digital Photo & Video, £200 worth of HARMAN / ILFORD products, and an 8GB Lexar Professional CF card and reader.

The runner-up, Highly Commended and Commended entrant in this category each win a 4GB Lexar Professional CF card.

First Shot: Postcards from Anywhere

This is for adults who are new to photography and for images taken on a mobile phone, compact camera or basic SLR or DSLR. They need to take a shot that they’d choose to send as a postcard to a friend – one single image which sums up a place or an occasion. Five winners will receive a Photo Iconic course or image critique sessions and also win Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 and Premiere Elements 7.

Five runners-up in this category receive Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 and Premiere Elements 7.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The editors of NATURE’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY magazine invite all photographers to enter the 2009 NATURE’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS competition.

More than $15,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. The winning photographs will be published in the Awards 2009 Collector’s Edition of NATURE’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY, and may be selected for our annual exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and displayed in other locations and photo gallery presentations related to the Awards competition. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Enter a TOTAL of up to 20 images for one entry fee ($25 US no foreign checks).

DEADLINE: UPLOAD OR POSTMARK NO LATER THAN MAY 4, 2009

CATEGORIES:
The Nature’s Best Editors reserve the right to move a submission from one category to another as they see fit.
ANIMAL ANTICS:
Wildlife in humorous or surprising situations.
ART IN NATURE:
Naturally occurring artistic compositions (colors, forms, textures, etc.) in nature.
BIRDS:
Wild birds in native habitats displaying plumage, mating rituals, nesting, feeding, or other behaviors.
CAMERA CLUB:
Up to 20 photographs may be submitted as a group entry by a camera club. Each individual image in a camera club submission must fit within one of the contest categories, without exception. NOTE: Each individual member can contribute no more than three (3) images to the group submission. The entry will be judged as a portfolio and selected on the overall excellence of the entire group of images. Participating club members are also permitted to submit their own entry (up to 20 images) separate from the Camera Club entry, and may include the same images in both submissions.
CREATIVE DIGITAL:
Any nature-related image or combination of images that is created and/or manipulated using digital/electronic technology (such as Adobe® Photoshop®). Let your imagination go wild! Please provide the details on all techniques used. EXCEPTION: Panoramic images created by digitally stitching two or more images together may be entered into other categories as appropriate.
ENDANGERED SPECIES:
Plants or animals that are listed as endangered species by the IUCN. Please visit www.redlist.org to confirm the endangered status of a species before submitting to this category.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
Images that document current environmental issues, such as pollution, global warming, loss of habitat, etc.
INDIGENOUS CULTURES:
People living within their ancient historic communities, practicing their traditional culture: dress, arts/crafts, dance, rituals, hunting/gathering, food preparation, examples of sustainable living, etc.
LANDSCAPE:
Dramatic scenes and unusual perspectives of land providing expansive views.
OCEANS:
The fascinating world of the sea: tide pools, coral reefs, marine life, waves, etc. Photos taken above the ocean’s surface, related to ocean life, are also welcome.
PEOPLE IN NATURE:
People enjoying the outdoors: backpackers, kayakers, divers, hikers, etc., in natural settings.
PLANT LIFE:
Flowers, trees, and other flora in natural habitat. May include wide vistas.
SMALL WORLD SPECTACULARS:
Shots of plants, animals, and miniature landscapes taken with macro lenses.
WEATHER:
From dramatic storms to tranquil skies—weather in all its fury and forms. (Tornados, hurricanes, floods, rain, wind, cloud formations, etc.)
WILDLIFE:
Wild animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.—birds are a separate category, see above) photographed in their natural habitat (no captive animals).
YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
An entry of up to 20 photographs may be submitted by photographers 18 of age or younger. Each individual image in a youth submission must fit within the contest categories, without exception. NOTE: Please be sure to include your date of birth and current age on your entry form.
ZOOS & AQUARIUMS:
Images may include animal portraits, behavior, zookeepers working with animals, visitors (may require model release), special events, etc. All photographs must have been taken at zoos and aquariums belonging to the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA). See the complete WAZA list at www.waza.org.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is beginning its annual search for the best and most astonishing images from around the world, whether they come from the wildest places on Earth or urban gardens. With the bar being raised each year, the 2009 competition promises to be bigger and more inspiring than ever before.

‘This is the greatest and most prestigious competition for wildlife photographers anywhere in the world. It raises the profile of wildlife photography and provokes a wider awareness of wildlife conservation. It is not just professionals who are successful – amateurs of all ages have won awards in the competition many times. In recent years the judges have been particularly impressed by the standard of images being produced by many young people.’ Mark Carwardine (Chairman of the judges)

The winning photographer will be presented with £10,000 at an awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum, London, in October. Each category winner receives £500 and every runner-up £250. Special Award winners receive £1,000.

Info:
online entry fee: £20
postal entry fee: £27 (CDs only)
closing date for online entries: Friday 27 March 2009

Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year
If you are 17 years or younger, this is the competition for you. You can enter pictures of any wild animals, plants or landscapes. The judges will be looking for original, beautiful or striking shots rather than rare or exotic subjects. Creatures or places close to home that you know well or have easy access to may be your best subjects.
The three categories are: 10 years and under, 11–14 years, 15–17 years
The winning photographer will receive £500 and a day out with a well-known wildlife photographer. Category winners will receive £250 and runners up £100.

Adult categories
You can enter up to three digital images or scans of transparencies in each of the following categories.

1. Animals in Their Environment
Images in this category must show how the animal fits into its natural home and convey a sense of place. Remember, the environment is as important a part of the picture as the animal itself, allowing you to tell a story and reveal more about your subject.

2. Behaviour: Birds
3. Behaviour: Mammals
4. Behaviour: All Other Animals
Images must capture a memorable, unusual or interesting behaviour. It is crucial to show genuine behaviour (just looking or sitting isn’t enough). Judges will look for images with an aesthetic appeal, a unique interest value and dramatic action.

5. The Underwater World
Images must feature marine or freshwater life taken under water. A combination of interest value and aesthetic appeal is just as important underwater as on land. See a list of top ten tips (PDF 1.5MB) for underwater photographers from Project AWARE

6. Animal Portraits
Portraits should capture the unique character or spirit of the subject. Images should be imaginative and convey a sense of intimacy and immediacy.

7. In Praise of Plants
Pictures should capture the beauty, diversity and importance of plant life. The judges will be looking for artistic merit rather than a simple scientific record.

8. Urban and Garden Wildlife
Look for nature on your doorstep, and capture images that are unusual, poignant, beautiful or striking compositions of wild animals or plants in urban or suburban settings. Judges will be looking for uncommonly good images of common subjects.

9. Nature in Black and White
The judges will be looking for skilful use of the black and white medium, where pure graphic quality and a well composed image can often increase the intensity. Sepia tone images are allowed. The subject can be any wild landscape, animal, plant or other living organism.

10. Creative Visions of Nature
Photographs should reveal new ways of seeing natural subjects or scenes, conveying an imaginative, unique or abstract view of wildlife or wild places. Realism takes a back seat in this category – the judges will be looking for artistic vision and true originality. Let your imagination run wild.

11. Wild Places
Images should show scenes that are truly wild and awe-inspiring. But there is much more to it than a breathtaking landscape – the judges will be looking for beautiful light, a true feeling of wilderness and a sense of awe.

Special Awards

Eric Hosking Award
This award encourages and rewards the talents of young photographers aged 18–26. You must submit a portfolio of 10 images you think represents your very best work. Judges will choose five or more images for the winning portfolio.
Prize: £1,000

Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife
This highly important award raises our awareness of endangered species through photographic excellence. The images must be memorable and capture the unique character or spirit of the subject.

Species photographed must be categorised in the 2008 IUCN Red List as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened at an international or national level (if the latter, please supply details).
Prize: £1,000

One Earth Award
Photography plays a critical role in conservation, and this award seeks to highlight conservation issues or actions. Don’t rely on the shock value of your subject – the judges will be looking for genuine photographic merit. Remember to focus on positive messages as well as negative ones. Images can be graphic or symbolic, but must be thought provoking, memorable and encourage respect or concern for our natural world.
Prize: £1,000

Judges
Mark Carwardine (Chair) zoologist, writer and photographer
Jack Dykinga, landscape photographer
Laurent Geslin, photographer
Chris Gomersall, wildlife photographer
Orsolya Haarberg, nature photographer
Josef (Sepp) Hackhofer, nature photographer
Tim Harris, manager, nature and garden collections, Photoshot
Tony Heald, wildlife photographer
Rosamund Kidman Cox, editor and writer
Jan-Peter Lahall, photographer
Tor McIntosh, picture editor
Vincent Munier, nature photographer
Erik Sampers, photo director, Terre Sauvage
Brian Skerry, marine wildlife photojournalist
Sophie Stafford, editor, BBC Wildlife Magazine

Competition Link / Set Reminder