The Environmental Photographer of the Year 2011 competition is now open, and this year a new video category has been introduced to further raise awareness of environmental and social issues.

Organised by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) since 2007, the Environmental Photographer of the

Year is an international showcase for the very best in amateur and professional environmental photography, and is one of the fastest growing competitions in the world – receiving entries from 97 countries in 2010.

EPOTY is open to professionals and amateurs of any age from anywhere in the world, and encourages entries that are creative, resonant and original. The competition is completely free to enter and copyright is retained by the entrant at all times.

The 2011 competition categories are:
• Mott MacDonald’s Changing Climates
• The Natural World
• The Underwater World
• Quality of Life
• A View From the Western World
• Building Our Future (New for 2011)
• The Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (Under 16 & Under 21)
• Video (New for 2011)

Winners receive cash prizes and all winning entries are displayed in the touring Environmental Photographer of the Year exhibition.

PRIZES

The winning entries share a prize fund of £5,000. We also provide the opportunity to sell your images to the media for editorial use and to the public as part of a limited edition print run. This arrangement is done on a contractual basis which photographers may opt out of, but is designed to help raise additional revenue for all our entrants.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” (Px3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and 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.

Categories

Advertising

Photojournalism

Book

Book Proposals

Fine Art

Nature

Portraiture

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.

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 renowned photographic competition, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award will be announced for the 32nd time in the year 2011. Entries (professional photographers only) for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2011 will be accepted as online submissions between 15 January and 1 March 2011. Entries for the Leica Oskar Barnack NEWCOMER Award are open to all (prospective) photographers who are aged 25 years and under.

An international jury awards the Leica Oskar Barnack Award / Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award to photographers whose unerring powers of observation capture and express the relationship between man and the environment in the most graphic form in a sequence of a minimum of 10 up to a maximum of 12 images. Entry submissions must be a self-contained series of images in which the photographer perceives and documents the interaction between man and the environment with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creative, groundbreaking and unintrusive.
This year, the value of the competition prizes has been increased. For the first time, the winner of the “Leica Oskar Barnack Award will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens worth 9,500 euros in addition to a cash prize of 5,000 euros. For the “Newcomer Award” the prize has also been increased. The winner will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens.

The “Leica Oskar Barnack Award” competition is open to all professional photographers. To take part, participants must send in a series of photographs taken in 2010 or long-term projects containing at least one photo from 2010.

The “Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award” competition is open to any (prospective) professional photographer aged 25 or under at the time of entering. To take part, participants must send in a series of photographs taken in 2010 or long-term projects containing at least one photo from 2010.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The competition opened on 1 February 2011, with a prize fund of up to £20,000. The British Wildlife Photography Awards in 2011 are your chance to win a prestigious photography award and cash prize of £5,000.

The British Wildlife Photography Awards were established in 2009. The key aims of the Awards are to:

• Recognise the talents of photographers practicing in the UK, while at the same time highlight the great wealth and diversity of Britain’s natural history.
• Celebrate British wildlife, in all its beauty and diversity, through a collection of inspirational photographs.
• Showcase the very best of our nature photography to a wide audience and engage all ages with evocative and powerful imagery.
• Encourage discovery, exploration, conservation and enjoyment of our natural heritage.
• Raise awareness about British biodiversity, species and habitats.

Winners and commended entrants will have their work showcased in a national touring exhibition and in a stunning book published by AA Publishing. Now in its third year these awards celebrate and recognise the talents of photographers of all nationalities practicing in the UK, while at the same time, highlight the great wealth and diversity of British natural history.

Prizes

Adult Competition

The title of British Wildlife Photographer is given to the photographer whose single image is judged to be the most striking and memorable of all the entries. The photographer of the overall winning image is awarded a first prize of £5,000.

Adult categories

The prizes for each of the adult categories will have a total value around £1,000. Each category prize includes: (or equivalent)

• Canon PowerShot G12 Camera
• Canon Pixma Pro 9000 MK II Printer
• RSPB Binoculars

Video award

Canon LEGRIA HF S21 High Definition Digital Camcorder (value £969.00).

Young Awards

There are three special awards to encourage participation by young people, schools and youth community groups.

• Young British Wildlife Photographer (Up to 11 years old) £300
• Young British Wildlife Photographer (12 to 18 years old) £500
• The British Wildlife Photography Award – for Schools, Youth and Community Groups is given to the group submitting the portfolio judged to be the most memorable, striking and best set of themed images. The prize for the best school youth or community group is Serif Design Suite – value £3,000. A copy of the Serif Design Suite for each of the contributors (£149)* which contains five software titles covering; graphics, photo editing, digital video, DTP and web design. The school or organisation will receive a 50 user license on the Serif Design Suite (£2,199) and a Digital Video camera (£149)
  *Maximum of five individual copies of the software for the winning entrants.

Serif is the publisher of the award-winning software range that includes PagePlus ®, PhotoPlus™, DrawPlus ™, WebPlus™, AlbumPlus™, MoviePlus™, PanoramaPlus™ and Digital Scrapbook Artist ® and more. Founded in 1987 with the aim to develop low-cost alternatives to high-end publishing and graphics packages, Serif has been repeatedly praised for its powerful yet easy-to-use software which enables businesses, educational establishments, and ordinary PC users to achieve professional-quality results whatever their level of experience.

Categories

Animal Portraits

We are looking for an image that captures the character or spirit of the subject in an imaginative way. We want to be able to get a sense of the animal’s “personality” from the photograph. All species will be considered.

Animal Behaviour

Entries can show unusual, interesting, amusing or remarkable behaviour being exhibited, or depict something familiar in a new light. Show the judges something they don’t know or haven’t seen before, or invite them to look again at what they thought they already knew.

Urban Wildlife

Wherever we live, wildlife can be found alongside us in our towns and cities. We are looking for an original image that shows wild animals or plants within an urban or predominantly man-made environment.

Hidden Britain

Reveal to us the secret universe that is life on a small scale – a life that is all around us but rarely seen. This category is for invertebrate species only. Category sponsored by Buglife.

Coast and Marine

We are looking for an imaginative photograph that reveals the nature or behaviour of marine wildlife, or creates a sense of place or occasion. Marine and maritime species near the sea, underwater, at the sea shore and coastal zone only will be considered. Category sponsored by WWF.

Wildlife in my Backyard

Gardens represent a vital habitat for some of our most threatened species. Whether it is common or rare, we want to see stunning photos of wildlife in your garden, back yard, balcony, or any space where you, your friends or family do something to encourage nature. Category sponsored by the Countryside Council for Wales.

Habitat

We are looking for an imaginative and original image that powerfully portrays the importance of the environment and ecosystems that sustain the wildlife within them. This includes animals, plants and the relationships between them; for example a butterfly feeding on nectar or rooks roosting in a tree. Category sponsored by Countryside Jobs Service.

Living Landscape: Connectivity

Category sponsored by The Wildlife Trusts. Being connected to the natural world is great for our health, our happiness and for the future. All are inextricably linked. And so The Wildlife Trusts are working on a recovery plan for nature. It’s their vision to create a resilient environment; one rich in wildlife and great for people. What they call ‘A Living Landscape’.

This category is purposefully open to interpretation to encourage creativity and fresh and imaginative responses. Connectivity might be physical, sensory, seasonal or otherwise. We are keen to see how this category captures the imagination and how connectivity within the UK landscape is defined. Positive images illustrating how habitats, species, communities and individuals are all connected, and interconnect, within our natural environment, both in rural and urban settings, are encouraged. Whether images capture an imaginative or purely narrative approach; are simple or complex, the winning image will be breath-taking, mesmerising and powerful.

Some typical (and not exclusive) examples:

• Bee species pollinating crops directly links wildlife with the economy
• Salt marshes acting as a buffer between land and seas
• Hedgerows play a part in keeping the countryside ‘stitched’ together
• Estuaries are the connection for freshwater species with marine life
• Rivers connecting streams to the sea
• Sensory connections: the sights and sounds of everyday nature
• Children playing in a meadow, part of a bigger habitat restoration scheme
• Close up of a wall or pavement, showing the life these physical connections harbour eg lichens, invertebrates
• Practical conservation volunteers at work, the birth of a new habitat where people come to connect with nature
• Delight at witnessing a grandchild’s wonderment during their first wildlife encounter
• School parties connecting within their local community green spaces
• Symbolic images that epitomize our connection with nature and our landscape

British Seasons

For this category we are looking for a stunning portfolio of images. The portfolio needs to portray British wildlife at its very best in each of the four seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, or a portfolio of up to four from just one season. Each image needs to capture the essence of each season together with the wildlife subject, from any British location. The portfolio must work together as a set, themes are also encouraged. Each portfolio can either be four seasons or a single season. Category sponsored by RSPB.

Documentary Series

The documentary award can be a sequence of images of any British wildlife, conservation or environmental issue. The judges will be looking for innovation in story telling, within a portfolio of up to six images.

Wildlife on Video

The judges will be looking for the most inspirational and dynamic sequence (up to a minute) which clearly illustrates the unique power of video as a medium for capturing British wildlife. Any aspect of British wildlife will be considered. Category sponsored by Canon.

Some typical (and not exclusive) examples of short films:

• Creating a memorable portrait of a British wildlife species
• Highlighting a specific conservation issue related to British wildlife
• Showing unusual or remarkable behaviour
• About an individual animal such as a local fox who visits your garden or a special rescue case
• On a specific area or reserve that is special to you

Competition Fees

Credits (£5 per credit)

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The Nature’s Best Photography concept began with simple yet dynamic goals: to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature through the art of photography, and to use this far-reaching medium as a creative tool for encouraging greater public interest in outdoor enjoyment and conservation stewardship.

The annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards program evolved from this ambitious mission to become one of the most highly-respected and visually compelling nature photography competitions in the world. More than 25,000 entries are received and judged each year in the International Awards.

Finalists will be published in Nature’s Best Photography magazine. A selection of winners of each category and Highly Honored images will be on display in an exhibition at the Smithsonian.

Entry Fee: $25

Prizes

Prizes vary from contest to contest, but if your image is selected it will be published in their high-quality print magazine (sold at the Smithsonian) and you will receive exposure if you are selected to be featured in the Smithsonian’s website, on Pixcetera, MSNBC, New York Daily News, or Discovery photo galleries, as well as Audubon, Divers Alert Network, and others. Also, if you are a category winner or highly honored in a category of the Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition, your image may be enlarged and framed and displayed in their annual photo exhibition in one of the most prestigious and most highly-visited museums in the world.

Categories

AFRICAN WILDLIFE: Wild animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc.) photographed on the African continent including Madagascar and offshore island groups, taken in their natural habitat.

(SPONSORED BY THE AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION)

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.

CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR: Nominate a CPY recipient at www.naturesbestphotography.com/competition_conservation.php

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

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.

(SPONSORED IN MEMORY OF OCEAN EXPLORER AND SUPPORTER, STEVE DROGIN)

PEOPLE IN NATURE: People enjoying the outdoors: Adventurers, backpackers, kayakers, divers, hikers, climbers, sitting around the campfire, caving, skiing, running, skydiving, etc., in natural settings.

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

POWER OF NATURE: Dramatic images that illustrate the power of nature, from hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and more. We are also looking for the aftermath, displaying what is left after these natural events, to the rescue, cleanup, and recovery that follows. We may also select a sequence of submitted images that cover the entire story behind a particular event.

(SPONSORED BY THE HOWARD G.BUFFETT FOUNDATION)

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

WILDLIFE: Wild animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.—Birds are a separate category, see above) photographed within their natural habitat anywhere in the world outside of Africa.

(NOTE: 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. NOTE: Please be sure to include your date of birth and current age on your entry form.

(SPONSORED BY BROOKE MORROW FOR ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL)

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 and acredited by American Zoo Assocaiton (AZA) or the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA). Please check the complete AZA list at www.aza.org and the complete WAZA list at www.waza.org.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Now in its 47th year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase for the very best nature photography. The competition is owned by two UK institutions that pride themselves on revealing and championing the diversity of life on Earth – the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Being accepted into this competition is something that wildlife photographers, worldwide, aspire to. Professionals win many of the prizes, but amateurs succeed, too.

Each year tens of thousands of entries are received and judged by a specially selected expert panel. The winners are announced at an awards ceremony that takes place each October at the Natural History Museum, London.

Prizes

• The overall winner of the title of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 will receive £10,000.
• Each adult category winner will receive £500 and each runner-up will receive £250.
• Special Award winners will receive £1,000 and each runner-up will receive £500.
• The overall winner of the title of Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year will receive £500 and attend a day’s tailored masterclass with a leading nature photographer.
• Each young category winner will receive £250 and each runner-up will receive £100.

Closing date for entries: 18 March 2011

To enter the competition, you will need:

• a valid email address
• your credit/debit card details if you are entering the Adult competition
• a broadband internet connection

How to enter

1. Register for your unique entry code in the Adult or Young competition.
2. Login using your unique entry code.
3. Upload your images

Entry fee for the Adult competition is £20.
Entry to the Young competition is free.

Categories

1. Animals in their Environment

Images in the behaviour categories must show how the animal fits into its natural home and must convey a sense of place. Remember, the environment is as important 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 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 a dramatic action.

5. 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.

6. Animal Portraits

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

7. In Praise of Plants and Fungi

Pictures should capture the beauty and importance of plant life in its natural habitat. Judges will be looking for artistic merit and creativity rather than a simple scientific record.

8. Urban Wildlife

Pictures must show wild plants or animals in an obviously urban or suburban environment. Look for subjects on your doorstep and capture images that are unusual, poignant, beautiful or striking compositions.

9. Nature in Black and White

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. Dodging, burning and toning are allowed. The subject can be any wild landscape, animal, plant or other living organism.

10. Creative Visions of Nature

Judges will be looking for a well-defined thought process, originality and an attempt to convey a deeper understanding of nature and wildlife through a conceptual vision of the world. Images should be surprising, artistic, perhaps even abstract or ambiguous, but nevertheless executed to exacting standards.

11. Wild Places

This is a category for landscape photographs. Judges will be looking for beautiful light, a true feeling of wildness and a sense of awe. Stitched images and panoramics are allowed.

Special Awards

Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year

This award is for a memorable story told in 6 images. All subjects covered by other categories in the competition are eligible, whether featuring animal behaviour or environmental issues (positive or negative). The story should work without the aid of words and will be judged on the picture quality as well as the power of the story itself.

Eric Hosking Award

This award encourages and rewards the talents of young photographers between the ages of 18 to 26. You must submit a portfolio of 10 images that you think represents your very best work.

Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife

This important award raises awareness of endangered species through photographic excellence. Species (both animals and plants) photographed must be categorised in the 2010 IUCN Red List as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened at an international or national level (if the latter, please supply details). Images must be memorable and capture the unique character or spirit of the subject.

Visit www.iucnredlist.org
Supported by www.arkive.org

One Earth Award

Photography plays a critical role in conservation, and this award seeks to highlight conservation issues or actions. Don’t merely rely on the shock value of your subject: judges will be looking for genuine photographic merit. Don’t forget 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.

Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Images must show wild animals, plants or landscapes. The judges will be looking for original, beautiful or striking shots rather than rare or exotic subjects. There are 3 age groups: 10 years and under; 11-14 years; and 15-17 years.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The International Aperture Awards is Running the World’s Richest On-Line Photographic Competition With a Total Prize Pool of USD$200,000 and a Massive USD$100,000 for the Winning Image! Early Entry Fee is $250 during September, Regular Entry Fee $290. Online Entries Open Monday 1st September and Close Wednesday 29th of October.

The International Aperture Awards on-line photography competition is open to ALL professional and aspiring photographers, photographic students and anyone with a hidden gift for capturing a winning photograph. Enter up to four images from the following categories for your chance to win – People and Portrait; Sport; Landscape; Science and Nature; Commercial/Advertising; Abstract/Illustrative; Photojournalism/Press.

In addition, there will be a People’s Choice Award so everyone can become involved, photographers and viewers alike. The Entry voted the People’s Choice will receive USD$10,000 and four (4) Voters in the People’s Choice Award, selected at random, will each receive USD$1,000.

A team of a 100 international industry professionals will judge the photos. Along with an overall winner, the top five entries from each category will be selected and the following prizes awarded:  USD$6,000 (1st prize), USD$3,000 (2nd prize), USD$1,000 (3rd prize), USD$500 (4th Prize), USD$250 (5th Prize). And for the photographers just outside the winners circle, there are internationally recognized Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze merit awards to be earned for high scoring images.

If you think you have what it takes to capture a winning photograph, get your entries in on-line from September 1st till October 29th 2008.  The entry fee is USD$250 throughout September (the early bird special) and then rises to USD$290 during October.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope. For over 30 years, Nikon has rewarded the world’s best photomicrographers who make critically important scientific contributions to life sciences, bio-research and materials science.

The Nikon Small World Competition is open to anyone with an interest in photography through the microscope. Truly international in scope, entries have been received from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Winners have included both professionals and hobbyists.

The subject matter is unrestricted and any type of light microscopy technique is acceptable, including phase contrast, polarized light, fluorescence, interference contrast, darkfield, confocal, deconvolution, and mixed techniques. Entries submitted to Nikon are then judged by an independent panel of experts who are recognized authorities in the area of photomicrography and photography. These entries are judged on the basis of originality, informational content, technical proficiency and visual impact.

Winners will receive one of 20 prizes, sorted according to rank in the competition. First prize is $3,000 toward the purchase of Nikon equipment. In addition, the winner is invited to attend an awards presentation ceremony in New York City as Nikon’s special guest.

The subject matter is unrestricted and any type of light microscopy technique is acceptable, including
- phase contrast
- polarized light
- fluorescence
- interference contrast
- darkfield
- confocal
- deconvolution
- mixed techniques

Deadline for Entries: April 30, 2008
Prize winners will be notified by August 15, 2008.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Update: Sony World Photography Awards 2009 

The World Photography Awards, sponsored by Sony, is an international showcase of the best images taken by renowned and undiscovered photographers alike. From landscape to music and photojournalism to fashion photography, the WPA is the first awards of its kind and is supported by hundreds of the industry’s top photographers, critics, gallerists, directors, founders and more.

Featuring eleven different categories, both professional and amateur photographers will be invited to enter work to the World Photography Awards from 9th October 2007 until mid-January 2008. The winners will be announced at a black tie awards ceremony in Cannes at the Palais des Festivals on 24th April 2008.

The aim of the World Photography Awards is to unearth the images of the future while paying tribute to the visions of the past. “Photography plays a vital role in defining and documenting the world around us”, says Shaun Dorrington, General Manager, Sony Digital Imaging, “and by sponsoring the inaugural World Photography Awards we can support talented photographers across the globe and give them the recognition they deserve.”

The awards and subsequent exhibition will become to photography what the Oscars are to the film industry. With an annual ceremony and black tie gala taking place on the prestigious Cote d’Azur, the World Photography Awards is set to become the largest and most important awards in the industry.

For the inaugural year, the World Photography Academy will comprise of over one hundred of the most respected photographers, critics, picture editors, gallerists and other industry leaders, including Phil Stern (US), Terry O’ Neil (UK), Chien-Chi (China), Sylvia Plachy (Hungary), Carl de Keyzer (Belgium) and Esko Mannikko (Finland).

Members of the academy will form the judging panel for the awards, and winners will automatically gain membership to the academy. The academy will be governed by the Honorary Board which comprises of eleven members, including Tom Stoddart, Mary Ellen Mark, Bruce Davidson, Martin Parr, Elliott Erwitt, Susan Meiselas and Stephen Cohen. These eleven board members will represent the academy, promoting excellence within photography and setting the standard for award selections.

Providing an unprecedented international platform in the world of photography, the aim of the World Photography Awards is to unearth the images of the future while paying tribute to the visions of the past.

“It’s a great honour to be part of the inaugural Sony World Photography Awards. The awards will showcase the very best imagery from around the world and will undoubtedly inspire and excite anyone who is passionate about photography.” (Tom Stoddart)

World Photographic Academy
Some of the world’s leading photographers, public gallerists, curators and major picture editors have been invited to become members of the WPA. A full list of current academy members can be found on the website.

Categories
From the 9th October 2007, photographers both professional and amateur will be invited to submit work to be judged in the eleven different categories. From this the academy will nominate a shortlist of photographers who will then be invited to attend the awards ceremony. The shortlist will be announced in
February 2008.

The eleven categories are:

• Abstract
• Advertising
• Architecture
• Fashion
• Music
• Nature
• Nude
• Portraiture
• Photojournalism
• Science
• Sport

The Awards

Professional Awards
All submitted works will be judged by academy members and three finalists will be nominated in each of the eleven categories.

• l’iris d’or
• One photograph will represent the image of the year and win l’iris d’or which comprises:
• The title Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year as well as $25,000
• Entry into the World Photographic Academy for future years
• Exhibition showcase of winning image and 25 picture portfolio at the 2009 World Photography Awards
• Winning images exhibited on the World Photography Awards’ website and promoted to creatives worldwide
• Individual Category Awards
• Lifetime Achievement Award

Amateur Awards
The awards will be international and interactive, allowing people from across the world to submit photographs online via the WPA website to an amateur competition that will run in parallel to the Professional Awards. Each photographer can submit up to three photographs per single category. The site aims to create an online community and social network in which people can interact, creating a destination point for amateur photographers across the globe.

The awards night will be a black tie event bringing together the crème de la crème of photography and the media on 24th April 2008 in Cannes. An exhibition of all finalists’ work will be held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes from the 21st-25th April and will be open for public viewing.

World Photography Awards is delighted to welcome Sony as its headline sponsor.

“Photography plays a vital role in defining and documenting the world around us”, says Shaun Dorrington, General Manager, Sony Digital Imaging, “and by sponsoring the inaugural World Photography Awards we can support talented photographers across the globe and give them the recognition they deserve.”

Update: Sony World Photography Awards 2009 

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Capture an original ‘vision of science’ image on camera and you could have a winning entry for the UK’s premier photographic awards scheme for science and technology. The first prize is £1000 in each category and entries are invited from amateur and professional photographers alike. The competition will run from 23 April until 1 July 2007.

The photographic awards are organised by the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) and sponsored by the Science Photo Library and the Daily Telegraph to promote ongoing discussion about science and technology. Back for 2007, the competition has been expanded to reflect the broad scope of science within the fields of engineering and technology.

As John Morton, Chief Executive of the ETB explains: “We believe this competition is a great vehicle for communicating the importance of science and technology to our understanding of the world. It also allows the stunning world of scientific imagery to be broadcast to a wider audience.”

This year’s judging panel of scientists, photographers and picture editors will again be looking for striking images, giving new insights into the world of science and technology or the natural world. Indeed, the winning images could demonstrate a scientific phenomenon, a visual representation of data or possibly something which has never been shown before.

Previous winning images include a visual representation of a migraine, a balloon popping, the path of a pendulum over five minutes and a close-up of a grain of salt next to a peppercorn.

There are five main categories as follows:
Action Capturing a scientific, technological, engineering process or event as it happens in the natural world.
Close-up Revealing the world in a way that cannot be seen with the naked eye, which may include close-ups or satellite/astronomical images.
People Communicating the impact of science, technology, engineering or medicine on peoples’ lives.
Concepts Illustrating a scientific, engineering or technological concept which may include manipulated or generated images.
Art Illustrating the beauty of science, engineering or technology.

In addition, there are two special prizes this year, Best in Show will be awarded to the best overall picture and Young Photographer will go to the best under 18 entry.

Winners will be invited to an awards ceremony at The Royal Society on 20 September 2007 and the winning images will be published nationally.

http://www.visions-of-science.co.uk/

Competition Link / Set Reminder