The AOP is delighted to announce the launch of the Call for Entries for the 2010 Photographers Awards – the most respected and prestigious competition for professional photographers worldwide. The deadline for online entries has been EXTENDED to midnight on Sunday 11th April

There are a great many photography competitions out there nowadays but the Photographers Awards is still regarded as the original and the best – a celebration of exceptional work by the industry’s elite. Building on this foundation, for 2010 we have introduced some bold changes to the Awards format to provide a more contemporary feel to the whole competition, while maintaining its distinguished heritage.

First, we have rescheduled the dates so that this year the Call for Entries commences in January, online entry opens in February, judging takes place from May to July and the exhibition is held during October, when the winners will be announced and the Awards Book will be launched.

Secondly, we have introduced a range of brand new categories (across Commissioned and Non-Commissioned work) including Innovation, which opens the Awards up to CGI and moving image, fields in which our AOP photographers are becoming increasingly involved.

As always, the competition is open to Full and Provisional Members of the Association of Photographers but this year, in a radical departure from the customary format, we have included a non-Member category, open specifically to commissioners of photography. The Best Commercial Use of Photography category will actively encourage industry creatives to get involved and will be judged in three sections: Advertising, Design and Publishing.

A full list of this year’s categories is below – we are sure that there is something here for everyone and that they will provide some fresh challenges to the whole industry!

Commissioned Advertising Innovation
Commissioned Design Best Commercial Use of Photography – Advertising
Commissioned Editorial Best Commercial Use of Photography – Design
Commissioned Documentary Best Commercial Use of Photography – Publishing
Non-Commissioned Body
Non-Commissioned Environment
Non-Commissioned Object

Finally, the online entry system will modernise and simplify the whole submissions process. Online entry opens on Monday 8th February and the deadline is midnight on Sunday 28th March. This year we have also reduced the entry fees across the board so that despite the rise in VAT it costs less to enter the competition than last year, plus if entrants submit their work by Sunday 21st February they can take advantage of our early-bird discount offer which gives them an extra reduction of around 15%.

While the above changes represent a movement away from the usual format, we have taken every step to ensure that the core values of the competition remain the same. As always, all the work will be judged by a team of respected industry professionals and overseen by a Chairman who will ensure that the process is fair and just, factors that have traditionally upheld the reputation of the competition.

The judges will, of course, be looking for images that convey beauty, creativity, technical skill and originality and all entrants will have the opportunity to win Best in Category. The winners will be announced in October 2010 when all the selected work will be showcased in the exhibition and the Awards Book, offering major exposure to art buyers and the creative industry as a whole. The selected entrants will also have an extensive presence on the Awards website www.the-awards.com.

Notes to editors:

Now in its 27th year, the AOP Photographers Awards is regarded as THE Awards competition within the photographic industry. Being selected for entry into the Awards Book and accompanying exhibition is considered to be one of the greatest accolades available to professional photographers, thus raising their profile with valuable contacts in the creative world.

The competition is run by the Association of Photographers Ltd (AOP) which is a not-for-profit trade association for commercial photographers, founded in 1968. Its aim is to promote and protect the worth and standing of its members and to defend and lobby for the interests and rights of all professional photographers. The Association also provides information services, education programmes, exhibitions and publications to support these activities.