Before you enter, please read these contest rules:

1. To enter, contestants must submit four photographs—a people shot, a product shot, an action shot, and one photograph of any type or style you wish.

2. Entries must be sent as prints no larger than 11x17 inches. Entries sent as e-mail, CD/DVD or in other forms will not be accepted. Entries must be sent to: Photographer of the Year Contest, Popular Photography & Imaging, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. All entries must include the entrant's name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address written on the back of each print. Entries must also include the name and model of the camera and lens used to shoot each photo. If shot on film, the brand and type of film. If edited with software, the name of the image-editing software used, and how each photo was printed. All entries become the physical property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Entries must be postmarked no later than 12:01 a.m. ET, April 1, 2005, and must be received no later than noon, April 5, 2005.

3. Contest is open to amateurs and pros. To be eligible to enter, you must be 18 years or older at the time of entry. Employees of Sponsor, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc., publisher of Popular Photography & Imaging magazine and popphoto.com and their immediate families are not eligible to enter or win.

4. The staff of Popular Photography & Imaging magazine will judge the qualifying entries and select 10 Semi-Finalists. Entries will be judged equally on creativity, technical expertise, aesthetic value, and demonstration of photographic versatility. The decisions of the judges are final.

5. Beginning April 18, 2005 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ending noon ET May 31, 2005, all four submissions from the 10 Semi-Finalists will be posted on www.popphoto.com and unique visitors to the site during that time period will vote for their favorite entrant. Contestants and their immediate families are not eligible to vote. Voter's computers will be cookied to prevent repetitive voting.

6. The top three vote-getters ("Finalists") will be notified via e-mail or mail on or about June 1, 2005 and will win a trip to New York City during the week of July 11, 2005 to participate in the Popular Photography & Imaging Photographer of the Year Shootout. Winners may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, grant of rights, and a publicity and liability release within 10 days of notification, or alternate winners will be selected (alternate will be next highest entrant).

7. Finalists must be available in New York City from July 11 through 15, 2005 for the Shootout. In the event that one of the Finalists cannot attend the Shootout, another will be chosen from the 10 Semi-Finalists, based on the number of votes received. Each Finalist will receive transportation from his/her home area to New York City. Airfare will be a round-trip coach-class ticket supplied by Sponsor. Hotel accommodations and a daily stipend of $125 will also be provided for each Finalist participating in the Shootout from July 11-15, 2005. All other expenses are the responsibility of the Finalists.

8. In the Shootout, Finalists will be given various photographic assignments that they must complete using their best judgment and creativity. From these assignments, the judges from Popular Photography & Imaging will choose one winner based equally on creativity, technical expertise, aesthetic value, and demonstration of photographic versatility. The decisions of the judges are final.

9. By entering and/or accepting a prize, contestants release and agree to hold harmless Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. and its directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind, including death, arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize or participation in this contest.

10. The winner of the Shootout will receive $5,000 cash. The winner also will have a chance to photograph the camera of the editors' choosing for the cover December 2005 of Popular Photography & Imaging. If completed to the satisfaction of the judges, this assignment will earn the winner an additional $1,000 and may end up being published on the cover.

11. By entering this contest, you represent that your photographs are original and of your own creation, publication of the material will not violate the rights of any kind of any third party, and you have provided all necessary permissions and releases.

12. By entering this Contest, you agree to allow Sponsor to use your name, city and state, voice and images in connection with publication of your entry and for promotional purposes (except where prohibited), without review, notification, or approval.

13. By entering this contest, you agree to abide by the rules of this contest and to accept the judges' decisions as final. Submission of an entry and/or acceptance of a prize grants Sponsor, and third parties authorized by Sponsor, the exclusive, perpetual right to publish, use, edit, adapt, modify, excerpt and/or copy the entry for any and all purposes in any and all media currently in existence or hereafter developed without further compensation to you, which includes, but is not limited to the right to, the right to publish the entry in Popular Photography & Imaging magazine and on popphoto.com and to use your entry as we see fit in exhibitions and promotions of Popular Photography & Imaging magazine.

14. Income, and other taxes (if any), on the value of the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. A form 1099 will be filed with the IRS.

15. Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the voting process, the operation of the web site, www.popphoto.com, or who is otherwise in violation of the rules. Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Contest if it is not capable of completion as planned due to, for example, infection by a computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort. In the event of early termination of the voting, Finalists will be selected based on all eligible votes received at the time of termination. In no event will Sponsor be responsible for any damages or losses arising out of access to and use of the web sites or the downloading from and or printing material downloaded from said site. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete or misdirected entries.

16. The name of the winner will be published in the November 2005 issue of Popular Photography & Imaging. It also will appear on www.popphoto.com on or around October 15, 2005. The winner's name will also will be available upon request after October 15, 2005. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Sponsor: Popular Photography & Imaging magazine—Photographer of the Year Contest, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc., 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Residents of VT may omit postage.

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