New this year is an underwater category for images that have been captured using a professional housing, while the 'Up & Coming' category has been renamed 'Project//21' and is open to amateurs, students, assistants and young professionals who are 21 years old or younger.
In a big change to the format, which will see the competition open to more photographers than ever before, the decision has been made to allow entries from both medium format and 35mm-style DSLRs providing that whatever camera is used is delivering a minimum resolution of 16 megapixels. Those shooting with film are also eligible to enter, and by throwing the competition open in this way the hope is that it will encourage the largest entry ever and encourage still more of the world's great photographers to take part.
Applicants are invited to submit three images in one or more of the following categories: Fine Art, Landscapes/Nature, Wedding/Social, Portrait, Fashion/Beauty, Editorial, Products, Architecture, General, Wildlife, Project//21 and Underwater.
To qualify for categories other than Project//21, the competition is open to all photographers who have been active professionals for at least three years.
Submissions may be captured with digital or analogue medium, large format or 35mm system. All images must be submitted digitally (including full EXIF data) regardless of capture format.