C'wealth photography competition

The theme for the award this year is 'Achievement'.

This is an open competition for all Commonwealth residents. The deadline is January 17, 2007.

The photographs will be judged on the interpretation of the theme as well as technical quality, said a press release.

The Canberra Times, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, The Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Secretariat, Toronto's Globe and Mail and the Royal Commonwealth Society have jointly organised the event to promote photography as an important form of media.

There are two new categories of the competition -- 'The Canberra Times/CPU Photographer Award' offered to a young person (aged 21 to 25 on January 17, 2007) from a developing country. The prize is a three-week photographic residency at the newspaper's offices in Canberra, Australia.

There will also be several exhibitions taking place in Commonwealth cities and featuring the winning images. The first will be in London in March 2007.

"Three Pictures-One Story" invites entrants to create a storyboard. The purpose is to tell a story of achievement in three pictures. The prize for this award is 250 pound sterling.

The overall winner of the Commonwealth Photographic Awards will receive 1,000 pound sterling and further prizes will be awarded to the regional winners.

For rules, criteria and the full details on the awards, plus winning photographs from previous years, please visit www.cpu.org.uk and click on the picture link.