UK-wide photo competition aims to discover new talent and the images that define Britain today

iStockphoto is pleased to announce the launch today of a nationwide photography contest in partnership with the Guardian to identify the defining images of Britainin 2010. With categories and cash prizes of £500 for Best Landscape, Best Urban, Best Culture and Good Stock – the most suited to stock imagery and an additional £1,500 prize for the Best of Competition. The competition is free to enter and is open to amateur and experienced photographers alike from across Britain.

Hosted by the Guardian in association with iStockphoto, the world’s leading microstock image photography site, at guardian.co.uk/istock-britain-is the Britain iS competition presents an open invitation to photographers of all stripes to showcase a unique photographic record of modern British life. Britain iS celebrates the British zeitgeist – capturing edgy urban scenes; green and pleasant landscapes; enduring traditions and popular events; singular moments; and the dizzying mix of faces and cultures which together help define the continuously evolving concept of Britishness today.

The winning images of the competition, which runs for six weeks from 28 January, 2010 through 11 March, 2010, will be selected from a shortlist of ten in each category by a jury comprised of leading experts in art, design and photography. These include the Guardian, Head of Photography, Roger Tooth; Simon Moran, UK Director of Photography for iStockphoto; Kelly Thompson, COO of iStockphoto and an independent expert from visual arts in the UK.

“As one of the most creative and diverse countries in the world, Britain has a lot to celebrate,” says iStockphoto’s Kelly Thompson. “We hope to encourage photographers to take a close look at what Britainmeans to them and together with the Guardian, provide a platform for sharing their unique vision with the rest of the country.”

Thompson goes on to say, “We’re expecting some very fierce competition from the creative community here, and we look forward to seeing a lot of terrific work.”

“We are very happy to be working with iStock on this photography competition, it is a good platform for our users to showcase their work on guardian.co.uk as well as an opportunity to win great prizes,” says Roger Tooth – the Guardian, Head Of Photography.

Moira Sinclair, Executive Director of Arts Council England’s London region says: “Photography is a compelling art form, a powerful way to help us connect with our environment and communities, and a great way for people of all ages and experience to express themselves and interpret the world. We hope that a wide range of photographers will want to get involved, and look forward to seeing what promises to create a really fascinating picture of the UK in 2010.”

Britain iS key dates

28 January            Competition opens in all categories at guardian.co.uk/istock-britain-is

25 February           Closing date for submission

3 March                   Shortlist announced

11 March                 Competition winners announced

Britain iS categories and prizes

www.guardian.co.uk/istock-britain-is/istock-photography-competition

£1,500 cash prize for Best of Competition

The single best image from all those entered in the Britain iS contest, will be named by the judging panel as Best of Competition.  You cannot sign up for Best of Competition category; qualification is automatic when you enter a photograph into any other category of the contest.

Cash prizes of £500 for the winning image in each of the following categories:

Urban

Images that represent an individual or characteristic aspect of urban Britain – or urban British life in 2010. Subjects may be interpreted as physical/geographical, within a particular city, or focus less specifically on a common urban theme.

Landscape

Images will demonstrate a good consideration to composition and light, as well as provide an interesting record of a definitive British landscape. This might include a unique or original take that makes reference to Britain in its second decade of the millennium.

Culture

Images representing an aspect of today’s cultural climate, as well as demonstrating technical photographic skill and understanding. Whether taking on a mainstream or underground theme, photos should explore British culture in an interesting and visually accessible way.

Good Stock

In this unique category, judges will look for creativity and design markers of a highly sellable stock image, such as those found on iStockphoto. A stock photograph is a ready-made photo available for anyone to license and use in their advertising or promotional material. A winning stock photo will illustrate specific things, concepts, or ideas, and lend itself to many different possible uses.