The World Press Photo organization has announced the winners of its 2008 contest.

The overall winner, shown above, taken by Tim Hetherington shows an American soldier in Afghanistan. As with last year's awards, conflict is a common theme amongst the news category winners. The first place winner in the spot news category is a photograph taken by UK photojournalist John Moore at the exact moment a bomb explodes in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, killing Benazir Bhutto.

My favourite of the winners is the series of shots by Erik Refner of marathon runners taken at the finish line in the sports feature category.

Do you shoot film? Are you looking for an excuse to get out there and do something creative? Do you want someone to send you a roll of film? If so, this might be right up your alley...

The 36 Exposures Challenge

Our friends at File Magazine, Coudal Partners, and Flak Photo have put together a not-your-average-contest type of contest. From their site:

...we are asking you to use a film camera to explore Shore's concept of "conscious intentionality." Broadly speaking, we are challenging you to do two things: articulate a concept, project, or theme and then use a film camera to photograph the images to accompany it. There are, then, two parts: creating the idea and then acting on it. Sound interesting? Well, there is a catch (or two), and if you are interested, here are the rules...

Check out their site for all the details... The 36 Exposures Challenge

Fantasy & Fantasies
Transcending the rules of the known world. Be it fantasy or personal fantasies, opportunities for creativity are limitless.

Juried by Grace Norman, Exhibitions Director for The Center for Fine Art Photography
Submissions due online by midnight November 28th, 2006

DIA International Invitational Photgraphy Exhibition
This is an exclusive two month exhibition in Denver International Airport's Main Gallery
Open theme

Juried by Tim Anderson, publisher, CameraArts magazine
Submissions due online by midnight December 28, 2006

The Art Of Digital Imagery
The intent of this exhibition is to showcase photographic art created through the digital process. All images must be printed using any of the various digital printing processes.

Juror: George DeWolfe, Senior Editor for CameraArts magazine & Author: The Digital Fine Print Workshop and Contemplative Photography
Submissions due online by midnight January 16, 2007

For more information: The Center For Fine Art Photography

The Photomedia Center is now accepting submissions for The Holga Show, to be displayed in December, '06. All fine art photographers utilizing the fabulous Holga camera are invited to submit up to eight images. The deadline for submission is November 11 and there is no entry fee.

The Holga Show is sponsored, in part, by Light Leaks Magazine.

Good Luck!

Enter Photo Life magazine's Image International Photo contest and win one of 31 prizes, including the grand prize of a week long sailing adventure for two along B.C., Canada's Great Bear Rainforest, and much more!

Enter up to five images for each of the three categories: The Earth, The People, Their Lives, with maximum entry fee of $18 (Canadian) for all three categories.

Deadline is September 30, 2006...good luck!

The finalists in the BBC's Sport Snapper competition are up and you can vote for the winner.

At least one of the finalists is a photoblogger!

If you haven't seen the results of the 2006 Photobloggies yet have a look and check out the winners.

Some of the winners were announced at the Toronto Photobloggers meet up on Saturday night by the eloquent Rannie, with a couple of winners in attendence.

Congratulations to all!

Open to all students Microsoft's Future Professional Photographer contest has a grand prize of $20,000 in cash plus a computer, Canon 30D and enough gear to make your head spin. There are also 3 category prizes of $2,000, a 30D, a computer and more!

The deadline is May 31st, good luck!

The recently redesigned File Magazine has launched a Toy Camera Contest!

Prizes include a Lensbaby kit and a Smiley Cam, and the varied judging panel includes our own Sam.

Deadline for entries is June 15, good luck!

Hey, Hot Shot! is a quarterly contest held at Jen Bekman Gallery open to all photographers.

Caterina Fake, of flickr fame, and Eliot Shepard, photographer and photoblogger, are amongst the judges. There's a $45 entry fee and the deadline for entries is May 8th.

Winners from this year will be part of an exhibition at the gallery next year.