Future Pro Photographer contest prize packages — together valued at over $60,000 — designed to help student photographers take their first steps in the photography business.

Microsoft Corp. today announced it is now accepting submissions for the inaugural Future Pro Photographer photo contest. Students that are over 18 years old and enrolled at a two- or four-year degree-granting college or university are invited to enter this competition and to compete for a grand prize package valued at over $25,000 (U.S.) and three first-prize packages, one for each category, each valued at over $10,000.

Submissions in the three categories Nature & Landscape, People & Portraits and Fine Art will be judged by a panel including well-known industry insiders from Corbis Corp. (Patrick Donehue, vice president of Photographer Services), Digital Photo Pro Magazine (Christopher Robinson, editor) and the Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging (George Lepp, photographer and founder).

“Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to professional photographers to deliver technology and services on the Microsoft® Windows® platform that help them succeed in their business and enable their passion,” said Kostas Mallios, senior director, Office Rich Media Group at Microsoft. “We are especially proud that through this contest we can help talented student photographers realize their potential and make the jump from student to pro.”

“I’m excited that Microsoft and the contest sponsors are celebrating the hard work of the aspiring professional photographers with this competition,” said Douglas Ford Rea, professor and chairman of the photojournalism department at the Rochester Institute of Technology. “Professional photography is in a fast-paced period of evolution, and serious students want to be part of it.” Continue at source

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