Love, Shelter and Rock ?n? Roll are among the themes set to inspire budding, amateur and professional photographers in this year?s BBC News Photographer of the Year 2006 competition.
Voted for by BBC News website readers, the overall winner will be given the title of BBC News Photographer of the Year and the chance to shoot a photo-based story of their choice to go on display on the BBC News website. There will also be a separate prize given to the photograph that most catches the eye of the BBC News website team.
Phil Coomes, the BBC News Website Picture Editor said: “Our readers love to look at pictures and this is a chance to see their own work featured on the BBC News website. Last year we had over 12,000 entries, many of which were really strong and made the selection of twelve pictures for each round really tough.”
With a tip for readers wishing to enter this year’s competition he added:
“The trick is to work around the subject, don’t just go for the obvious and really push your photographic skills.”
Each category on the competition has a different closing date for entries this August and September:

Shelter 02/08/2006
Rock n Roll 09/08/2006
Uniform 16/08/2006
Technology 23/08/2006
Love 30/08/2006
Look up 06/09/2006

Following the closing date for each theme, the twelve best pictures will be selected the BBC?s picture desk and displayed in a picture gallery on the site. BBC News Website readers will then be asked to vote for their favourites.
The two photos that get the most votes will go forward to the final when readers will decide who is awarded the title of BBC News Photographer of the Year. Last year’s eventual winner was JP Trenque (image pictured opposite), with Martina Brandsetter coming a close second.
To enter the 2006 competition, snappers should send their pictures to the BBC at: yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Competition details can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/inpictures.