Nokia Photo Contest

Top cell phone company Nokia has launched a cell phone photography contest. Nokia is looking the show off the quality of it’s camera phones and locate new talent. Five professional photographers have been selected to judge the contest. The winners of the contest will get to spend the day with the photographers in additional to other prizes. The deadline for the contest is Dec 16th 2005. No specific categories have been outlined.

For more information on the Nokia Nseries "See New Competition," visit www.SeeNew.com.

Read the BBC article about the contest below.

Camera phone competition launched

A photography competition has been launched to find the best images taken with a camera phone.

Organiser Nokia has challenged five international photographers to inspire entrants with what can be done using a camera phone.

As well as showing off the potential of camera phones, Nokia is hoping the competition could uncover new talent.

Analysts predict that, by 2010, 77% of mobiles will come with a built-in camera.

Different angle
Mobile phone companies are hoping to steal market share from camera manufacturers as people become increasingly used to using camera phones.

The photographers involved in the competition are looking forward to seeing the results.

"I want to be surprised and I'm excited to see what people will do with it," said Nick Waplington, a London-based photographer.

"Photography as a medium has developed to the point where it's around us, in all maners, at all times. Camera phones have played a big part in this, pushing the boundaries of when and how," he said.

For him, the experience of using a camera phone has taught him that flashy equipment is not always necessary.

"I had to find out what the camera could do and then I played to its strengths. I found I took a lot of shots in the evening of candid situations," he said.

The five photographers - including Juergen Teller, American Philip-Lorca DiCorcia and Indian documentary photographer Raghu Rai - will be judging entries and offering the winner the chance to spend a day with them assisting on a photoshoot.

There are no specific categories and five winners will eventually be picked from five geographical areas including China, India, Europe and America.

The competition is open to anyone over 18 with any type of camera phone. The deadline for entries is 16 December 2005. The winners will be announced early next year.