Highland digital photo competition deadline fast approaching

Digital photography enthusiasts are reminded that the deadline for the Highland Exposure competition is fast approaching, with the deadline for submissions on May 1.

Anyone with a digital camera and a creative eye is invited to submit entries to 'Highland Exposure' organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Distance Lab - a new research institute for digital media technology based in the highlands.

The judges are looking for the most stunning and inventive expressions of distance in a contemporary Highlands and Islands context, with some sort of connection to Highland 2007's main themes:  arts, environment, heritage, language, science and sport.

The overall winner will receive a £250 prize with a further five entrants getting £100 each for 'honorary mentions'. A special prize will be awarded to photographers who are 17 or under.

Following the deadline for entries on May 1, all the photographs will be displayed on innovative digital interfaces developed by Distance Lab to be shown at an exhibition that will appear first at Castle Wynd (next to the tourist information office) in Inverness city centre in June.

Young photographers are particularly encouraged to make a submission and a special prize will be available for a photographer aged 17 or under.

Distance Lab chief executive Stefan Agamanolis, said: "Distance Lab was set up to address both technology and artistic creation. This competition will allow us to move away from the traditional static photographic exhibition so that, using digital technology, we can exhibit images in new and innovative ways.  The competition is designed to celebrate the modern Highlands and Islands through visual imagery and we are also keen to explore the theme of distance."

Entrants may submit as many photos as they wish.  Photos should be presented in JPEG form by May 1 using the entry form which appears on the competition website: www.highlandexposure.net   Anyone seeking further information should email info@highlandexposure.net