Imagine, the UK’s fastest-growing consumer specialist publisher, is pleased to announce the launch of the Digital Photographer of the Year Awards 2008. Working in conjunction with industry giant Fujifilm, the second DP awards will be introduced to the public in Digital Photographer 72, on sale 17 July 2008.

In the extremely competitive market, up-and-coming photographers can find it hard to get their work noticed; the Digital Photographer of the Year Awards 2008 aim to give a helping hand to talented individuals and showcase their talents. “Working in conjunction with some of the leading names in the photographic industry, our objective for these awards is to find hidden talent and expose it to the world,” explains editor, Debbi Allen. “Encompassing multiple genres of photography, the awards will showcase the high standards achieved by many enthusiasts and semi-professional photographers.”

This year’s categories will include Portrait, Landscape, Documentary, Travel, Black and White, Macro, Wildlife and Wedding, with one winner scooping the title of Digital Photographer of the Year and eight separate category winners.

All categories are open for entries from the 17 July 2008 and all categories will close to entries on 14 November. Winners will be announced in issue 78 of the magazine, on sale January 2009.

Theo Georghiades, Fujifilm’s Senior Product Manager says: “Fujifilm UK Ltd are very pleased to be sponsoring the Digital Photographer of the Year 2008.  Both Fujifilm UK Ltd and Digital Photographer share the same values in terms of quality, creativity and professionalism, and this makes the magazine an ideal partner for us to work with.”

The judging panel boasts Digital Photographer editor Debbi Allen, Imagine Publishing’s Creative Director and keen photographer Mark Kendrick, professional photographer and magazine contributor Mark Cargill and Fujifilm's Theo Georghiades.

The overall winner will receive a Fujifilm S5 Pro with the eight category winners scooping other Fujifilm cameras, models TBC.

2006 saw Digital Photographer magazine achieve its highest-ever individual issue sales figures, and this has continued into 2007 and 2008. It is now one of Imagine’s most successful magazines. Launched as the first semi-professional digital photography magazine by Paragon Publishing in 2002, it was subsequently acquired from Highbury Entertainment by Imagine Publishing in January 2006. An immediate programme of improvements including production quality, magazine direction and investment followed, with current editor Debbi Allen taking over the magazine in August 2006.

For more information go to www.dphotographer.co.uk/competitions_2008.php