2008 is racing to a close and 2009 is ready to be born...With the New Year comes new beginnings, new hopes and brand spanking new days.

REFRESH could be a beautiful sunrise, or for some a sunset. A child born, a flower opening to the suns morning rays, a smile, a laugh or a wave crashing against a rock. Maybe it’s a glass of water, a backyard pool, a morning dip in the sea, a surf or a beer in the garden.

Alternately why not a bowl of fresh fruit or a sliced watermelon? The key is the composition needs to have an element in it which is considered to represent a moment of refresh/refreshment; mentally, physically or spiritually.

The winner of the World Press Photo of the Year, together with winners of first prizes (both for stories and for single images) in each category, receive a cash prize and a return air fare with hotel accommodation for the awards ceremony in Amsterdam.

World Press Photo of the Year Award The main overall prize, the World Press Photo of the Year, is awarded for the single photograph that is not only the photojournalistic encapsulation the year, but represents an issue, situation or event of great journalistic importance, and does so in a way that demonstrates an outstanding level of visual perception and creativity. It has come to be regarded as the most prestigious international award for photojournalism in the world.

Px3 Best New Talent (Non-Professionals and Students Only)
Non-professional photographers compete for the Px3 Best New Talent Award and 2,000 Euros. The winner’s work is publicized and exhibited in Paris and published in the Px3 Annual Book.

Certificates in all Categories
All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from both the professional and non-professional categories will receive a Px3 certificate, personalized press release, and a Px3 winner's logo for professional purposes.

Honorable Mentions
Px3 judges award several Certificates of Honorable Mention to both professional and non-professional entries to acknowledge talent as they deem fit.

Public Choice Awards
39,481 votes were tallied in the first annual Prix de la Photographie Paris. The names of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Subcategory Public Choice Winners are listed in the Px3 Annual Book.

PARIS EXHIBITION AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLICITY
Winning photographs from the 1st and 2nd place winners in each MAJOR category from both the professional and non-professional entries will be publicized and exhibited in Paris.

Px3 Annual Book
The work of the 1st and 2nd place winners from both the professional and non-professional Subcategories will be published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book (includes Major Category winners). The names of the Honorable Mention recipients and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Subcategory Public Choice Winners will be included as well.

Approximately 46 images will be selected for exhibition and awards will be given in 9 separate categories. A single image will be chosen as "Best in Show" and winning images will be selected from each of the seven categories. The public will have the opportunity to view all images selected for exhibition online beginning March 6, 2009 and vote for their pick for the Footsloggers People's Choice Award.

Best In Show (Grand Prize): Cash award furnished through proceeds and sponsor contributions
People's Choice Award: $350 cash award furnished by Footsloggers Outdoor and Travel Outfitters
Primary Category Winners: Winners of the 5 primary categories (Adventure, Culture, Environment, Flora/Fauna, and Landscape) will receive Mast General Store Prize Packages valued at $350
BRP Vistas Category: $200 cash award furnished by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
BRP Share the Journey®: $300 cash award furnished by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

Categories for the competition include: Adventure, Blue Ridge Parkway Share the Journey® - Dogs on the Parkway , Blue Ridge Parkway Vistas, Culture, Environment, Flora/Fauna, and Landscape.

Entries must feature nature. One category is site specific to preserves managed and/or owned by the Southern Conservation Trust. See the call for entries for details. If you are accepted you will have to send a framed print to the gallery.

PNY will also donate $20,000 to St. Jude in the winner's name.

The entrants can then vote on photos, and send the link to family and friends to vote. They only get one vote per email address per day. After the votes are tallied on January 31, the Grand Prize Winner will be chosen from the top ten entries by a panel of selected PNY and St. Jude staff.

Photos must be jpeg or gif format and not previously published.