Launch date: 4 July 2007
Visit: www.gettyimagesmybritain.co.uk

LONDON - 18th June 2007 - Identity and community evoke powerful emotions, ideas and images with people from all ages and backgrounds in the UK, however it is even more emotive for young people growing up around the country. Do Britain's youth share a similar perspective on life? What affects them emotionally? How important is family and their social group? What concerns them? Getty Images is addressing all of these questions by offering 13 to 18 year olds across the country the opportunity to express how they see themselves and their lives through My Britain, a unique photography competition that will go live on 4 July 2007. Entrants will be able to take part and submit their images that reflect their lives, communities and feelings of what it's like for a young person to live in today's Britain, by visiting www.gettyimagesmybritain.co.uk

The winner of Getty Images' My Britain competition will receive an exclusive one-day internship with a renowned Getty Images photographer in the area of his/her choice and will be able to choose from news, sport and entertainment photography or creative photography which is so visible in advertising. So the winner could find themselves shooting a Premiership football match from the sidelines, or may spend time in London covering one of the day's top news stories. They could even hobnob with the stars at a photo shoot of one of today's top celebrities in music or film.

Judging the competition will be a panel of experts from Getty Images, including creative guru, Lewis Blackwell, Getty Images' Group Creative Director; industry renowned Managing Editor of News, Hugh Pinney, Creative Planning Director, Rebecca Swift and Adrian Murrell, legendary cricket photographer and Global Vice President of Editorial. Leading photographer and Royal Photographic Society fellow, Tom Stoddart will also be on the judging panel. The judges will view each submission from the My Britain competition and will select a photographer from each region that they feel best expressed identity or their community through imagery. The judges look forward to viewing submissions that range from gritty and realistic to fun and creative, that will no doubt offer a unique insight into the competitors' lives.

Adrian Murrell, Global Vice President of Editorial at Getty Images, comments: "Regional identity is fantastically emotive and it will be fascinating to see the next generation's perspective on this very topical issue. Getty Images My Britain competition will encourage young people to channel their feelings of identity through the medium of photography and we hope it will provide a great platform for spotting some future stars in photography."

My Britain will run from 4 July until 15 September 2007. The shortlist of regional finalists from the South East, South West, London, West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, North East, Yorkshire, North West, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be announced in September 2007 followed by the announcement of the overall winner.

-Ends-

My Britain: Terms and conditions

What is "My Britain"?

1. By entering the competition you agree to the terms and conditions stated herein.
2. All entrants must submit images from the region, town or city in which they live. Images captured from different regions will result in disqualification. Proof of address will be required if entrant wins or is shortlisted.
3. The winner of the Getty Images "My Britain" competition will win a day's internship with a leading Getty Images photographer in the area of his/her choice, i.e. news, sport, entertainment or creative photography. The day's internship must be taken up by the 31 December 2007.

1. The competition starts on the 4 July 2007 and entries must arrive no later than 15 September 2007.
2. All entrants must be 13 to 18 years old on the closing date of the competition 15 September 2007.
3. Getty Images reserves the right to refuse any image/s that it deems to be inappropriate.
4. All images must be sent digitally; no hard copies will be accepted. Getty Images recommend that you take your pictures with a digital camera.

1. You will not be paid for your participation. Getty Images agrees that your images will not be used outside of the context of the competition and that Getty Images has no rights to use the images for commercial purposes.
2. The judges' decisions are final in all matters concerning the competition.
3. Competition results will be available from September 2007.
4. You will retain all copyrights in the images.
5. The images submitted to Getty Images will only be displayed as part of the 'My Britain' project. Entries will only be displayed and uploaded to the Getty Images My Britain microsite, www.gettyimages.co.uk/mybritain .
6. It is highly recommended that you keep a personal copy of the images you intend to submit to Getty Images as Getty Images does not warrant the images will be maintained on a Getty Images' website.
7. When collecting your personal data, Getty Images will comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, in particular all information submitted will only be used and stored by Getty Images and its contractors for the purpose of this competition and not be used to any third party.

1. The winner will be required to provide written parental consent and proof of identity.
2. The national exposure will focus on high-profile opportunities to showcase the initiative, such as an exhibition that will be managed by Getty Images, as well as media coverage in newspapers, magazines and online. So that we can ensure that your work obtains positive exposure where possible, we would ask that you would be prepared to support us in any media coverage we can generate about 'My Britain', by agreeing to talk about your work to relevant media who are interested in featuring the project.
3. The winning picture is going to be credited "Name of winner/Getty Images".
4. Getty Images will additionally cover the travel costs for the winner, and, if appropriate, their parent or guardian to travel to London. If the winner is unable to take up the first place prize of a day's internship, Getty Images reserves the right to award this prize to an alternative winner. Getty Images will substitute this prize with an exclusive print from the Getty Images Gallery. No cash alternative will be offered.