The Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) 2008 competition is underway and looking for entries from amateur and professional photographers worldwide.

Launched in 2003, the competition is now one of the most recognised in the world, receiving entries from over 60 countries every year.

This year there are three portfolio categories - Life, Call of the Wild and Joy of Travel. There is also a one shot category, Destination Anywhere and Young TPOTY. New categories this year include First Shot: Wish You Were Here, for less experienced photographers, and three special £1,000 awards for Best Single Image in a Portfolio.

This year, top prizes include a place on the 2009 High & Wild Everest Skydive Expedition and Intrepid Travel trips to India, Cuba and to see the mountain gorillas of Uganda

Others prizes include a large format Linhof Technorama panoramic camera, Adobe professional imaging software, Wacom interactive pen displays and pen tablets, Lee filters, Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio books, PhotoIconic and Iridius photo courses, Lexar Professional CompactFlash cards and Dual-slot USB card readers and Pixfizz custom-built photography books.

All the winners and highly-ranked photographers will see their images feature in the new Travel Photographer of the Year book, Journey Three.

To enter, head over to the TPOTY website for an entry form. It costs £10 for a single image and £15 for a portfolio, while entry to Young TPOTY is free.

The competition closes on 9 September, so get snapping on your summer holidays this year.

>> Link - TPOTY