The race is on for BBC Photographer of the Year 2005

This year the competition has several themes, beginning with My Friends and Family, the deadline for which is the 8th August. Other themes for this years competition, and the deadlines for each, are Fashion (22nd August), Power (5th September), Work (19th September), Environment (3rd October) and Spaces (17th October).

You are encouraged to interpret these themes as widely as you can, so let your imagination run wild! Don't just photograph the obvious - the more striking and eye-catching the image, the better. You can enter up to six pictures for each theme, and a round of voting will take place after the deadline for each theme.

The voting process will consist of the BBC picture desk selecting the eight best pictures from each theme, which will then be displayed in a gallery on the BBC website. Readers will then be able to vote for their favourites.

The two photographs that receive the most votes will then go into the final, which will take place on the 1st November, when you will decide who is to be named Photographer of the Year 2005.

The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to shoot a photographic story of their choice, which will appear on the BBC News website. They will also receive up to 400 from the BBC to contribute to the cost of the project. An additional prize will be awarded to the image that catches the eye of the judges.

Anyone wanting to enter the competition should send their photographs to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, putting 'Photographer of the Year' and the theme you wish to enter in the subject box of your e-mail. Photographs must be submitted in digital form, ideally in a Jpeg format with a height or width of around 800 pixels. Make sure you include your name and some background information to accompany your photograph, stating what the image is about.

Further information about the competition, as well as a full list of terms and conditions can be found here If you have any other questions about the competition please contact the picture editor at yourpics@bbc.co.uk.