Welcome to the 3rd annual American Photo Images of the Year Competition. This year's contest topped all others in the number of entries, which came to us from around the globe. As you will see, the imagery we looked at is extraordinary.

This photo contest differs from others in the breadth of the subject matter we call for -- from war photography to advertising work, from student work to nature imagery. Our contest also looks at work by pros and amateurs alike.

This year, for the first time, all the entries were received, and judged, online. The editors of American Photo did the first two rounds of judging. The final round was judged by three distinguished names in photography: veteran photo editor Laurie Kratochvil, based in New York City; Boston-based photographer and educator Henry Horenstein; and David Fahey, director of the Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles.

Winners in the six categories will share $10,000 in prizes. A Grand Prize winner will be announced at a special event in New York in December and here at PopPhoto.com.

Credits (clockwise from top left) Steven Meisel, Callie Shell, Chang Kyun Kim, Felix Hug, Walter Astrada, Mona Kuhn

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