Shutterbug Staff

Fujifilm announced its sponsorship of the Rainforest Alliance's first annual
`Picture Sustainability Photo Contest' to raise awareness around issues
of sustainability and conservation. US residents are invited to submit photos
illustrating sustainable agriculture, forestry and tourism. The Rainforest Alliance
is an international nonprofit conservation organization.



To qualify, photos must be submitted to www.raphotocontest.org/
by March 15, 2008. The winners will be announced on the Rainforest Alliance's
Web site (www.rainforest-alliance.org)
on April 18, 2008.



Winners will be chosen from the following categories:



Wildlife on farms, forests or other natural habitats

Landscapes (forests, waterways, flowers and plants, beaches,
wetlands)

Eco-tourism in Latin America (bird watching, hiking, surfing,
scuba diving, kayaking and other nature activities)

Macro (insects, flowers and plants, leafy vegetation, birds,
reptiles and amphibians, mammals, textures)

Conservation in action (people working to protect natural resources,
including water, flora and fauna)



"Images connect the general public to conservation," said Tensie Whelan,
executive director of the Rainforest Alliance. "We hope this contest will
engage people in sustainability, take them out of their back yards and foster
emotional connections with some of the world's most sensitive ecosystems."



"Fujifilm believes that sustainable development is the most important issue
for our planet, the human race, and all business entities in the 21st century,"
said Bert Aerts, president of Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals USA, and a member of the
Rainforest Alliance's board of directors. "Fujifilm's global
Green Policy aims to stay at the forefront of efforts to attain this goal in terms
of our company's impact on the environment -- and we are proud to partner
with the Rainforest Alliance in this unique effort."



One grand-prize winner and a guest will receive a seven-day trip to the Galapagos
Islands, including airfare, four nights on a cruise ship and two nights in Guayaquil.
Additionally, in May 2008 they will be flown to New York City to attend the Rainforest
Alliance annual gala as a guest of Fujifilm, to sit at their table and receive
a Fujifilm FinePix SLR-style digital camera. This professional model digital camera
is worth approximately $800 and is set to be announced by Fujifilm at the 2008
Photo Marketer's Association Show in February 2008. Round-trip airfare will
be provided for two from any major city in the US to New York City. A tour of
the city, lodging at an eco-friendly hotel for three nights and dinner for two
nights will also be included.



Five first prize winners, one from each category, will receive the same Fujifilm
FinePix digital camera as well as a book of photographs by award-winning wildlife
and nature photographer, Art Wolfe. In addition, up to seven exceptional photos
will be awarded honorable mentions and will receive a book of photographs by Art
Wolfe. The grand prize and first prize winners' photos will be framed and
auctioned off at the Rainforest Alliance's annual gala in May 2008 with
proceeds directly benefiting the organization. All winners will also receive an
honorary one-year membership to the Rainforest Alliance.



Rainforest Alliance staff members will select up to six finalists in each category.
Art Wolfe will select the winning photos based on overall composition, creativity,
artistic merit and relevance to the Rainforest Alliance mission.



Other sponsors of the photo contest include Ecuador-based tour operator Via Natura,
Green Spot travel agency, Guayaquil-based Hotel Oro Verde, Ecuadorian airline
AeroGal, Vermont-based energy company Native Energy and Art Wolfe.



www.fujifilmusa.com ...