Mumbai: EPSON, the digital imaging solutions and printer manufacturing, has announced its pan Asian photography contest, ''colour imaging contest 2005''. The event, which aims to promote digital imaging endeavours, offers Indian photographers a chance to compete with the best in Asia and compete for the prize money totalling approximately Rs65 lakh. Apart from India, Epson has invited participants from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea and Australia.

Says Tushad Talati, head, brand and communication, Epson India, "The Epson Colour Imaging contest is an annual feature that is gaining in popularity every year. Last year Indian photographers fared really well picking up eight prizes on offer including the grand prize runner up. Lets hope there are a large amount of entries and winners this year as well."

Held since 1994, the event attracted 105,033 entries last year of which 1,057 were from India. Eight photographers from India won prizes including the 500,000 Japanese Yen ''grand runner-up prize'' in the ''human life category''.

This year''s event features new categories such as a ''black and white print award'' and a ''camera phone snap award'', introduced in response to the trend in mobile phone imaging, in addittion to the existing ''colour imaging award'', ''nature and human life photo award'' and ''family snap award''.

The contest is on from June 1, to August 31s 2005 and winners will be announced mid-December 2005 on the Epson website at www.epson.co.in . All entries must be submitted to Colour Imaging Contest 2005, Epson India Pvt. Ltd., 12th Floor, The Millenia, Tower A, Murphy Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore 560 008.