One of the world's fastest growing photographic competitions, CIWEM's Environmental Photographer of the Year, is drawing to a close with entries only accepted until 5.00pm on 31 July 2010.

Last year, the Environmental Photographer of the Year received 2,500 entries. The 2010 competition has already received hundreds of entries from photographers in over 40 countries, including the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Germany, Taiwan, Latvia, Mongolia, the USA and the UK. Images typically examine issues such as climate change, environmental degradation and social inequity or celebrate the incredible variety and beauty that exists within our natural environment.

The categories are:

Mott MacDonald's Changing Climates

The Natural World

Quality of Life

Innovation in the Environment (New for 2010)

The Underwater World (New for 2010)

A View From the Western World (New for 2010)

Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (Under 16 & Under 21)

EPOTY is open to photographers of any age and from anywhere in the world. Winners share a prize fund of £5,000 and all winning and highly commended entries are displayed in the free Environmental Photographer of the Year exhibition, to be launched on 25 October at the Air Gallery in Mayfair, London.

For all the details on how to enter and the exhibition, go to www.epoty.org.