Microsoft has announced the inaugural Microsoft Future Pro Photographers Photography Contest. It's open to photographers 18 years or older who are currently enrolled in a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree granting college or university.

The grand prize is US$20,000 in cash plus thousands of dollars worth of computer hardware and software, including a Canon EOS 30D, a Dell workstation computer, an Epson Stylus Photo 2400 printer, and Adobe Creative Suite 2. A personal portfolio review by the Corbis photo agency is also included.

Entries will be accepted online only, and the submission period is May 1st through May 31st.

Contest Link

Microsoft amends the entry rules: »www.robgalbraith.com/bins/conten···94-8320

The revised clause should make entering the contest more appealing for student shooters concerned that if they didn't win, they were granting full picture usage rights to the company for free.