Now live for students

Mar 8, 2010 10:54 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has been offering hobbyists and professional photographers various chances to get their images as the default background for the Bing search/decision engine, and the Bing Earth Day Photo Contest needs to be added on the list. However, entries in the Bing Earth Day Photo Contest are limited to students starting with the age of five. And just in case the name is not a dead giveaway, the Bing Earth Day Photo Contest is Microsoft’s way of participating in the celebration of Earth Day, April 22nd.

“The Bing homepage helps people explore and learn about the world every day. We're giving students across the country the opportunity to win great prizes for themselves and their school, and help educate others too. The grand prize winner's photo will be displayed on the Bing homepage on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22nd,” Microsoft stated.

Obviously, the contest is designed to create awareness around Earth Day and environmental problems. However, it is also a chance to nab some great prizes, in addition to having the winning photo featured as the wallpaper of Bing.com for an entire day. The first-place winner will also get “a trip to Seattle with a parent or guardian to meet with the Bing editorial team to select photos for the Bing.com homepage. An HP Pavilion desktop and monitor. Your school receives a Digital Photo Lab: - 12 HP Pavilion desktops, 12 monitors, 3 PhotoSmart Printers, 10 paper and ink value packs and 3 Canon Rebel EOS Cameras,” according to Microsoft.

Second-place and third-place winners will all be receiving an HP Pavilion desktop and monitor, but the no. 2 position prize also involves a Digital Photo Kit, while the bronze winners will receive a Digital Photo Starter Set for their schools. Microsoft will offer the three prizes for all group categories by age, namely ages 5-10, 11-13, 14-17, 18+. However, a single winning photo will be selected as the Bing.com background.

“To celebrate Earth Day, we're looking for you to show us something you find inspiring about the environment. Your photographs can be of anything relating to nature, the environment, the ‘great outdoors,’ and anything else you think relates back to Earth Day. If you'd like to take a photo of a man-made structure or something that reminds you of conservation but isn't directly linked to the environment, just make sure that we don't see the name of a brand anywhere on the photo (ex. a logo on a soda can, or the name of a car, etc.) For more detailed photo guidelines, please read below,” the company added.