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Today, The PGB Photo Award releases the names of the nominees and their pictures in the 2008 contest.  With a total of about 6,000 qualifying entries to go through, it proved to be a real challenge for the jury members.

-I am proud that the results have by far exceeded my expectations, says Jonas Lemberg, founder of the PGB Photo Award.

Over 2,300 photographers from 70 different countries have participated in the contest. The final jury spent four long days in Stockholm examining the submitted pictures. -The quality of the pictures was astonishingly high, considering that this is the first year of the PGB Photo Award. I am very impressed, said David Doubilet, part of the 2009 jury.

There are three awards in each category: 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize. Nominated photographers will receive one or more of these prizes. The final results are secret until the prize ceremony at Lydmar Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden on March 8th, 2009. There is only one winner in each of the categories Photographer of the Year and Picture of the Year, i.e., 1st prize only.

The PGB Photo Award is a unique project with the goal of making a difference in the world through the impact of photography. This project will give donations to causes which are reflected in the award winning pictures. The annual contest is open to everyone in the world and has twelve categories.  Entries were accepted until January 12, 2009 and then judged by two International juries (a pre-jury and a final jury).  The total prize amount is $30,000 (USD). The PGB Photo Award is financed through sponsors, entry fees and donations.

The nominated photographers and their agencies are:

Oded Balilty, AP

Alvaro Ybarra Zavala, Vu agency

Walter Astrada, AFP

Andy Spyra

Pieter ten Hoopen, Vu agency

Espen Rasmussen, VG/Panos

Lars Lindqvist, DN

Casper Hedberg, Kontinent

George Abdaladze, AP

Luiz Vasconcelos, A Critica

Siddhardha Garige

Christian Holst, Reportage by Getty Images

Jim Bourg, Reuters

Corey Rich

Felipe Morales

Magnus Laupa, Kontinent

Hans Strand

Lauren Greenfield, VII

Annelie Pompe

Jenn Ackerman

Staffan Widstrand

Christian Vium

Benjamin Lowy, VII network

Emilio Morenatti, AP

Daniel Berehulak, Getty Images

Robert Henriksson, SvD

Adam Pretty, Getty Images

Niels Ahlmann Olesen, Berlingske Tidene