Press photographers across Scotland are being invited to give it their best shot in the 2007 First ScotRail Press Photography Awards.

These prestigious awards are open to staff, freelance, trainee and student photographers working primarily in Scotland.

More than 3,000 pictures were submitted last year across 14 categories including sport, features, celebrity and news.

Judges' chairman Ken Lennox said: "Newspaper readers look at pictures before reading the words, so the ability of a photographer to capture the essence of the story is crucial.

"The quality of entries last year was exceptional, with some of the winners going on to win at the UK Picture Editors Awards."

The closing date for submitting pictures is Wednesday January 16 and the awards ceremony will be held in Glasgow, in April.

There is £4,750 worth of cash prizes to be won, plus a number of photography assignments.

All entries must be uploaded online at the dedicated website - www.scottishppa.com

The public will get a chance to participate by voting for the best single shot in an 'Open' category.

The categories are:

Pictures entered must have been taken for use (although not necessarily published) between January 1 and December 31 2007.