Enthusiast digital SLR photographers have succeeded once again in showcasing, through Canon’s annual EOS Photo5 competition, the incredible talent and creativity that Australians possess. Today the five winners as voted by the public were revealed.

The winners’ images expose a variety of creative journeys and inspiration from mysterious settings and private moments to beautiful silhouettes and colourful displays of action.

This year participants received a box with four objects (which had to be shot using a particular photographic technique) as well as a fifth ‘open brief’ that allowed those who had missed out on receiving an official EOS Photo5 box to still participate. Please find more detail regarding the 2009 briefs at the end of this release.

Now in its third year, EOS Photo5 appeals directly to the passions and creativity of Australians and its appeal is overwhelming. Due to the popularity of the competition, Canon introduced a new open brief category in order to accommodate the number of people keen to get involved. With this new category Canon saw 8,467 participants take part.

“Once again the EOS Photo5 competition has surpassed all expectations, both in the sheer number of creative and inspired people that Australia has, as well as the talent and quality of the works they produce,” says Chris Macleod, Brand Manager – EOS, Canon Australia. “The EOS Photo5 competition is one we will continue to invest in as it is truly unique and representative of what the EOS digital SLR brand is all about - pushing the boundaries of creativity and photographic excellence.”

The EOS Photo5 judges, comprising professional and highly-respected photographers, found selecting the 50 finalists (10 per category) extremely difficult thanks to the high caliber of entries.

“Although I knew it wouldn’t be easy, I was thrilled to be asked to judge Canon’s popular EOS Photo5 competition this year,” says Chris Bray, Canon EOS Ambassador and professional adventure photographer. “I was truly amazed and inspired by the diversity and creativity of the many entrants; there was no end to the unique ideas and passions expressed. Thankfully the final winners were left to the public to decide!”

Every winner receives an EOS 5D Mark II Premium Kit (with EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM) and a trip to Queensland, hosted by Chris Bray. To view the entries and winners of this year’s Canon EOS Photo5 competition please visit the competition website and to hear others thoughts on the competition, head to the EOS blog .

The EOS Photo5 competition is one of the enthusiast photographer challenges offered on the World of EOS – EOS’s online world that exists to inspire photographers to express themselves creatively through photography.

Latest World of EOS Challenge – EOS 1wall

Today, Canon EOS also launches its latest enthusiast challenge, EOS 1wall , which complements the EOS Photo5 competition and provides an ongoing monthly challenge for photographers.

Each month, a different EOS professional photographer sets a theme for that month’s challenge and that same photographer will determine the winner. Enthusiast photographers have until December 7 to submit their shot for this month’s EOS 1wall ‘Expressions’ judged by Graham Monro.