LONDON.- The Prix Pictet, recognised as the world’s leading photography competition on the theme of sustainability, today announced that they have received 643 nominations for work by photographers in 76 countries, including the most substantial ever showing of work from the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

An expert network of curators, picture editors, photographers, artists and collectors all over the world carefully assesses the work of hundreds of photographers each year, to produce the initial list of nominees.

The final selection for the 4th cycle of the Prix Pictet on the theme of Power will be presented to the Prix Pictet Jury in May 2012, who will announce their shortlist at Les Rencontres d’Arles on Wednesday 4 July 2012.

This year, reflecting the hugely increased audience for photography, for the first time, a major exhibition of the shortlisted works will go on show at the Saatchi Gallery in London, coinciding with the announcement on 9 October of the winner who will receive an award of CH 100,000 given by H.E. Kofi Annan, Honorary President of the Prix Pictet. The exhibition will run from 10 – 28 October 2012.

Speaking today, Michael Benson, Director of the Prix Pictet, said: “We have been hugely impressed by the quality and scale of interest in this year’s theme of Power, with its potential to uncover images and issues that are both awe-inspiring and disturbing. Through the vision of the world’s best photographers, as each year goes by, the body of work published and exhibited by the Prix Pictet becomes a more and more compelling document of the major issues facing our planet today.”

François Hebel, Director of Les Rencontres d’Arles, said: “Following the presentation last year of a major work by 2011 Prix Pictet winner Mitch Epstein at Arles, we are delighted to host the announcement of the 2012 shortlist in Arles, reflecting the position of the Festival as the foremost focus for the debate and exhibition of international photography in Europe.”