The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is asking residents of Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry, Lake, and Kendall counties to pull out their cameras and capture what they value about the region. They are looking for photographs in the following categories:

• Diversity (people, places, art, culture, food)
• Community Vitality (walkable, vibrant places; retail; neighborhood pride)
• Natural environment (lakes, rivers, preserves, parks, sky, wildlife)
• Architecture/Urban Design (plazas, buildings, neighborhoods, boulevards)
• Transportation (pedestrians, bikes, cars, boats, trains, planes, etc.)

A winner and a runner up will be chose in each category.

The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2009.

For more information, visit their website

Keep in mind with this contest that by entering a photo you grant CMAP rights to use your photo wherever, whenever, and however much they like without compensation.