Energizer and its Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium batteries are teaming up again with the National Geographic Society for the fourth annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest, giving photographers the dream opportunity to see their photo appear in an ad in the acclaimed pages of National Geographic magazine and – for the first time – winning their choice of three inspiring trips at different locations across the globe.

The program brings together the society dedicated to inspiring people to care about the planet with the company rooted in developing products that offer high performance with more responsibility. Energizer brought the world’s first mercury-free alkaline batteries to market, commercially available since 1991, and now Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium batteries last up to 8x* longer in digital cameras, so you can use up to 8x fewer batteries and create less waste for the planet. A dedication to performance and responsibility is the backbone of the new communication platform at Energizer called now that’s positivenergy_™.

This year the winner of the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest gets to play a role in selecting what part of the world’s beauty they want to enjoy. For the first time, Energizer and National Geographic are letting the Grand Prize Winner choose their dream trip location – the three options include an Alaska cruise of the state’s remote wilderness, a Moroccan odyssey spanning the sea to the Sahara or a 12-day journey into the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

First, photo enthusiasts must enter their best shots at www.nationalgeographic.com/lithium. They can enter a photo by June 30 in each of the six thematic categories: animals/wildlife, nature/weather, travel/cultures, family/community, arts/music and action/energy. From there, 20-year National Geographic photographer and contest judge Jim Richardson will review all of the entries and select two finalists in each Category. Then, from Aug. 15 through Sept. 15, the public will be asked to go online and vote for their favorite in each category. Once the Category Winners are determined, Richardson will help choose a Grand Prize Winner, to be announced on or about Nov. 8.

Only one person will be named the Grand Prize Winner but each of the six Category Winners will receive a prize pack valued at approximately $1,000 that includes an EPIC Action Video Cam, a Nikon digital camera, a Litepanels Micro® camera light, an Energizer_® Lithium flashlight, an Energizer_®Lithium Headlight, two books from the National Geographic Collection and an assortment of Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium batteries.

“I rely on Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium because it gives me the peace of mind to know I have power when I need it,” said Richardson. “It’s great to also have peace of mind on another level knowing that when I’m using a battery that lasts up to 8x* longer in digital cameras, I’m also helping to create up to 8x less waste because I am using fewer batteries.”

Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium batteries are the world’s longest-lasting AA and AAA batteries in high-tech devices. They last up to 8x longer* in digital cameras, and up to 2x longer* in flash units than Energizer_® MAX_®, the company’s flagship alkaline brand. The batteries also last longer in portable GPS units and LED flashlights.

Along with a storage life of 15 years, Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium batteries are 33 percent lighter than ordinary alkaline batteries and perform well in extreme temperatures from -40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 to 60 degrees Celsius), making them ideal for photographers who are on-the-go.

Entry into the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest begins May 17, 2011, at 12 a.m. ET and ends June 30, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Photos must be submitted online. No print or film submissions will be accepted. Richardson will review the entries based on the following criteria: extent to which photo captures the essence of the theme selected (25 percent); impact and creativity (50 percent); and composition, clarity and technical quality (25 percent).

Energizer was also generous enough to allow me to host a contest strictly for my readers...no photo submission involved!  Just read the rules below and enter to a win a Desktop Mini Digital Photo Frame powered by two Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium AAA batteries!