Photo contest: Find the essence of America

— -- USA TODAY and DiscoverAmerica.com are launching an online photo contest today to highlight iconic American images.

The contest, which will run through May 8, invites people to submit images that capture the essence of the USA and best represent it to foreign visitors. The photos from 10 finalists will be used in the U.S. Travel Association's Discover America campaign to promote the country internationally and displayed on DiscoverAmerica.com and USATODAY.com, and in USA TODAY.

"When it comes to encouraging travel, a picture's worth a million words, and we believe that featuring these authentic photos of our diverse and beautiful country will inspire even more foreign travelers to visit America," says association CEO Roger Dow in a statement.

DiscoverAmerica.com, launched by U.S. Travel in 2008, is the first official website that promotes U.S. tourism internationally. It is the result of a cooperative agreement between U.S Travel and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Many countries centralize their national tourism campaigns under cabinet-level ministries or other government agencies, however the USA does not.

DiscoverAmerica.com is available in five languages — English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese. It contains information about the 50 states, as well as booking tools and maps.

Contest photos can be submitted at pictureamerica.usatoday.com. Prizes for the three winners include a four-night stay at one of three resorts — Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, or Regal Sun Resort in Orlando — as well as an American Express gift card of $500. The first-place winner will also receive a Kodak inkjet printer.

The finalists will be selected by three judges: Mick Cochran, USA TODAY director of photography; David Griffin, National Geographic magazine director of photography; and Bob Krist, three-time winner of the Society of American Travel Writers' "Travel Photographer of the Year." USA TODAY readers will vote online for the three winners.