Photography is meant to be looked at and admired, and what better ways are there to start showcasing your work if not by entering a photography competition? In this short article I will present you with several extremely large photography competitions currently open for entries, organized by World Photography Organization, Nikon, and the very prestigious National Geographic.
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The Encouragement Part
Before I begin listing categories and entry rules, there’s the part where I’m supposed to make you feel encouraged, make you feel like the good photographer that you are. But I have no magic words, no loud, heart-stopping speeches ready. I’m not going to tempt you with substantial prizes – it’s the participation that counts. There’s nothing I can do but ask – would you like to win? Would you like your work to be noticed and admired by professionals all over the world? Would you like to finally get off that comfortable chair of yours and do something exciting, learn and improve your skills as a photographer?
Submit your work, then. If you feel you have something worth showing, something you’re really proud of, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t, especially with two out of three competitions being completely free. There are many talented photographers among us and if you feel you’re one of them, this is a chance to be noticed.
An important note: if you are indeed interested in any of these competitions, or any other competition I failed to mention, be sure to read all the official rules, regulations and license agreements provided by the organizers before submitting your work. Be very thorough!
1) Sony World Photography Awards
These competitions are organized by WPO (World Photography Organization) and sponsored by Japanese electronics giant Sony. Below I will discuss all current competitions by WPO.
Open Competition
This competition is open for, quote, “photographers of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels”. Do note that if you enter Open, you are not allowed to participate in Youth Award and Professional Competition.
1) Price and Number of Submissions
- Basic Member: free, up to 3 photographs in a single category or spread throughout several categories;
- Advanced Member: up to 8 photographs in a single category or spread throughout several categories; £14.95 (British pounds) to register Advanced Membership account;
- Premium Member: up to 20 photographs in a single category or spread throughout several categories; £49.95 (British pounds) to register Premium Membership account.
2) Categories
There is a number of categories open for entry, ranging from Architecture, to Low Light, to Travel, with many in between. You are most likely to find something to suit your work. Don’t forget – you may enter several categories and increase your chance of winning.
Click here to go to official Open Competition website to participate or get more information.
Youth Award
This competition is open to anyone who is 19 or under. If you enter this competition, you are not allowed to participate in Open or Professional Competition.
1) Price and Number of Submissions
- Basic Member: free, up to 3 photographs in a single category or spread throughout several categories;
- Advanced Member: up to 8 photographs in a single category or spread throughout several categories; £14.95 (British pounds) to register Advanced Membership account;
- Premium Member: up to 20 photographs in a single category or spread throughout several categories; £49.95 (British pounds) to register Premium Membership account.
2) Categories
Here are all three categories offered by the Youth Award, followed by the official description:
- Culture – “What does culture mean to you? Take a photograph that depicts your take on culture; it could be your local youth culture and social gatherings, a culture you have immersed yourself in whilst travelling, traditions amongst a tight-knit community or large-scale cultural gatherings such as festivals.”
- Environment – “Capture your local environment through a photograph; perhaps you want to illustrate the naturally beautiful qualities of your environment, or highlight an issue which is having a negative effect on it.”
- Portraits – “Find inspiration in the faces of people around you and take a portrait that communicates a story about your subject. Look for expressions and passing glances that might otherwise go unnoticed and push the boundaries of what can be achieved within a portrait, the most traditional of photographic styles.”
Click here to go to official Youth Award website to participate or get more information.
Professional Competition
The most serious (and likely popular) of WPO competitions, with the most serious rewards. If you enter this competition, you are not allowed to participate in Open Competition or Youth Award.
Here are several important points by WPO (quote):
- Submissions must be based on a body of work.
- Photographs submitted in to a category must be from the same body of work and will be judged as such.
- Images entered in to the Professional Competition must have been completed or first published in 2012.
- First published in 2012, means that the photographs entered may have been taken before 2012 but due to having been commissioned by a client to be published in 2012, have not been publicly exhibited or published in any online or print media before 2012. For more details see the rules below.
1) Price and Number of Submissions
You may enter as many categories as you wish, but you cannot submit the same series or images into several different categories. All members can submit 3-10 images into each category they choose.
- Basic Member: free;
- Advanced Member:£14.95 (British pounds) to register Advanced Membership account;
- Premium Member:£49.95 (British pounds) to register Premium Membership account.
2) Categories
Professional Competition includes the most categories, with the total of 15. Sports, Portraiture, Architecture, Travel, Landscapes and Still Life – you name it. It is almost guaranteed you will find something for your work.
Click here to go to official Professional Competition website to participate or get more information.
Other WPO Competitions
There are more things going on at WPO. Click to read more:
- 3D Award: “3D photographs and videos can give a whole new look to that perfect moment, adding astonishing levels of depth, clarity and realism. We are looking for entries that use true 3D technology, as offered by modern cameras such as Sony’s latest Cyber-shot compact cameras, Alpha (α) system cameras and Handycam® camcorders. Anyone can enter this dynamic competition and be a part of this image revolution.”
- Student Focus Award: “To enter the Student Focus competition, students must submit their image to their tutor who will enter students’ images on their behalf.”
- National Award: “World Photography Organisation and Sony launch National Award to find best photographer from participating countries”
2) Nikon Photo Contest
This competition, contrary to what you may think at first, is open to users of any digital system, not just Nikon. However, film-users are left-out – you cannot send in a scanned image, it has to be made with a digital camera. Any person, either a professional or amateur, is allowed to enter (except for Nikon employees, of course). Also, strangely, photographs must be submitted only via laptops or desktop computers. “Submissions must be made via laptop or desktop computer; work can not be submitted from a tablet computer or smartphone.”
1) Price and Submission Rules
Nikon Photo Contest is free to participate in. One serious rule to note is that Nikon requires complete exclusivity – you are not allowed to submit same works into other competitions before or after submitting them to Nikon Photo Contest. They can’t have been featured anywhere else, too. In other words – only “fresh” photographs are likely to pass. Next is a quote of official submission rules:
- Entries for categories A and B are limited to a total of ten works; for example, two entries in the single photo category and one entry of four photographs in the composite category would total six works.
- The same works or portions of the same works cannot be submitted to both categories A and B.
- Entrants can submit one entry in each of categories C and D. This can be done on top of entries to Categories A and B.
- Entry is limited to original works that have not formerly been displayed or exhibited and to which the entrant holds all applicable rights. Works that have won prizes in other contests or that have been submitted to other contests currently underway are not eligible. Works that are entered in other competitions after submitting to this contest will not be eligible.
2) Categories
- Category A：Single photo
- Category B：Composite photos (a composite of 2 to 5 photos)
- Category C：Photographic Video (45 seconds in length)
- Category D：Motion Snapshot (a special award category cerebrating the release of the advanced interchangeable lens camera Nikon 1, using its “Motion Snapshot” function.)
Click here to go to official Nikon Photo Contest website to participate or read more about prizes and submission rules.
3) National Geographic Photo Contest
National Geographic is one of the most prestigious photography-associated names out there, and they select the very best work with very high standards. Unlike Nikon Photo Contest, National Geographic will accept film scans, but all submissions must be in digital file format (no prints, etc.).
NG also has a special International Photography Contest for Kids, which should be great fun for all those young photography lovers.
1) Price and Submission Rules
Each photograph will cost you $15 to submit and there is no limit to the number of entries. You must be of age when you enter the contest. There are some regional restrictions – you will find more specific information by following the link provided in “3) More Information” section.
2) Categories
There are three categories in total – People, Places and Nature. These categories, however, are of a very broad definition, and may include street photography, landscapes, portraits, wildlife and other.
Click here to read more about submission rules and prizes, or to go through already submitted photographs.
Don’t Forget to Participate!
Whether small or big, photography contests can be great fun to take part in. If you’re new to photography, you may as well start with smaller, local competitions. The most important part is that you participate.
We at Photographylife.com, among other things, also hope to organize photography contests in the near future.