Written by Feeling that your work is stagnating or lacking opportunity? It’s common for creatives to face periods where we doubt our abilities or feel we’re not progressing. Here’s a way to reignite your passion and gain invaluable exposure: photography competitions! And speaking of competitions, have you checked out our DPC Photo Awards? A golden opportunity right within our community!
Some of you might view contests with fear and apprehension, feeling they’re out of their league. However, I view them as valuable opportunities to assess your skills, gain visibility, and grow. Even if you don’t win or get shortlisted, the experience itself is invaluable. Submitting your work means you’re not only competing against others but also with yourself. It’s an avenue to assess your progress. Do your photos stand out? Are they more engaging than most? Use competitions as a yardstick to gauge your growth.
What Judges Look for:
If you want to succeed in photo competitions, it helps to understand what judges are looking for in top images. This insight can guide you in honing your technical abilities, creative perspective, and storytelling abilities.
Also take note that before submitting an image to a competition, it’s beneficial to study previous winners and shortlisted entries. This provides insight into what judges may prioritise or look for. It’s important to remember that photography, like all art forms, carries a degree of subjectivity. Judging preferences can vary based on a myriad of factors, including the judge’s personal tastes and even their mood on a given day.
Despite these variables, I’ve found, after years of critiquing and judging photos, that a system where experienced judges evaluate your work is more reliable than those based on social votes or popularity.
Composition
Judges want to see creative, balanced compositions that showcase technical skill and vision. Use visual design tools like the rule of thirds, leading lines, patterns, and intentional cropping to create impact.
One of my favourite photography educators, David duChemin, teaches the concept of “visual weight” to compose more intentionally. Some subjects inherently draw the eye more than others based on subject size, colour, contrast, etc. Arranging the elements with proper visual weight creates clear visual hierarchy and emphasis. This invaluable lesson helps me make stronger compositions.
Technical Excellence
Sharp focus, proper exposure, effective use of light, and colour quality are key. Understand your gear and editing tools thoroughly. Perfecting technicalities lets your creativity truly stand out.
Concept and Storytelling
Convey an engaging concept, mood, or story through poses, expressions, environments, and titles. Think about how every element in the frame works together to communicate an idea or narrative.
Style and Uniqueness
Leverage your individual strengths and perspectives to stand out with originality. Put your own spin on subjects. Allow your distinct creative voice and vision to come through.
The Power of Emotion and Feeling
With an understanding of what makes a technically excellent photo, the next step is evoking emotion and feeling in your images. Impact and emotion are the most critical elements that set compelling images apart. Technically excellent photos can still fall flat without emotional power. Truly great images create an instinctive reaction in the viewer. They make us feel joy, sorrow, inspiration, wonder, nostalgia, or any range of profound human experiences. Visuals provoke our emotions faster than words. An evocative photo can instantly move someone to tears, while sterile shots barely register.
Observe life’s gestures, shadows, found moments for their expressive potential. Hone your ability to recognize scenes’ deeper essence. With practice, your photos will resonate on a deeper level. So, while technical excellence is required, engaging the viewer’s soul is the ultimate goal. Let your work tell compelling visual stories that create empathy and reveal our shared inner worlds. That is the mark of great photography.
Top Photography Contests to Consider
Now that you understand how to improve your technical mastery and storytelling ability, where should you submit your work? Here are some top-notch competitions across mediums to consider:
Mobile Photography Competitions
· IPA International Mobile Photography Awards https://www.photoawards.com/
· Mobile Photography Awards https://mobilephotoawards.com/
· StreetFoto www.streetfoto.org/
· Life Framer www.life-framer.com/
· MIFA Moscow International Foto Awards https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/
Digital Photography Competitions
· Sony World Photography Awards https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards
· National Geographic Travel Photo Contest https://www.nationalgeographic.com/contests
· Wildlife Photographer of the Year https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy
· International Photography Awards https://www.photoawards.com/
· Px3 Photography Competition https://px3.fr/
· Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year https://www.pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com/
· International Landscape Photographer of the Year https://www.internationallandscapephotographer.com/
· ND Awards https://ndawards.net/
· Gothenburg Street Photo Festival https://www.gothenburgstreetphotofestival.com/
· Fearless Photographers https://www.fearlessphotographers.com/
· Fine Art Photography Awards https://fineartphotoawards.com/
· Monochrome Awards https://monoawards.com/
· Black & White Photo Award https://www.gothenburgstreetphotofestival.com/
· Tokyo International Awards https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/
· Africa Photo Awards https://www.africaphotoawards.co.za/
· Siena International Photo Awards https://sipacontest.com/
Analog / Film Photography Competitions
· Film Photo Award https://www.filmphotoaward.com/
· Emulsive Photo Contest: https://emulsive.org/articles/an-end-of-year-photo-competition-by-the-david-hancock-youtube-channel
DPC Photo Awards and Photographer of the Year 2024
In closing
Over the last decade, I’ve relied on images from photo contests, particularly from the Sony World Awards, to illustrate to my students what makes a high-impact and deeply inspiring photo. I frequently incorporate them into my lessons on Developing a Visual Vocabulary and Visual Storytelling, both of which are central topics in my Creative Photography Series.
If we missed any major photo competitions you believe should be on our list, please post them in the comments section below, and we’ll update accordingly.
Then also, don’t forget we also host our own Photo Awards This is a great chance to get contest experience in a supportive environment right here in our tribe. Submit your images to be recognised by your talented peers – you never know what feedback or accolades it may bring!
By entering competitions, you put your work out there allowing others to see your unique vision. Let the journey push you creatively and technically. I hope these contests provide inspiration to create images that resonate on a deeper human level.
Finally, share your competition successes with us! We want to celebrate your awards and published work here in the DPC Community. Let your achievements motivate others to participate and grow their skills. Your unique vision is waiting to be seen, so put it out there. We’re rooting for you!