In the past, I’ve organised, run, managed and judged many photo contests, and this has given me a great insight, of which I’m about to share with you.

This is not a tutorial on how to produce a winning photo, there are hundreds of those around the internet, so I thought I’d share something different with you, and tell you why so many photos are rejected at the first stage from photo contests, and why many entries fail to impress the judges.

Get insight in to what the judges are looking for and learn how to avoid the mistakes many entrants make.

1. Photo requirements and specifications are a major factor, most contests will have a set criteria that you need to meet. See the list below for examples.

a. The size of the photo is quite common, some contests require that the photo be a certain size or within a range, they may also require that the file size does not exceed a specific amount, so making sure you size your photo correctly will ensure your entry is not rejected at the first stage.

b. You need to place close attention to any rules regarding modification, some contests are very specific about what you may and may not edit. Some will only permit you to modify colour balance and exposure, crop or resize the photo, some will permit full modifications, and other will not permit any at all. What ever they stipulate, make sure you adhere to this.

c. Keep a close eye for the format they require. Some competitions have specific rules on the format of your entry, be it film, digital. be it printed or submitted by email or whether it’s JPG – Gif.

d. Some contests will permit you to enter one photo only, but others allow you to enter multiple photos, if you’ve read all the details relating to the competition you could find out that you can submit as many entries as you wish, this can increase your chances of winning, so look out for this.

2. If the competition you are entering has a theme, make sure you understand exactly what it is the judges are looking for. Themed competitions will normally have a brief, which if read fully will normally give you clues and information as to what the judges are looking for. Now, although the best advise would be to follow the theme exactly, you shouldn’t let this dilute your creativity, and stop you from producing something unique, so the advice here is to read the brief fully and keep within the boundaries of the theme.

3. Eligibility, make sure you are eligible to enter the competition, check to see if there are any age restrictions, or if you have to be from a specific geographic location and check for experience, some contests are only open to professional or amateur photographers.

4. Terms and conditions (T & C’s) , who reads them? not many at all. Why would you? They can be long and boring, but, this is one of the main reasons entries are disqualified even before the judges have seen them. Terms and Conditions contain important information regarding your entry in to the competitions, and they should inform you of your rights and what you are giving them in return. You never know, but by entering the competition you could be giving them the keys to your home, so make sure you read the terms and conditions fully, and if you don’t understand something, contact the organiser and ask for clarification or seek advice.

5. When your photo was taken can also be an important factor for having your entry accepted. Some contests have time restrictions, such as, the photo must have been taken within the last two years, so make sure you follow their rule on time restrictions

6. If there are judges in the competition, and they are named, then give yourself an advantage and do a little research on each of them, find out what they like and what they dislike, this can be used to identify if your entry would appeal to them.

7. Choosing your entry should be based on the tips above and you should always submit your best work. Make sure it is strong in composition, exposure and focus. Try different perspectives and angles and don’t be afraid to break the compositional rules from time to time.

8. It’s always a good idea to seek others advice before entering a competition, maybe use some of the many photo forums around the net to get critique and feedback, or if you prefer ask family and friends their view on your photo, but remember they may be biased, so I’d recommend the former.

The most important thing about entering photo contests is to enjoy the process and enter as many as you can to improve your chances further.

‘the heroes of modern manufacturing’

The British Wildlife Photography Awards were established in 2009. The key aims of the Awards are to:

• Recognise the talents of photographers practicing in the UK, while at the same time highlight the great wealth and diversity of Britain’s natural history.
• Celebrate British wildlife, in all its beauty and diversity, through a collection of inspirational photographs.
• Showcase the very best of our nature photography to a wide audience and engage all ages with evocative and powerful imagery.
• Encourage discovery, exploration, conservation and enjoyment of our natural heritage.
• Raise awareness about British biodiversity, species and habitats.

Entries must have been taken in the United Kingdom of Great Britain Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

Images can be of native or migrant wild species. Also non-indigenous wild species that reside permanently in the UK. British wildlife subjects photographed in a studio setting or a captive environment are eligible provided this information is supplied when submitting images. Exotic wildlife photographed in British zoos, safari parks or similar locations, and domestic pets are not eligible.

Why not try some macro work or HDR? Try shooting a black & white landscape or how about playing around with slow shutter speeds? As we said, there’s plenty to have a go at and anything goes so long as it fits the theme.

The prizes will be presented to the winners at Focus On Imaging 2012. However, if you can’t make Focus don’t worry; you can still win one of the prizes.

Remember if you’re not in it you can’t win! Two entries are allowed per member.

Good luck!!

Going beyond social boundaries, standard techniques and established rules, the 2012 Emerging Photographers competition showcases the freshest ideas and trends in today’s photography.

The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world. The Professional competition reflects a turbulent year of global events with the war in Libya; the Greek and European economic crisis; the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and the fall of Gaddafi, in the Photojournalism & Documentary categories.  The shortlist for the Fine Art and Commercial categories gets to the very heart of daily life -  a small sheep-farming community in Iceland; the rice harvest in South China; a religious pilgrimage in Poland and gold diggers in Chile.

This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster.  Manuel Geerinck (Belgium);  Lee Chee Wai (China); Alejandro Cartagena (Mexico), Irina Werning (Argentina); Gwenn Dubourthoumieu (Republic of the Congo) and Simon Norfolk (UK), are but a few of the new names to place as finalists and shortlisted photographers.

Returning photographers from previous years, include 2010 Professional Landscape winner, Peter Franck (Germany); who this year is a finalist in three categories; 2011 Professional Contemporary Issues and Current Affairs winner, Javier Arcenillas (Spain); and Chan Kwok Hung (Hong Kong) whose stunningly dramatic image ‘Buffalo Race’ won the  Overall Open Competition in 2011.

W M Hunt, Chair of the Honorary Judging Committee, commented: ‘As a judge, you bring an open mind and a passion for photography – its presence and its present, its past and its legacy.  You are hopeful and hungry to see great work that is fresh and full, expecting the exceptional.  The rewards are rich and delightful.  It is a pleasure to present this year’s selections.’

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation added: ‘Looking at the vast collection of shortlisted work across the categories, is truly gratifying this year.  Within the Professional awards, the bodies of work are beautifully presented and distinctive, whilst in the Open categories, the single snapshots are diverse and demonstrate excellent skill within the amateur market.  The new Youth competition also delighted us, as we were thrilled to find some exceptional budding talent.’

In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.

The shortlist for the Professional Competition was selected by the Honorary Judging committee which was chaired by esteemed photographic consultant W.M. Hunt.  This year the Open entries were judged by a pre-selection committee of inspectors from Shutterstock, WPO and representatives from Sony.  The Youth Competition was judged by a WPO and Sony selection committee.

The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on 26 April at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane.  The awards celebration will once again take place alongside World Photo, London, a month-long event which brings an eclectic mix of photographic events for all to enjoy.  The opening weekend of World Photo London will be held at Somerset House from 27 – 30 April with selected events including portfolio reviews, workshops, symposiums and the Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibitions, which continue through to 20 May 2012.  Honorary Judges for the 2012 Awards and other international industry experts will be leading many of the festival events.

View more here.

View photos here

Experimental and mixed techniques are welcome. We encourage submitting images from a singular body of work for a cohesive selection for the Juried Exhibition. A unified body of photographs indicates to the juror you’ve carefully considered your selected edit and are committed to your photography. Artwork selected for gallery exhibition will be limited to FRAMED SIZE of 30x40in.

JUROR: Paul Kopeikin, Kopeikin Gallery

Paul Kopeikin has owned and directed the Kopeikin Gallery in Los Angeles since 1991. He has mounted over 150 exhibitions of classic, modern and contemporary photography and works on paper. This includes exhibitions by such luminaries as Diane Arbus, Garry Winnogrand, Helen Levitt, Lee Friedlander, Weegee, Marion Post Wolcott and Ralph Eugene Meatyard. Contemporary artists Chris Jordan, Amy Stein and Jill Greenberg all got their start at the gallery. The gallery has participated in numerous art fairs and Mr. Kopeikin has juried numerous exhibitions. And yet he never tires of more.

MONTH THEME
JANUARY Warmth
FEBRUARY Life
MARCH Light
APRIL Weather
MAY Texture res
JUNE Water
JULY Everyday
AUGUST Travel
SEPTEMBER Food
OCTOBER Pets
NOVEMBER Macro
DECEMBER Holiday

It’s been an arduous task, but after thorough review, the selected photographers of EXPOSURE 2011 have been determined with the help of our jurors: Natasha Egan, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Photography; Stephen Walker, Photo Director of NYLON Magazine; Conor Risch, Senior Editor of PDN Magazine; Michael Shulman, Director of Publishing, Broadcast and Film at Magnum Photos; Susanne Miklas, Photo Editor; and Karen Irvine, Curator and Associate Director of the Museum of Contemporary Photography.

Without further ado, congratulations to the Grand Prize photographer Laetitia Soulier! We’re also excited to present the selected recipients of the Early Entry and Category Awards, along with the Top 110 Finalists. We can’t wait to see what’s to come for these great photographers. Thank you again for being a part of Artists Wanted – we hope to continue providing you with new and exciting opportunities to get your talent discovered.

Click here to view other winners and photographers

PhotoCircle is a photography contest and community destination that works to combine the love of photography, charitable assistance to environmental and philanthropic causes, and an entertaining and rewarding competition all into one.

The theme for our very first contests are “Yellowstone National Park, Bicycles and Rivers.”

Each contest entry will benefit the associated contest beneficiary. We’ve partnered up with several amazing organizations, including: “The Yellowstone Association, The Freshwater Trust and 88bikes.” Enter your photography now!

Over $1680 in prizes!

Congratulations to gilchristyeotunboon for winning the contest with the photo “Focus”.

“This photo is fun, colorful, interesting and very well composed – showing good use of the “thirds” rule. The girl holding the camera is a playful element while the Asian food stall evokes a sense of travel and journey.” – Shelby Chan

Click here to see other entries

Click here to see other entries in a slideshow

Every category winner will be awarded $500, a 3-month 3rd Ward work residency and inclusion in a Group Show in the 3rd Ward Gallery. One Grand Prize Winner, as determined by the public, will win a $5,000 cash grant, a 1-year 3rd Ward work residency, and inclusion in a Group Show at the 3rd Ward Gallery!

For the past six years, 3rd Ward has been a leading resource for artists and creative professionals in New York City and around the world. You create inspired work. Now share it with the world

$15 per image, you can submit 7 or more images for a flat rate of $99 (maximum of 20 images). The $99 package includes a 1-year Basic 3rd Ward Membership free of charge.

From a water drop to a rainbow, from a bubble to a geyser, from smoke to light, from microscopy to astronomy, everywhere, we are facing scientific phenomena. MILSET Europe aims to give you an opportunity to freeze them for eternity!

Take your chance and send us your pictures !

Our guest judge joining us for this competition will be Charlie Borland of Pro Nature Photographer.

Charlie is an award winning location photographer based in Oregon. With a career spanning 30 years he produces photography across North America that has been used in advertising, print products, and editorial clients.
Chasing The Light Juried Photography presents outstanding, award winning images to over 1,200 select Professional Photo Editors and Art Directors as well as the general public on a regular basis. We maintain an up to date list of industry professionals who actively seek new talent and fresh images.

Our goal is to unite emerging new photographers with the Photo Editors and Art Directors of the publishing world. We are looking to discover those photographers who have the talent to turn the mundane into something extraordinary.

Talented photographers from around the world enter our themed competitions. Any and all inquiries for publication and print sales are referred directly to the photographer per the contact information provided with each image.

Subject matter is open
• Finalists notified by July 30, 2012
• Winners notified by August 13, 2012

Monthly Categories:

February: Nature
March: Adventure
April: Street life
May: Water
June: Journey
July: Colour
August: Culture
September: Sport
October: Weather
November: Markets
December: Food

Continuing the procedure from the last two years, there will be no separate categories for digitals vs. prints. All photos, including prints, will be digitized and judged against all other entries in each category.

Categories:

Animals & Nature:  Photos of goats, sheep, horses, cows, trees, plants, flowers, wild animals, birds, poultry, dogs, fish, snakes, insects, etc.

Rural Life & Landscape : Ranch, farm, small town or rural settings, activities and scenes. Historical buildings, people enjoying themselves, farmers or ranchers at work, kids with goats, horseback riding, a teen and his car, the local hangout or chatter at the coffee shop. Be original.

People:  Portraits, whether planned or spontaneous, of people. Your family, friends, children, famous people, politicians, old folks, new clothes, family gathering, unusual characters, etc., etc. This category can include photos of kids and animals — kids showing goats, a girl with her puppy, kids and lambs, etc.

Youth – Open : Any photo taken by youths. Any subject. Photographer must be under 18 years of age.

Choose a Category for Your Picture and Tell us why this picture special to you.

Animals / Pets

Artistic / Creative

Holidays / Events

Humor

Nature

People / Family / Friends

Travel / Vacation

Photo captions must accompany all submissions, and should include the subject of the image, the location the image was taken, and the name of the photographer(s).

Submission period is from January 25 to February 18, 2012. Voting will start as soon as the photos have been posted. Last day of voting is on February 18, 2012. All entries must be received by the advertised closing time and date. Winners will be announced soon after the last day of voting, February 18, 2012.

‘Weather‘ was the theme for the last installment of Vanguard’s eight-week long photography competition and there was plenty of wind, rain, snow and rainbow shots for the judge to work their way through.

After narrowing down a shortlist it was decided that Engulfed by Tynnwrlluniau (Alun G. Davies) really summed up what the theme was all about.

Here’s what the judge said: “The power of the wave smashing into the sea wall can really be felt and Alun timed it extremely well to ensure all that energy would be captured in the final shot. It’s wild weather snapped at its finest and Alun is a well worthy winner.”

Well done to Alun who wins a Vanguard Alta Pro 283CT tripod and congratulations to all who were shortlised.
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/vanguard-alta-pro-283ct-week-8-competition-winner-announced-18360

For this award, we have put together a panel of judges including: Leora Kahn, Executive Director of PROOF, Ed Kashi of VII, Amy Yenkin from the Open Society Foundations, and Ann Friedman, Executive Editor of GOOD.

This award is for emerging photojournalists. For the purposes of this call for entries, the term “emerging photojournalist” is to be defined as a photojournalist who has an accomplished body of photojournalistic work that a.) has not yet been exhibited or published widely, b.) demonstrates a commitment to human rights and social justice issues, and c.) does not have agency representation. There are no age or geographic restrictions.

Each application should include the following:
- Statement of Purpose (maximum 500 words)
- Project proposal and budget summary (maximum 500 words)
- Portfolio of 10-12 photographs that demonstrate your commitment to human rights and social justice issues
- Resume or CV
- Application fee of USD $10.00 made payable to PROOF: Media for Social Justice

CONTEST DIVISIONS
Student Senior Division: For anyone ages 15-18.
Student Junior Division: For anyone 14 years of age and younger.
Adult Division: For anyone 19 years of age and older.
Both amateurs and professionals are encouraged to enter.

II. CONTEST CATEGORIES
Note: You may submit a maximum of 3 entries in each of the 10 categories.

A. WILD NATURE: These categories represent nature unaffected by man’s presence. Within your images, there should be no indication of the “handof-man” in any form.
1. Wildlife: Non-captive animals in their natural habitat. Examples include: mammals, birds, marine life, reptiles,  amphibians and insects.
2. Nature, Other: Other natural objects in their natural habitat. Examples include: Plants, flowers, trees, rocks, shells, minerals, fungi and lichens.
3. Nature Scenics: Expansive views that may include landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes, mountains, forests, deserts, oceans (below or above the surface), waterfalls, sunrise and sunsets.

B. SHARED WORLD: These categories are nature images which may include the influence of man. Although man’s influence is included, it should NOT be the focal point of the subject. For instance, architectural images or man’s interaction with man should not be included.
4. Animals: Images of any animal and may include zoo, aquarium, farm or captive animals.However, no household pets will be allowed in the adult division. Image may be a portrait or group, and should show animal interaction, or display
animal behavior.
5. Flora: Images of any plant life. Examples include flowers, plants, gardens, trees, and may include any cultivated plant life.
6. Shared Scenics: Expansive views of landscapes, seascapes, cloudscapes, mountains, forests, deserts, oceans, etc. which include evidence of the hand-of-man. The focus is to be on nature; the ‘hand-of-man’ (fences, barns, bridges, etc) is not to be the subject.
7. Household Pets: (Youth only) The pet must be the principal subject.

C. ARTISTIC and CREATIVE
INTERPRETATION: These images include elements of design: line, shape, pattern, texture, form, and perspective, in addition to creative composites and creations from the digital darkroom.
8. Art in Nature: Naturally occurring patterns, lines, shapes, and forms of animals, objects, or plants in nature; also may include macro and extreme close-up images.
9. Creative Interpretation: A nature-related image created with traditional or digital tools (digital darkroom) that is intended to express the photographer’s artistic impression of the subject. Examples include: Creative blurs, multiple
exposures, abstracts etc. Place a 4×6 print showing the original photo, prior to manipulation, to a lower corner on the back of the mat board.

D. NATURE EXPERIENCES AT THE HEARD:
10. This category includes images taken on the Heard grounds, including birds, insects and other animals as well as flora and fauna. Images should NOT include the hand of man.

Entries are online and all entries receive a score by return email. There are also Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, provided as .pdf certificates which can be printed.

A group exhibition will be held in March 2012 based on the entries.

In order to enter, simply create an account and upload your landscape photo to the contest album. Limit one photo per user. Good luck!
The photo with the largest number of “Likes” in the album will be the winner! We will continue monitoring the “Likes” for two weeks after the contest closes, and we’ll announce this so that users can browse their entries and choose their favorites and this time.

The winners of the ‘Living Australian 2011/2012′ photo competition have been chosen.

Congratulations to the Junior and Open winners of the 2012 Living Australian Online Photography Competition. You have all made your mark on Australia. See all the winners here

Tamron USA announced the winner of the Tamron USA My Macro Exhibit Photo Contest. The contest, offered to Tamron lens users, required that entrants create a 3D virtual exhibit on www.MyPhotoExhibits.com showcasing at least 8-14 images. The winning exhibit would be based upon overall quality and originality of the collection. Professional photographer and My Macro Exhibit Photo Contest Judge, Mike Moats selected “Backyard Macros” created by Carolyn Derstine as the winner.

Mike Moats expressed his appreciation of her work through his remarks on the photographer; “Carolyn demonstrates an ability to produce excellent images with a variety of subjects in nature. All images are creatively composed in the frame, have good lighting, and nice sharp details. A well-balanced portfolio of subjects, beautiful colors, interesting textures, and nice blurred backgrounds.”

Carolyn Derstine will have her exhibit featured on the Tamron website, eNewsletter, Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/TamronLensesUSA) and will win a Tamron lens of her choice. To view the winning exhibit, please visit: http://tamron.myphotoexhibits.com/exhibits/4248-backyard-macros. Moats also selected 10 Honorable Mentions listed at http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/contests.asp.

As a leader in breathtaking you-are-there photography from across the world, National Geographic Traveller launched its inaugural photo competition last September in association with The Aurora Zone and Tesco.

UK photographers were asked to submit their entries in one of six categories: People, Culture, Nature, Landscape, Adventure and City, for a chance to win a once-in-lifetime trip to see the Northern Lights in Finland with The Aurora Zone and a top of the range camera and kit, courtesy of Tesco.

The judging panel consisted of Carol Enquist, National Geographic’s photo editor; Jonathan Briggs, editor of the British Institute of Professional Photography’s (BIPP) The Photographer magazine; Marina Syrmakezi from The Association of Photographers; and Chris Hudson, National Geographic Traveller’s art editor.

Chris Hudson said: “We had thousands of UK entries in this, the first National Geographic Traveller photography competition, and were truly impressed at the incredibly high standard of submissions, whether professional or amateur. Many were exactly what we were looking for: inspirational, high quality images capturing unique moments from all corners of the globe.

He added: “In just one frame, a photo can embody the essence, emotion and atmosphere of a destination and sum up a multitude of feelings in the flash of a shutter.”

The winners will be announced in the next issue and supplement on sale 9 February 2012.

Since its inception in 2005, Hey, Hot Shot!, the premier international photography competition, has provided over 145 photographers from all over the world with unrivaled exposure, support and recognition. Our esteemed panel of industry professionals selects five photographers per round of competition as the 2011 Hot Shots. From these Hot Shots, one image maker will be selected by Jen Bekman Projects to win the grand prize of $10,000, in addition to the hallmark awards we offer.

If you have had the opportunity to visit the Polar Regions as part of scientific research or while traveling, or you are a resident of the North, here is an opportunity to share the best pictures of your latest journey in the Arctic and Antarctic territories.

Submit your photos now in one of four categories and get a chance to see one of your masterpieces on display at the conference From Knowledge to Action happening from 22 to 27 April 2012 in Montreal.

We’re sure this theme will generate a really broad range of photographs, reflecting the great variety of people, places and events that make Britain special.

Photographs could focus on a particular place or person, a spectacular event, occasion or landscape, or could be a snapshot of everyday British life.

Competition judged by Ashley Franklin ARPS, ABPPA, APAGB.

Demonstrate the sensitivity necessary to move beyond literal renderings to more intimate portraits. Create images that go below the surface and penetrate deeply into a subject’s character. Tell a story with the camera and with the subject that leaves both you and the viewer wanting more. All images selected by juror will be exhibited throughout the Mpls Photo Center Galleries and published in an Exhibit Book for purchase. Exhibit Juror: Andrea Mellard Curator of Exhibitons and Public Programs at AMOA – Arthouse in Austin, Texas.

Monthly Themes

January: Winter

February: Nighttime

March: Cities

April: Spring

May: Water

June: Summer

July: Weather

August: Americana

September: Fall

October: Wildlife

November: Transportation

December: People

The 21 February Photo Contest 2012 is an international photography contest observing the International Mother Language Day 2012. This photo contest is focused with the same goals, as obtained by the UNESCO for the International Mother Language Day, to promote the importance of linguistic, cultural diversity and multilingualism.

All international artists, professional and amateur, will be considered.

Those accepted artists will be asked to be a part of a collective show in the future months. The artists will be asked if they wish to submit their artwork for the show, which is not a requirement to being a part of this show.