Capture the World: Top 6 Free to Enter Photography Contests

Top 6 Free-to-Enter International Photo Contests

Are you an enthusiastic photographer wishing to promote your talents on a worldwide scale? Do you like to get recognized for your work and win fantastic prizes without spending a dime?

In this section, we've produced a list of the top six free-to-enter worldwide photo contests that allow both amateur and professional photographers to showcase their skills and earn fantastic prizes.

So grab your camera and prepare to snap some breathtaking images that could propel you closer to your goal of being a well-known photographer!

1. Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Smithsonian Magazine, a publication of the Smithsonian Institution founded in 1846, is the official journal of the Smithsonian Institution distributed in Washington, D.C. The first issue of the magazine was published in 1970.

Over the past 18 years, readers have submitted over 470,000 images to the Smithsonian Institution's annual photography competition, which has transported us to remote corners of the Earth, captured breathtaking moments, and introduced us to fascinating people and unique landscapes.

The competition selects the best works from heart-stopping images taken by photographers from nearly every country in the world and awards prizes. These works explore different locations and themes, offering insights into the photographer's portfolio inspiration.

Competition Rules

The competition is open to photographers aged 18 and over.
Submissions are generally accepted from March to November (subject to official announcement).
There are six categories in the competition: Natural World, Travel, People, The American Experience, Artistic, and Drone.
Each category has 10 finalists. A category winner is selected from the 10 finalists in each category.
A Grand Prize winner is chosen from the 60 category finalists.
The public can vote for a Readers' Choice winner from the 60 category finalists on the competition website.

Contest Prize

Grand Prize: $2,500 cash prize.
Category Winners: $500 cash prize.
Readers' Choice Award: $500 cash prize.
60 Finalists (including the winners): Exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History and featured on the competition's official website and major international social media platforms.

Official Site: Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Wild Mountain Hares fighting

Grand Prize in 2022: Wild Mountain Hares fighting

2. World Press Photo Contest

The World Press Photo Contest is an annual competition that celebrates the best in photojournalism from around the world. It was founded in 1955 by a group of Dutch photographers who wanted to create an international platform to showcase their work and promote the importance of photojournalism in society.

Since then, the competition has grown in size and scope, attracting thousands of entries each year from photographers across the globe.

The competition is open to professional photographers and photojournalists, as well as photographers who work in related fields such as advertising, public relations, and documentary filmmaking.

Entries are judged by a panel of experts in the field of photojournalism, including photographers, editors, and curators, who evaluate the images based on their news value, emotional impact, and technical quality.

Competition Rules

The World Press Photo Contest is open to all professional photographers who work in the field of news or documentary photography, free of charge.
Submission is generally from early December to mid-January (subject to official announcement).
Four competition categories include Singles (1 photo), Stories (3-10 photos), Long-Term Projects (24-30 photos, spanning at least three different years), and Open Format.
There will be 24 regional winners, one selected for each category (Singles, Stories, Long-Term Projects, and Open Format) in each region (Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania).

Contest Prize

Every one of the 24 regional winners will be awarded €1,000, and the four global winners will receive an additional €5,000 as a prize.
The winners are usually showcased in prominent publications and are invited to speak at various public events, including exhibition openings and lectures, throughout the year.

Official Site: World Press Photo Contest

Mariupol Maternity Hospital Airstrike

World Press Photo of the Year: Mariupol Maternity Hospital Airstrike

3. Sony World Photography Awards

The Sony World Photography Awards, sponsored by Sony, is one of the most famous global photography competitions, established in 2007 and continuing to the present day. Organized by the World Photography Organization, it is one of the largest photography contests in the world and welcomes professional, amateur, student, and youth photographers to participate.

Since 2007, the number of submissions has increased each year, with over one million entries received in 2020, demonstrating the competition's wide-ranging appeal, influence, and authority.

Competition Rules

Submission is generally in December or January (subject to official announcement).
Categories are divided into Professional, Open, and Youth.
Themes of the submissions cover a wide range of subjects, including Architecture, Contemporary Issues, Creative, Landscape and Nature, Motion, Portraiture, and more.

Professional Category Contest Prize

Photographer of the Year (1 winner) receives $25,000, Sony digital imaging equipment and their work exhibited at Somerset House in London.
1st Prize: Airfare, lodging, and Sony digital photography equipment for attending the awards ceremony in London, work included in the Sony World Photography Awards book, and exhibited at Somerset House in London.
2nd and 3rd Prize: Tickets to the awards ceremony, work included in the Sony World Photography Awards book, and exhibited at Somerset House in London.

Youth Category Contest Prize

The winner (1 winner) receives Sony digital imaging equipment, airfare, and lodging for attending the awards ceremony in London.
Shortlisted (10 winners) have their work exhibited digitally at Somerset House in London and included in the Sony World Photography Awards book.

Open Category

The Winner (1 winner) receives $5,000, Sony digital imaging equipment, airfare, lodging for attending the awards ceremony in London, and their work exhibited at Somerset House in London.

Official Site: Sony World Photography Awards

4. Hasselblad Masters Photo Contest

The Hasselblad Masters is a world-renowned professional photography competition that takes place every two years. Photographers entering the competition must submit their most representative and personal work, with the chance to earn the title of Hasselblad Master.

As one of the most respected and professional photography contests in the world, it offers the highest accolades to seasoned and talented photographers, propelling them to the top of the global photography industry.

Winning photographers not only receive generous rewards but are also granted the coveted title of "Hasselblad Master," a highly esteemed honor in the photography community.

Competition Rules

Submission is generally from mid-April to the end of July (based on the official announcement).
Categories are divided into Aerial, Art, Landscape/Nature, Wedding, Portrait, Beauty and Fashion, Product, Architecture, Wildlife, Project//21, Street/Urban, and Heritage (added in 2021).

Contest Prize

Each winner will be given the title of "Hasselblad Master" and receive a medium format mirrorless Hasselblad camera. The Hasselblad Masters are required to shoot for a collaboration project with Hasselblad, which will be published in digital and print formats across all Hasselblad channels, including a commemorative book.

Official Site: Hasselblad Masters Contest

5. Nikon Photo Contest

The Nikon Photo Contest is one of the leading international photo contests in the world, run by the Nikon Corporation. Founded in 1969, the contest aims to provide a platform for both professionals and amateurs to express their creativity and share their stories through photography.

The contest is typically divided into different categories which may vary from year to year, and it may include themes such as environment, landscape, portrait, black and white, and more. The categories often include a Nikon-specific category that requires entrants to use Nikon equipment.

Competition Rules

Images must be original and the submitter must have all necessary rights.
Depending on the category, there may be restrictions on the type of camera that can be used (for instance, certain categories might require a Nikon camera).
There may be restrictions on post-processing and digital manipulation of photos.
The number of images that can be submitted per person may be limited.

Contest Prize

The winners receive various prizes, which may include cash, Nikon products, and the opportunity to have their work exhibited.

Official Site: Nikon Photo Contest

Greeting to the Sun

Nikon 100th Anniversary Gold Medal - Greeting to the Sun

6. HIPA International Photography Award

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) is a prestigious international photography competition based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is named after its founder, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Crown Prince of Dubai and is known for his interest in photography and patronage of the arts.

This photo contest is open to photographers from around the world and offers significant cash prizes. The competition categories typically vary from year to year, covering a range of genres such as landscape, portrait, black and white, wildlife, and more. There is also a special category that changes every year to reflect a specific theme.

The HIPA competition has been praised for its commitment to fostering creativity, artistic achievement, and innovation in the field of photography. It seeks not only to reward established photographers but also to discover and nurture emerging talent.

Competition Rules

The submission period is generally from early September to the end of November (subject to official announcement).
Contest applicants need to be at least 18 years old.
Contest themes are designated by the official each year.

Contest Prize

HIPA is the world's highest-prized photography competition, with a total prize pool of $420,000.

Official Site: HIPA International Photography Award

2022 HIPA Photography Award Winner

2021-2022 HIPA Contest Grand Prize

Final Thoughts About the Photo Contest

Photography contests offer a broad platform to exhibit your work, receive constructive feedback, and be inspired by other photographers. They act as a catalyst for honing your skills and pushing beyond your comfort zone. Winning, while desirable, isn't the only takeaway. Each competition is a learning experience, an opportunity to grow and refine your craft.

Therefore, we encourage you to take the leap and participate in these photography contests. Don't limit yourself. Your unique perspective can create images that resonate with others, images that might remain unseen if not shared with the world.

Moving on, post-processing in photography cannot be overstated. It's an essential part of the creative process, allowing you to enhance your shots and bring your artistic vision to life. From adjusting exposure and contrast to retouching details and color grading, post-processing can transform a good photo into a great one.

However, post-processing also comes with its challenges. Constant parameter adjustments can be time-consuming and, at times, overwhelming. But don't worry, there's a solution that can make this process significantly more efficient.

We'd like to introduce you to a tool that can greatly improve your post-processing workflow - TourBox. This console is designed specifically for photographers and digital artists, allowing you to streamline your editing process and focus more on the art of photography itself.

TourBox Creative Console

What Is TourBox

Learn More

TourBox offers a new level of functionality and efficiency, replacing repetitive mouse and keyboard operations with intuitive dials and buttons. It can be easily integrated with various editing software, providing a more immersive and productive editing experience.

In the end, remember that photography is about capturing the world in your unique way. Whether it's entering a photography contest or learning a new post-processing skill, each step you take broadens your photographic horizons. So, embrace these opportunities, explore the world, and see where your passion for photography can take you.

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