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- đ¸ âď¸ Part 2: May 2025 Photo Contests + Grants
đ¸ âď¸ Part 2: May 2025 Photo Contests + Grants
our curated picks for the month
Alison Zavos
April 29, 2025
The Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition 2025, hosted by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, invites photographers worldwide to submit photo essays that capture the essence of mountains and mountain life. Entries should include 3 to 5 images that tell a compelling story or evoke strong emotions related to mountain culture, adventure, wildlife, sports, and more. The competition emphasizes storytelling and narrative power in addition to photographic skill.
Prize
Grand Prize: $3,000 CAD
Winning photo essay featured at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival
Wide exposure to a global audience of outdoor and mountain enthusiasts
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: May 5, 2025
FotoNostrum Magazine invites photographers worldwide to submit a portfolio of 6 images (no more, no less) for publication. The theme is open, and images can be from any time. At least 12 portfolios will be selected for publication across 8 to 12 pages in future issues, with the possibility of cover features. All selected artists will also receive a lifetime subscription to the magazine.
Prize
Publication in future issues of FotoNostrum Magazine
One portfolio will receive the FotoNostrum Magazine Award 2024
Exhibition of selected images in 2026
Lifetime subscription to FotoNostrum Magazine
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee:
First portfolio of 6 images: $60
Each additional series: $45
Deadline: May 12, 2025
The Analog Sparks International Film Photography Awards invites photographers worldwide to submit their best analog photographs (colour, black-and-white, instant film, collodion, and other alternative techniques). The competition is open to professionals, amateurs, and students. Its goal is to showcase and promote global talent in film photography and celebrate the unique challenge of capturing images with film.
Prize
AS Photographer of the Year:
$1,000 cash prize
Exhibitions in House of Lucie (Ostuni, Budapest, Athens)
New Talent of the Year:
$500 cash prize
Exhibitions in House of Lucie (Ostuni, Budapest, Athens)
First Place Category Winners (Pro & Non-Pro, in categories like Architecture, Fine Art, Nature, etc.):
$100 cash prize
Exhibitions in House of Lucie (Ostuni, Budapest, Athens)
Winners & Honorable Mentions:
Website feature, online gallery exhibition, press release, certificate of achievement, and Winnerâs Logo for use online and in print.
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Between $10 - $25
Deadline: May 15, 2025
The Birdo Bird Photographer of the Year 2025 is an international photography competition celebrating the beauty, diversity, and conservation of birdlife. Open to photographers of all ages and skill levels, the contest invites global participation and cultural perspectives. In 2025, entries will be accepted in 9 main categories plus a special Conservation category that highlights projects supporting bird and habitat protection. The competition is judged by a professional international jury and concludes with an award ceremony on November 15, 2025, at the Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden.
Prize
Total prize pool: âŹ6,000
Prizes awarded to the top 3 images in each category
Two highly rated images recognized per category
Grand prizes awarded for:
Birdo Bird Photographer of the Year
Young Bird Photographer of the Year (under 21)
Bird Photograph of the Year (selected for visual and conservation impact)
Conservation category awards one winning photo series annually
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: May 17, 2025
The Lumen Prize for Art and Technology is a globally recognized award celebrating digital innovation at the intersection of technology and creativity. Open to artists aged 18 and over, the competition has, since 2012, honored work that blends artistic vision with cutting-edge tools such as AI, VR, AR, and blockchain. Submissions come from artists, collectives, and studios around the world, showcasing digital mediums like generative art, interactive installations, and digital sculpture. With international exhibitions, networking opportunities, and high-profile recognition, the Lumen Prize is both a prestigious award and a launchpad for digital artists shaping the future of contemporary art.
Prize
Total prize pool: $30,000
Lumen Prize Gold Award: $12,000
Nine category awards: $2,000 each
Ten total awards presented annually
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: $30 to $40 (varies by submission details)
Deadline: May 23, 2025
The Bourse du Talent, hosted by the Picto Foundation, is an international award that highlights emerging voices in documentary photography. Since 1998, it has evolved to embrace new, innovative storytelling approaches, welcoming projects that intersect with fine art, science, literature, or technology. Open to photographers worldwide, the award celebrates work that reflects on contemporary society through inventive documentary forms. In addition to recognition, the program supports photographers in professionalizing their practice with help from partners like PixTrakk, Saif, and MPB. The winnersâ work will be exhibited at the Bibliothèque nationale de France as part of the prestigious La Photographie Ă tout Prix show in December 2025.
Prize
Prize Type: Exhibition at the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Three winners selected annually
Additional exposure during Rencontres dâArles festival
Winners receive support for career development through program partners
Special photographic commission offered to past winners in 2025 as part of Pictoâs 75th anniversary
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: May 23, 2025
The reFocus Awards Color Photography Contest is a global competition celebrating the best in color photography. Open to photographers of all backgrounds and skill levels, the contest is judged by an elite panel of industry leaders from the worlds of photography, art, and publishing. Hosted by reFocus Awards, this annual event not only honors artistic excellence but also supports photographers through global exposure and dedicated online features. The contest accepts single-image entries and focuses on showcasing impactful, visually striking work across all genres of color photography.
Prize
Total Cash Prizes: $4,000
Global Exposure: Featured profile in the Artist Directory with links to your website and social media
Winnerâs Gallery: Digital exhibition space dedicated to showcasing your work
Press Release: Professionally written press materials and custom shareable assets
Winnerâs Interview: Promoted interview with links to your work and platforms
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: $25â$50 (based on submission details)
Eligibility: Open to all
Territory: Worldwide
Theme: Color Photography
The Environment&Me photo competition, hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA), invites photographers from around the world to capture how environmental challenges and solutions shape our world. Open to all, the competition encourages submissions that reflect the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and other pressing environmental issuesâas well as signs of hope, resilience, and progress toward sustainability. Whether through landscapes, portraits, or abstract imagery, participants are asked to share their unique visual perspectives on our planetâs journey toward a sustainable future. Winning and finalist photos may be featured in EEA publications and communications.
Prize
Total Cash Prizes:
âŹ1,000 awarded to the best photo in each of three categories
Additional Recognition:
Public Choice Award (determined by public vote)
30â50 finalists selected for jury review
Winning and selected entries featured in EEA publications and media
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Deadline: May 30, 2025
The URBAN Photo Awards is a renowned international photography competition celebrating its 16th edition in 2025. Open to photographers worldwide, the contest spans seven categories, including Single Photos, Projects & Portfolios, Books, Zines, and a Young section. The competition offers wide exposure opportunities, with selected photographers featured in exhibitions and the prestigious Trieste Photo Days festival in Italy. The event culminates in a live awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding work in urban photography and contemporary visual storytelling.
Prize
Exhibition opportunities at Trieste Photo Days and summer previews
Trophies and medals by Italian artist Giorgio Celiberti
Over âŹ10,000 in Amazon Gift Cards
Complimentary two-night stays for winners attending the festival
Title awarded: Photographer of the Year 2025
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: âŹ20ââŹ50 (depending on category and number of entries)
Deadline: May 31, 2025
The LUMA Rencontres Dummy Book Award 2025, hosted by Les Rencontres dâArles and the LUMA Foundation, offers professional photographers and artists using photography the opportunity to turn their dummy book into a fully published photobook. Initiated in 2015, this prestigious award comes with a âŹ25,000 production grant and âŹ3,000 in royalties. Open to artists of all ages and nationalities, the competition places special emphasis on experimental and innovative editorial forms. The award provides both financial and editorial support for the development of the chosen project, culminating in co-publication with Les Rencontres dâArles and a publisher.
Prize
Production Grant: âŹ25,000
Royalties: âŹ3,000 for the author(s)
Co-publication: Book published by Les Rencontres dâArles in collaboration with a selected publisher
Exhibition: Shortlisted and winning works displayed from July 7 to October 5, 2025
Archive & Online Exposure: Work included in Les Rencontres dâArles archives and online platforms (for one year)
Editorial & Financial Support: From the Rencontres dâArles and the publisher for project development
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Submission Deadline: May 12, 2025
The Book Awards 2025 by Les Rencontres dâArles celebrate outstanding photographic works published between May 13, 2024, and May 12, 2025. The awards recognize three categories: Authorâs Book Award, Historical Book Award, and Photo-Text Book Award. Open to professional photographers and artists using photography, these prestigious awards aim to support and promote the growth of photographic publishing. Each award is endowed with âŹ6,000 and rewards books that showcase creativity, documentation, or innovative relationships between text and image.
Prize
Award Categories:
Authorâs Book Award
Historical Book Award
Photo-Text Book Award
Cash Prize: âŹ6,000 per category
Exhibition: Shortlisted and winning books will be exhibited at the festival
Ownership: Books submitted will become the property of Les Rencontres dâArles
Archives: Winning books will be included in the archives of Les Rencontres dâArles and the Ăcole nationale supĂŠrieure de la photographie d'Arles library
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Submission Deadline: May 12, 2025
The Eyes Wide Open 1st Photo Book Grants support photographers proposing their first book project in collaboration with an independent French publisher. The program, organized by Eyes Wide Open (the cultural production arm of The Eyes label) with support from the French Ministry of Culture and SAIF, offers three grants of âŹ5,000 each to help fund the production of a photographic book. The grants are aimed at photographers from various backgrounds and regions, encouraging the creation of new and innovative book projects.
Prize
Grant Value: âŹ5,000 (including tax)
Number of Grants: 3
Grant 1: For a French photographer (living in France or abroad)
Grant 2: For a female photographer (of any nationality)
Grant 3: For a photographer from a Southern territory (Africa, Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Middle East)
Book Production Support: Financial aid for the creation of a first book, to be published within 2 years (by November 2026)
Book Distribution: Minimum print run of 500 copies, must be available in bookstores
Commitment: Photographers must collaborate with an independent French publisher, and the book must be produced exclusively with the grant funds
Exhibition and Publication: Final book will be published with a copyright contract between the publisher and the photographer
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: Free
Submission Deadline: May 18, 2025
The OFF Bratislava 2025 is the sixteenth edition of the festival, focusing on the theme "Trip Without A Ticket", which invites artists to explore alternate dimensions, consciousness, and perception. The festival aims to create a space for new and emerging talent in photography and new media, providing them with an opportunity to present their work and be part of an exhibition in Bratislava, Slovakia in November 2025. This yearâs theme draws inspiration from the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s, celebrating boundary-pushing, free-spirited art that questions and deconstructs our perception of reality.
Prize
Exhibition: Selected works will be exhibited at the OFF Bratislava festival in November 2025, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Theme: "Trip Without A Ticket" (Exploring alternate dimensions, altered consciousness, and distorted perception).
Exposure: Artists will gain exposure in the international art and photography community through the festival's program.
Entry Fee and Deadline
Entry Fee: âŹ29
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2025
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