black and white collage abstract portrait photo by Sander Vos. Photo competition, Photo contest, Photo awards

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© Sander Vos

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Color portrait fashion photo of woman with sunglasses in red car by
2026 Portrait AWARD

Win $2,700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

Can you tell a story with a single glance? – in May, we invite all photographers to share portraits that narrate compelling tales, whether captured in the controlled environment of a studio, the vibrant chaos of the street, or the rich landscapes of travel.

  • Win $2,700 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +970k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio
greece woman portrait photography in color by mihaela noroc, the atlas of beauty series
© Mihaela Noroc

Story • Portrait

The Atlas of Beauty

Since 2013 photographer Mihaela Noroc travels the world photographing everyday women with one goal: To showcase that beauty has no bounds, and that the diversity of our world is a treasure, not a reason for conflicts.

MAGAZINE

2026 Portrait Award

Win $2,700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

Can you tell a story with a single glance? – in May, we invite all photographers to share portraits that narrate compelling tales, whether captured in the controlled environment of a studio, the vibrant chaos of the street, or the rich landscapes of travel.

  • Win $2,700 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +970k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio
Color portrait fashion photo of woman with sunglasses in red car by © Steven Jackson
color fashion studio portrait of a male model by Carly Zavala © Carly Zavala
color photo of young monks in Varanasi, India by Thibault Gerbaldi. People Award © Thibault Gerbaldi
color portrait photo of woman at Romería de El Rocío I” - Andalusia, Spain, 2024 by Leon Foggitt © Leon Foggitt
color portrait photo of man on beach by Giandomenico Veneziani © Giandomenico Veneziani
black and white portrait photo of young woman by Ian McFarlane © Ian McFarlane
color portrait photo of hindu man and his monkey by Somraj Sahu © Somraj Sahu
Color portrait fashion photo of woman with sunglasses in red car by © Steven Jackson
color fashion studio portrait of a male model by Carly Zavala © Carly Zavala
color photo of young monks in Varanasi, India by Thibault Gerbaldi. People Award © Thibault Gerbaldi
color portrait photo of woman at Romería de El Rocío I” - Andalusia, Spain, 2024 by Leon Foggitt © Leon Foggitt
color portrait photo of man on beach by Giandomenico Veneziani © Giandomenico Veneziani
black and white portrait photo of young woman by Ian McFarlane © Ian McFarlane
color portrait photo of hindu man and his monkey by Somraj Sahu © Somraj Sahu
Color portrait fashion photo of woman with sunglasses in red car by © Steven Jackson
color fashion studio portrait of a male model by Carly Zavala © Carly Zavala
color photo of young monks in Varanasi, India by Thibault Gerbaldi. People Award © Thibault Gerbaldi
color portrait photo of woman at Romería de El Rocío I” - Andalusia, Spain, 2024 by Leon Foggitt © Leon Foggitt
color portrait photo of man on beach by Giandomenico Veneziani © Giandomenico Veneziani
black and white portrait photo of young woman by Ian McFarlane © Ian McFarlane
color portrait photo of hindu man and his monkey by Somraj Sahu © Somraj Sahu
Color portrait fashion photo of woman with sunglasses in red car by © Steven Jackson
color fashion studio portrait of a male model by Carly Zavala © Carly Zavala
color photo of young monks in Varanasi, India by Thibault Gerbaldi. People Award © Thibault Gerbaldi
color portrait photo of woman at Romería de El Rocío I” - Andalusia, Spain, 2024 by Leon Foggitt © Leon Foggitt
color portrait photo of man on beach by Giandomenico Veneziani © Giandomenico Veneziani
black and white portrait photo of young woman by Ian McFarlane © Ian McFarlane
color portrait photo of hindu man and his monkey by Somraj Sahu © Somraj Sahu
Large format film color portrait of a white man in Illinois, USA by Bryan Birks © Bryan Birks
Color film portrait photograph of a young woman by Michelle Marshall © Michelle Marshall
color portrait of a young girl in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Ronan Buckley © Ronan Buckley
color portrait of a young Irish traveller boy and his rooster by Bob Newman © Bob Newman
color fashion portrait of woman by Salima Kamara © Salima Kamara
color close up portrait of a Tibetan man by Xavier Orignac © Xavier Orignac
Large format film color portrait of a white man in Illinois, USA by Bryan Birks © Bryan Birks
Color film portrait photograph of a young woman by Michelle Marshall © Michelle Marshall
color portrait of a young girl in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Ronan Buckley © Ronan Buckley
color portrait of a young Irish traveller boy and his rooster by Bob Newman © Bob Newman
color fashion portrait of woman by Salima Kamara © Salima Kamara
color close up portrait of a Tibetan man by Xavier Orignac © Xavier Orignac
Large format film color portrait of a white man in Illinois, USA by Bryan Birks © Bryan Birks
Color film portrait photograph of a young woman by Michelle Marshall © Michelle Marshall
color portrait of a young girl in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Ronan Buckley © Ronan Buckley
color portrait of a young Irish traveller boy and his rooster by Bob Newman © Bob Newman
color fashion portrait of woman by Salima Kamara © Salima Kamara
color close up portrait of a Tibetan man by Xavier Orignac © Xavier Orignac
Large format film color portrait of a white man in Illinois, USA by Bryan Birks © Bryan Birks
Color film portrait photograph of a young woman by Michelle Marshall © Michelle Marshall
color portrait of a young girl in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Ronan Buckley © Ronan Buckley
color portrait of a young Irish traveller boy and his rooster by Bob Newman © Bob Newman
color fashion portrait of woman by Salima Kamara © Salima Kamara
color close up portrait of a Tibetan man by Xavier Orignac © Xavier Orignac

Past Judges

Our competition jury is comprised of esteemed industry figures representing such prestigious agencies and publications as Magnum Photos, VII, National Geographic, Agence Vu'Vogue & GEO.
  • logo of The Guardian and portrait photo of editor Fiona Shields

    Fiona Shields

    Fiona Shields is Head of Photography for The Guardian News and Media Group. With more than two decades of experience, she has delivered talks, mentored photojournalism students, and served as judge of numerous awards and competitions.

  • Judge Steve McCurry Profile Picture

    Steve McCurry

    Celebrated as one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography, American photographer Steve McCurry has created a unique collection of work featuring some of the most famous images of our time.

  • Judge Alessia Glaviano Profile Picture Vogue Logo

    Alessia Glaviano

    Based in Milan, Alessia Glaviano is the Brand Visual Director of Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue. She is responsible for Photo Vogue and was a 2015 World Press Photo jury member.

  • Judge Ed Kashi Profile Picture VII Logo

    Ed Kashi

    Represented by the prestigious VII agency, Ed Kashi is an acclaimed photojournalist and educator who uses photography to explore geopolitical and social issues that define our times.

  • Judge Maggie Steber Profile Picture National Geographic Logo

    Maggie Steber

    A celebrated figure in the photographic community, Maggie Steber works for National Geographic and is part of the renowned VII Photo Agency. She has earned prestigious honors, including the Leica Medal of Excellence, the World Press Foundation Award & a Pulitzer prize.

  • Judge REZA Profile Picture

    REZA

    Founder of Webistan Photo Agency and Explorer of National Geographic, internationally acclaimed Iranian-French photojournalist Reza is a three-times world press winning photographer and recipient of the ICP Infinity Award.

  • portrait of photographer Carol Körting

    Carol Körting

    Carol Körting is a professional portfolio reviewer and the photo editor of the renowned Leica Fotografie International Magazine (LFI) and its online platform, producing and editing countless photographic projects since 2011.

  • portrait of photographer Nikos Economopoulos

    Nikos Economopoulos

    Member of Magnum Photos since 1990, Nikos Economopoulos has published several monographs and his iconic images have been published and exhibited worldwide. Economopoulos regularly teach and work around the world, in the context of his long-term On The Road project.⁠⁠

  • Judge Magdalena Herrera Profile Picture GEO Logo

    Magdalena Herrera

    Magdalena Herrera has worked in books, print, and magazines, spending ten years as head of the photo department at National Geographic before joining Geo France as Director of Photography. She was the chair of the 2018 World Press Photo contest.

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Competition winners

Color Photo AWARD Color Photo AWARD April 2026

Winner Wiktor Franko

Discover all winners

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Upcoming Awards

Each month, photographers enter a competition judged by a renowned artist.

STREET – September 2025
OPEN CALL – October 2025
LANDSCAPE – November 2025
PEOPLE – December 2025
BLACK & WHITE – January 2026
VISUAL STORY – February 2026
STREET – March 2026
COLOR – April 2026
BLACK & WHITE – May 2026
PORTRAIT – June 2026
TRAVEL – July/August 2026

Coor photography of a man taking a bath by Ivelina Berova
© Ivelina Berova

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color portrait photo of geisha in Japan by Anoush Abrar
© Anoush Abrar
“You can take a good picture of anything. A bad one, too.” – William Eggleston