Sander Vos

The Independent Photographer
is a monthly photography award
& online magazine

SUBMIT PHOTOS MAGAZINE
© Sander Vos

Celebrating photography & supporting emerging artists

black and white street photo of woman walking by Mania De Praeter
© Mania De Praeter
2025 Black & White AWARD

Win $2700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

In January, we invite photographers working across all styles and categories, to share moving and inspiring images that display the diverse beauty of black & white!

  • Win $2700 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +830k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio
Portrait photo of a naked woman with a bull outfit around her waist by Marisol Mendez
© Marisol Mendez

Editorial • Documentary

Marisol Mendez: Culture, Memory and Identity

Bolivian photographer Marisol Mendez creates deeply personal visual stories that explore culture, memory and identity.

MAGAZINE

2025 Black & White Award

Win $2700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

In January, we invite photographers working across all styles and categories, to share moving and inspiring images that display the diverse beauty of black & white!

  • Win $2700 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +830k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio
black and white street photo of children
© Brian Bobel
black and white landscape film photo of a road by Alexandre Caetano
© Alexandre Caetano
black and white photo of cats by Karlynne Wintels
© Karlynne Wintels
black and white portrait of an asian woman by Marina Mikhova
© Marina Mikhova
black and white landscape photo by Valentina Parente
© Valentina Parente
black and white street photo of people in a bus in India by Yashovardhan Sodhani
© Yashovardhan Sodhani
black and white photo of horses and rider by Lucas Pereira
© Lucas Pereira
black and white street photo of children
© Brian Bobel
black and white landscape film photo of a road by Alexandre Caetano
© Alexandre Caetano
black and white photo of cats by Karlynne Wintels
© Karlynne Wintels
black and white portrait of an asian woman by Marina Mikhova
© Marina Mikhova
black and white landscape photo by Valentina Parente
© Valentina Parente
black and white street photo of people in a bus in India by Yashovardhan Sodhani
© Yashovardhan Sodhani
black and white photo of horses and rider by Lucas Pereira
© Lucas Pereira
black and white street photo of children
© Brian Bobel
black and white landscape film photo of a road by Alexandre Caetano
© Alexandre Caetano
black and white photo of cats by Karlynne Wintels
© Karlynne Wintels
black and white portrait of an asian woman by Marina Mikhova
© Marina Mikhova
black and white landscape photo by Valentina Parente
© Valentina Parente
black and white street photo of people in a bus in India by Yashovardhan Sodhani
© Yashovardhan Sodhani
black and white photo of horses and rider by Lucas Pereira
© Lucas Pereira
black and white street photo of children
© Brian Bobel
black and white landscape film photo of a road by Alexandre Caetano
© Alexandre Caetano
black and white photo of cats by Karlynne Wintels
© Karlynne Wintels
black and white portrait of an asian woman by Marina Mikhova
© Marina Mikhova
black and white landscape photo by Valentina Parente
© Valentina Parente
black and white street photo of people in a bus in India by Yashovardhan Sodhani
© Yashovardhan Sodhani
black and white photo of horses and rider by Lucas Pereira
© Lucas Pereira
black and white street photo of workers in Minnanthu Village in Bagan, Myanmar by Thaveechai Sirikulthada
© Thaveechai Sirikulthada
black and white fine art portrait of a man by Ian Wallace
© Ian Wallace
black and white landscape photo of mountains and Lake Carezza, Italy by Charlotte Ladefoged
© Charlotte Ladefoged
black and white close up portrait of a girl by Tatsuo Suzuki
© Tatsuo Suzuki
black and white photo of man and cloud cigarette smoking by Lauriane Bieber
© Lauriane Bieber
fashion black and white photo of a young woman by Ann Cathrin Buchardt
© Ann Cathrin Buchardt
Black and white photo of men pulling fishing net in india by Salvatore Franco
© Salvatore Franco
black and white street photo of workers in Minnanthu Village in Bagan, Myanmar by Thaveechai Sirikulthada
© Thaveechai Sirikulthada
black and white fine art portrait of a man by Ian Wallace
© Ian Wallace
black and white landscape photo of mountains and Lake Carezza, Italy by Charlotte Ladefoged
© Charlotte Ladefoged
black and white close up portrait of a girl by Tatsuo Suzuki
© Tatsuo Suzuki
black and white photo of man and cloud cigarette smoking by Lauriane Bieber
© Lauriane Bieber
fashion black and white photo of a young woman by Ann Cathrin Buchardt
© Ann Cathrin Buchardt
Black and white photo of men pulling fishing net in india by Salvatore Franco
© Salvatore Franco
black and white street photo of workers in Minnanthu Village in Bagan, Myanmar by Thaveechai Sirikulthada
© Thaveechai Sirikulthada
black and white fine art portrait of a man by Ian Wallace
© Ian Wallace
black and white landscape photo of mountains and Lake Carezza, Italy by Charlotte Ladefoged
© Charlotte Ladefoged
black and white close up portrait of a girl by Tatsuo Suzuki
© Tatsuo Suzuki
black and white photo of man and cloud cigarette smoking by Lauriane Bieber
© Lauriane Bieber
fashion black and white photo of a young woman by Ann Cathrin Buchardt
© Ann Cathrin Buchardt
Black and white photo of men pulling fishing net in india by Salvatore Franco
© Salvatore Franco
black and white street photo of workers in Minnanthu Village in Bagan, Myanmar by Thaveechai Sirikulthada
© Thaveechai Sirikulthada
black and white fine art portrait of a man by Ian Wallace
© Ian Wallace
black and white landscape photo of mountains and Lake Carezza, Italy by Charlotte Ladefoged
© Charlotte Ladefoged
black and white close up portrait of a girl by Tatsuo Suzuki
© Tatsuo Suzuki
black and white photo of man and cloud cigarette smoking by Lauriane Bieber
© Lauriane Bieber
fashion black and white photo of a young woman by Ann Cathrin Buchardt
© Ann Cathrin Buchardt
Black and white photo of men pulling fishing net in india by Salvatore Franco
© Salvatore Franco
black and white street photo of children
© Brian Bobel
black and white landscape film photo of a road by Alexandre Caetano
© Alexandre Caetano
black and white photo of cats by Karlynne Wintels
© Karlynne Wintels
black and white portrait of an asian woman by Marina Mikhova
© Marina Mikhova
black and white landscape photo by Valentina Parente
© Valentina Parente
black and white street photo of people in a bus in India by Yashovardhan Sodhani
© Yashovardhan Sodhani
black and white photo of horses and rider by Lucas Pereira
© Lucas Pereira
black and white street photo of workers in Minnanthu Village in Bagan, Myanmar by Thaveechai Sirikulthada
© Thaveechai Sirikulthada
black and white fine art portrait of a man by Ian Wallace
© Ian Wallace
black and white landscape photo of mountains and Lake Carezza, Italy by Charlotte Ladefoged
© Charlotte Ladefoged
black and white close up portrait of a girl by Tatsuo Suzuki
© Tatsuo Suzuki
black and white photo of man and cloud cigarette smoking by Lauriane Bieber
© Lauriane Bieber
fashion black and white photo of a young woman by Ann Cathrin Buchardt
© Ann Cathrin Buchardt
Black and white photo of men pulling fishing net in india by Salvatore Franco
© Salvatore Franco

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

People AWARD January 2025

Winner Mo Kamal

Discover all winners

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  • Upcoming Awards

    Each month, photographers submit images to a themed competition judged by an acclaimed artist.

    STREET – September 2024
    OPEN CALL – October 2024
    LANDSCAPE – November 2024
    PEOPLE – December 2024
    BLACK & WHITE – January 2025
    VISUAL STORY – February 2025
    STREET – March 2025
    COLOR – April 2025
    PORTRAIT – May 2025
    BLACK & WHITE – June 2025
    TRAVEL – July/August 2025

    Coor photography of a man taking a bath by Ivelina Berova
    © Ivelina Berova
  • A unique chance to
    gain widespread exposure!

    • $ 24.000
      Cash Prizes

    • International
      Exhibition

    • Free
      Portfolio

    • Global
      Exposure

    • Professional
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    Swarat Ghosh

    Stories

    Discover a curation of the best contemporary photography projects, offering space and visibility to the work of international photographers.
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    © Swarat Ghosh

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