• color portrait of Steve McCurry
    © Steve McCurry

    Judge: Steve McCurry

    Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for over three decades and has created a unique collection of work featuring some of the most famous images of our time. McCurry’s work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions, and contemporary culture alike – yet always retains the human element that made his celebrated image of the Afghan Girl so powerful.

    Over the course of his illustrious career, his work has been the subject of countless exhibitions around the world and recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Award, and an unprecedented four first prize awards from World Press Photo.

    McCurry has published over a dozen books including, The Iconic Photographs (2011), Untold: The Stories Behind the Photographs (2013), Afghanistan (2017), A Life in Pictures (2018), and In Search of Elswhere (2019).

     

    – Competition Judge:

    2019 Travel Award

color portrait photo of geisha in Japan by Anoush Abrar
© Anoush Abrar

Closing Soon

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

Win $2,700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

Can you tell a story with a single glance? – in June, 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
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