Open Call Award Editors’ Picks of December 2021

‘A good photographer gets right inside the story, gets accepted as part of it, stands in the right place at the right time, and presses the shutter’. – Bill Hurn

Following the results of our recent Open Call photography award (judged by Editor and Curator of Foam Magazine Elisa Medde), our editors are excited to share some of the competition entries that didn’t make it through to the final round. These images, nonetheless display remarkable skill and technique; encompass a diversity of unique and fascinating subjects, and a variety of genres, and are, in our opinion, well worthy of exposure.

– Discover the 2021 Open Call Award winners & finalists here

“La maja desnuda ” - California, USA
Fresh viewpoint on famous maja portrayed by Goya delivering
beaty with Spanish character.
© Rodislav Driben
“Glacier River ” - Iceland, 2021
Seen from the air, the rivers enriched with minerals by the glaciers are forming abstract structures as they make their way through the black sand to the ocean. If you look closely, you can see the fine structure of the water surface. © Paul Lichte
“Mongolian Eagle Hunter” - Altai Mountains, Mongolia
Portrait of Bazarbai - the Mongolian Eagle Hunter with his
Eagle „Tastulek“, in the Altai Mountains.
© Tom Tautz
“Basketball II”
From the “Colour series”; A series shot from the air celebrating the intersection between sport and art.
© Ilanna Barkusky
“The circle”
"This image is of my daughter who was 10 months old and my friend’s mother who is 101 years old. One life is beginning and another is drawing to an end." © Gary Lawson
“Beginning”
Thin rhizomes are leading out of the darkness of the water and anchor the first thin leaves. This is the humble beginning of a water nymph, a beautiful plant with showy flowers that delights every viewer. © Hilda Champion
Studio work
Conceptual self portrait © Anna Karvounari
“Tundra’s people” - Northern Arctic, Russia
Daily life beyond the arctic circle, two little Nenets (ethnic group native to northern arctic Russia) come out of the chum intrigued by the camera. © Alessio Pannini
“Alpaca Kingdom” - Palccoyo, Highlands of Cusco, Peru, 2021
Palccoyo is famous for having « alternative rainbow mountains ». They are still not as known as the most famous one, situated in another valley. But when I arrived, and to my greatest surprise, it wasn’t the rainbow mountains that first caught my attention. It was all the mountains and valleys around, which have an incredible deep red color, contrasting so well with the yellow of the grass. © Nicolas Castermans
“Joan” - Amersfoort, Netherlands
In my portrait photography, I seek the hidden layers of the human psyche, stillness and awareness.
© Iris Valentina
“Wynchbottom Woods” - Buckinghamshire, England
Foggy December morning in the woods in Buckinghamshire, England. The remaining autumnal leaves, create a monochromatic scene of browns. © Ed Silvester
“A Moment To Reflect” - Myanmar
In the unique watery world of Inle Lake, Intha fisherman row canoes with one leg. Inle Lake is in the Shan Hills of Myanmar. At its southwestern edge, Phaung Daw Oo Paya is a tiered pagoda with gilded Buddha statues. In the hills, near the market town of Indein, the stupas of Shwe Inn Dein Pagoda resemble a field of gold spires. © Stephen Taylor

Published January 18, 2022 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Rodislav Driben, Paul Lichte, Tom Tautz, Ilanna Barkusky, Gary Lawson, Hilda Champion, Anna Karvounari, Alessio Pannini, Nicolas Castermans, Iris Valentina, Ed Silvester, Stephen Taylor,

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.