Open Call Award Editors’ Picks of October 2022

Following the results of last month’s Open Call competition – judged by National Geographic Senior Photography Editor Molly Roberts – we want to share some of the competition entries that didn’t make the final selection but nevertheless impressed with their strength, quality, and artistry.

Melpa tribeswoman of Papa New Guinea in traditional attire; children in a Mumbai playground; an ethereal Autumnal scene in Germany: we received a truly incredible variety of images from across the photographic spectrum and are truly honored to shine a light on the work of 15 talented photographers, who we believe, demonstrate the medium’s inimitable potential.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated in the award for taking the time to share their work with us!

“The Me’en girl” - Ethiopia
This young girl belongs to Me’en or Bodi tribe, nomadic people that live in southern Ethiopia. After spending time and learning about their culture and rituals this young girl agrees to have her photo taken. What is very specific for the Me’en girls are the tribal beautification marks on their bodies. These beautification marks (scarifications) come in many forms as the bearer wants them to be. They adorn their body with beautiful tribal bracelets. © Biljana Jurukovski
“East Side View” - Mount Rainier, Washington State, USA
The late summer and fall of 2022 have been a time of persistent wildfires in Western Washington. On Oct. 10th, I drove to the vicinity of Chinook Pass in the early afternoon. There I captured this view of Mt. Rainier, remnants of the fires still showing in the lingering smoke in the valleys and dirty colors of the normally white and pristine snowfields of the 14,410’ volcano. © David Demarest
“Waika, the Huaorani spiritual advisor” - Amazonia
Within a Huaorani community, the division of labour is quite distinctive: men hunt and protect the tribe, women raise the families, protect their sense of community, their mental health and much more besides. © Marios Forsos
“Mumbai playground” - Mumbai, India
In the dense suburbs of Mumbai, India, parks are a luxury and an escape. © Eben Felix
“Wings of Peace" - Florida. USA
Portrait of a graceful flying great Egret captured in Florida, USA © Fenqiang Liu
“Melpa tribe” - Chimbu province, Papua New Guinea
Portrait of three women of the Melpa tribe in their traditional attire © Joaquin Barata
“Autumn” - Germany
© Renate Wasinger
“You still dance” - from ongoing series ‘Manifest’
The intention behind my digital collages is that the beholder feels addressed immediately, without any further explanation. Therefore, I use present-day visual language and techniques to combine them with long-established, fundamental ideas of painting and drawing. Modern media affects us immensely, but so does almost forgotten ideas about shapes, colors and expressions of past days. © Jorg Karg
“Faces of devotion” - India
Portrait of devotees praying at Krishna Temple, Vrindavan, India © Robi Chakraborty
“Slightly Altered #4”
The artists went on a several-month trip across the Carpathian Mountains to discover how far people managed to intrude into the territories that were meant to be wild. The project is about the interdependency of humans and nature and the new ways the Earth begins to look as a result of our interventions in the environmental processes. Witnessing human intrusions into nature, the artists have started reflecting upon how much we, like all life, both alter our environment and are altered by it. Creating installations meant to live for a single day and photographing them before they decay, their images preserve vistas that are—sadly—likely to be irrevocably altered by the next generation. An abstract reflection on human exploitation of nature, the project is also a visual message about the importance of education - not the one about numerical or verbal literacy, but the one that teaches us to appreciate nature and to live our lives with awareness, responsibility, and care. © Tania and Roman Synchrodogs
“Feathers” - Arcadia, California
Feathers of a Chilean flamingo in Arcadia, California. © Melissa Cormican
“That Which is Wanted”
These hands that bind
Such machiavellianism in kind
Of a drained world beyond
Where my word is my bond
Would these hands lie to you?
© Emillio Daniel

Published November 17, 2022 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Biljana Jurukovski, David Demarest, Marios Forsos, Eben Felix, Fenqiang Liu, Joaquin Barata, Renate Wasinger, Jorg Karg, Robi Chakraborty, Tania and Roman Synchrodogs, Melissa Cormican, Emillio Daniel,

black and white portrait photo of a woman with freckles by Rafal Lapszanski

2023 Black & White AWARD

Win Cash Awards & International Exposure

In June, we invite photographers working across all styles and categories, to share moving and inspiring images that display the diverse beauty of monochrome.

Win $2000 in Cash
International Exhibitions
Published in 2023 photobook
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Deadline: 30 June 2023

Open Call Award Editors’ Picks of October 2022

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