2023 IPA PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

ANNUAL IPA PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

The International Photography Awards conducts an annual photography competition for professional, non-professional, and student photographers on a global level, creating one of the most ambitious and comprehensive competitions in the photography world today.

2023 IPA PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

The IPA recognizes photography’s leading talents who are creating, shaping and defining the world of photography today.

• Be honored by receiving the coveted Lucie Statue at the Lucie Awards Gala
• Receive the IPA Trophy at the “Best of Show” Exhibition in New York City
• Be Published in the IPA Annual Book of Photography
• Be Featured in the IPA Best of Show Exhibition in New York City and beyond
• Win $47,500 in cash prizes
• And more!

Submit your images and be a part of the most recognized event in Photography!

IPA 2023 IS NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!

EXTENDED EARLY BIRD DEADLINE (5% DISCOUNT):
MARCH 13, 2023

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• About Awards

NEW!
DEEPER PERSPECTIVE
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

REGULAR DEADLINE:
JUNE 5, 2023

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AWARDS AND PRIZES

The 11 Category winners in the Professional Categories will each receive a $1,200 cash prize, and the 11 Category winners in the Non-Professional Categories will each receive a $600 prize. Each of the above winners will also receive two tickets to attend the Lucie Awards Gala in New York city, where they will be finalists for the following titles:

• THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR (PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES)
• DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR (NON-PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES)

Submit your images and be a part of the most recognized event in Photography!

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

FOR PROFESSIONAL, NON-PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT

ADVERTISING

This category is for commercial images used to sell, market, promote or advertise a product, service, or person(s).

1. Automotive— featuring motor vehicles of any kind (motorcycles, cars, trucks, etc.)
2. Beauty— glamour-style portraiture, either artistic or commercial, emphasising someone’s or something’s beauty
3. Brands Campaign— photos to advertise or promote a specific brand
4. Fashion— featuring clothing, other fashion items/accessories, makeup or styling
5. Food— photographs featuring food
6. Music— relating to music, musicians, records (album art), concerts and musical events
7. Product— images that accurately and attractively represent products for commercial purposes
8. Self-Promotion— images that promote the photographer’s personal brand, style, personality, etc.
9. Other— advertising or commercial photographs which fall outside the scope of the above categories

ANALOG/FILM

This category is for photography that uses non-digital methods of capturing images.

1. Fine Art— images that focus on aesthetics; express an idea, a message, or an emotion through the artistic vision and execution of the photographer
2. Portrait— photos where a person or a group of people are the main subject
3. Landscape— images that capture the elements of nature and the natural features of land, sky and water
4. Other— analog or film photographs that fall outside the scope of the above categories

ARCHITECTURE

This category is for architectural photography, buildings or structures, interior or exterior, and any part thereof; dynamic images of architecture or architectural details.

1. Abstract— a more ‘artistic’ take on architecture photography, usually featuring lines, shapes, or angles, or parts of a structure outside the context of the whole
2. Bridges— images of bridges, arches, piers, or other similar structures or parts thereof
3. Buildings— photographs featuring buildings and structures, or any aspects of a building’s architectural features
4. Cityscapes— the physical aspects of a city or urban area
5. Historic— buildings or architectural sites with historic significance or value
6. Interiors— Interior design or aspects or buildings or structural spaces
7. Industrial— buildings and structures serving commerce and/or industry
8. Other— architectural sites and structures, or aspects thereof, which fall outside the range of the above categories

BOOK

This category is for bodies of work published in book form. Eligible books include exhibition catalogues, prototypes, proposals, independently published, self-published, traditional, limited edition, multi-author, single-author, intersectional, zine, handmade, re-issue, and more.

1. Documentary— providing factual information on specific subjects or events
2. Fine Art—where the intention is aesthetic, revealing the subjective, creative vision of the artist
3. Monograph— specialist work on a single subject or a limited aspect of a subject
4. Nature— focusing on natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures
5. People— portraiture and/or works focusing on the human element
6. Self-Published— work published by the author, independent of an established publisher
7. Other— book entries that fall outside the range of the above categories

EDITORIAL/PRESS

This category is for images usually meant to accompany text, illustrate a story, article, or an idea within the context of a publication, and can cover a wide range of subjects.

1. Contemporary Issues— photographs highlighting important social or political issues of our time
2. Environmental— including images of the natural environment or natural events (global warming, ecological footprint, etc.), taken for artistic, research, or monitoring purposes
3. Feature Story/ Photo Essay— images (usually a series) arranged to explore a theme, news feature, human-interest story, etc.
4. General News— images accurately representing news and current events
5. Personality— portraiture photography, specifically capturing the unique personalities and characteristics of the subject
6. Political— documentary or narrative photographs with a political theme
7. Sports—editorial images documenting any sport or sporting event, professional or amateur
8. War/Conflict— photographs covering armed conflicts and their effects on people and places
9. Other— editorial photographs that fall outside the scope of the above categories

EVENT

This category is for photographs featuring occurrences and people at any special event or occasion.

1. Competitive Events— this could include sporting or any other competitive events
2. Social Cause— photos covering events focused around social issues and causes
3. Traditions and Cultures— photos of events relating to or representing a specific culture or tradition
4. Wedding— images featuring people and activities relating to wedding or engagement ceremonies, celebrations or traditions
5. Concert — this could include music concerts or similar events
6. Other— event photography which falls outside the scope of the above categories

FINE ART

This category should feature images where the intention is aesthetic, revealing the subjective, creative vision of the artist, photos that express an idea, a message, or an emotion through the image and the technique used to create it.

1. Abstract— non-objective, experimental, or conceptual photography depicting a visual image not immediately associated with the object world
2. Collage— any image created by combining or pasting several images or parts of images together to create a new composition or interpretation of reality
3. Landscape— photography featuring landscapes in an artistic way, often enhanced, showing scenes in nature through the creative eye and techniques of the photographer
4. Minimalism— images using a minimum amount of components such as colour, shape, line and texture
5. Nudes— photos depicting the nude human body with an emphasis on form, composition, emotional content, and other aesthetic qualities
6. Portrait— artistic images of a person or group of people, capturing the personality of the subject by use of lighting, backdrops, poses, etc.
7. Still Life— photos depicting inanimate subject matter, typically a small group of objects or with a single object in focus
8. Other— Fine Art photography which falls outside the scope of the above categories

NATURE

This category is for photography that is devoted to displaying natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures.

1. Aerial / Drone— photographs taken from an aircraft, with a drone, or other flying object, either by hand or remotely
2. Animal/Pet
3. Astrophotography— photos of astronomical objects, celestial events, and areas of the night sky (landscapes with astronomical objects are included)
4. Flowers— floral photography in any form
5. Landscapes— photos that capture elements of nature and the natural features of land, sky and water. Photographs of artificial scenery, such as farm fields, orchards and gardens, can be entered here as well
6. Macro— close-up photographs where the size of the subject is life-size or larger
7. Seasons— images with a focus on the natural seasons, and their effect on nature
8. Sunset— photos showing the rich colors and dramatic lighting of the sunset
9. Trees— photography of trees and forestry
10. Underwater— photographs taken while under water, diving on the surface, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, or from a submersible or remotely operated underwater vehicle
11. Wildlife– photos documenting animals and other wildlife in their natural habitat (NOTE: animals NOT in their natural habitat, such as farm animals or those kept in a zoo, should be entered in the “Special/Pets” category)
12. Other— nature photography that falls outside the scope of the above categories

PEOPLE

This category is for photographs where people are the focus, whether a single person or a group, showing the human aspect of life in all its wonderful variety.

1. Children— portraits of children and youth
2. Culture— images that tell a story about a people and their culture or traditions
3. Family— photographs highlighting family and what it means
4. Lifestyle— the art of ‘everyday’, photos showing real-life events or milestones, people and their way of life
5. Newborn/Baby— portraits of newborns, babies, toddlers, etc.
6. Portrait— artistic images capturing the personality of a person or group of people
7. Self-Portrait— photos representing the artist taken by the artist
8. Street Photography— photos that capture the essence of the urban lifestyle, random moments, real life, chance encounters
9. Wedding— images of wedding or engagement celebrations, ceremonies, or traditions, and the people taking part
10. Other— images focusing on people that fall outside the scope of the above categories

SPECIAL

This category is for the more “niche” genres of photography, and those using special techniques or technology to achieve the finished product.

1. Digitally Enhanced— images that have been edited and/or enhanced using digital technology/editing software
2. Night Photography— images captured outdoors at night, between dusk and dawn
3. Panoramic— wide format images with horizontally elongated fields of view
4. Pets—photos featuring domesticated animals, including animals kept on a farm, in a zoo, or anywhere outside their natural habitat
5. Smartphone Photography— photos taken using a mobile phone/smartphone
6. Special Effects— images showing how a subject or scene can be interpreted or captured by the artist using special effects or techniques (manual or digital included)
7. Travel/Wanderlust— photos from around the world, highlighting an area’s landscape, people, cultures, customs and history
8. Other— special photographs that fall outside the scope of the above categories

SPORTS

This category is for all sports-related photography, editorial or artistic, featuring any competitive or recreational sport.

1. Extreme Sports— photos documenting sports and recreational activities perceived as involving a high degree of risk.
2. Motor Sports— images covering competitive sporting events that primarily involve the use of motorised vehicles
3. Team Sports— featuring any sport in which opposing teams compete to win
4. Sport competitions — covering local or international sporting events, such as world championships and world cups, etc., held to determine the best athlete or team in a given sport/field
5. Summer Sports— featuring sports primarily played in warmer seasons or climates
6. Winter Sports— featuring sports played primarily in colder seasons or climates
7. Other— any sports photography that falls outside the scope of the above categories

RULES OF THE IPA COMPETITION

ELIGIBILITY

The IPA competition is open to any living photographer, 18 years of age or older, from any country. Professional photographers will be judged against other professionals and non-professionals against other non-professionals and students.

IMAGE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All photographers must submit their work online. Digital files are required. Prints are not accepted as part of the competition. Digital images submitted should be saved as .jpg, compression HIGH, in RGB format and not exceed 4000px and 4 MB per file.

ENTRY FEES

All entries must include the appropriate entry fee in U.S. currency. Please click hereto see entry fees.

WHO IS CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL?

Photographers can submit as a professional who either earn, or have earned, some or all of their living from photography, and/or have had their photographic work published, and/or are a member of a photographic association or organization.

WHO IS CONSIDERED NON-PROFESSIONAL?

Photographers can submit as a non-professional if you do not fall under any of the above (Professional) categories. If you have earned some or all of your living as a photographer, had photographic work published, or are a member of a professional photographic organisation, then you must submit as a professional.

WHO IS CONSIDERED STUDENT?

Photographers can submit as a student if you are currently a full-time or part-time student. It is not necessary to be studying photography. A student of any subject can qualify.

IDENTIFYING MARKS AND SIGNATURES

No signature, stamp or any other identifying mark is allowed anywhere on the entry.

CATEGORIES

You may enter your work in as many categories as you wish. However, once the submission fee is paid, you will not be able to edit, change, or add new categories.

THE JUDGING PROCESS

The official judging of the IPA competition is done over several weeks by our distinguished panel of judges, experts in the field from all over the world. The jury rates each entry from 10-100 (10 being the lowest). The scores are tallied and the winners are selected based on the overall score based on the cumulative votes of the Jury. The identity of all photographers are hidden from the jury to ensure and impartial and unbiased voting process.

IPA asks each judge to review the images based on the following criteria: originality, creativity, excellence of execution, and overall impact, as well as relevance to the specific category.

BOOKS

1. Entries in this category must be submitted as a series.

2. A minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 images must accompany your online submission. We suggest that the 1st image is the front cover of the book and the remaining images are selections from the book.

3. Since the judging of this award is conducted via an online judging platform, it is not necessary to send a hard copy of your book. However, if you wish to upload a PDF version of the book, you may do so during the submission process on the image upload page.

USE AND OWNERSHIP OF IMAGES

Copyright and all other rights remain that of the photographer. Any photograph used by IPA shall carry the photographer’s credit line. Use may include publication in any IPA media sponsor publication. All entrants understand that any image submitted to the competition may be used by IPA for marketing and promotional purposes including in any media such as exhibitions, print and digital media directly related to the IPA competition, though there may not be monetary compensation. By winning or placing in the competition you are agreeing to be included in the winners’ annual.

Neither International Photography Awards, Lucie Awards, Lucie Foundation, International Awards, Inc., nor their associates, affiliates, or partners assumes any responsibility for photos submitted in violation of competition rules, or for those which violate copyright regulations. IPA will investigate claims of copyright infringement to the best of its ability, and will remove and disqualify images that are clearly demonstrated to violate copyright and/or competition policies. IPA will act to maintain the integrity of the competition and its affiliated entities, but is not responsible for any damages resulting from images submitted in violation with rules and regulations.

WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO ADJUDICATE IP CLAIMS

Claimants and users must understand that we are not an intellectual property tribunal. While we and our Designated Copyright Agent may in our discretion use the information provided in order to decide how to respond to infringement claims, we are not responsible for determining the merits of such claims. If a user responds to a claim of infringement by providing assurances that its content is not infringing, the user agrees that if we thereafter restore or maintain the content, the user will defend and hold us harmless from any resulting claims of infringement brought against us and our Designated Copyright Agent.

BEST OF SHOW

Annually, a guest curator will choose 20-25 photographs from all the winners who have received 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize in the competition, from both professional and amateur categories, which will be shown in a travelling exhibition that opens during the Lucie Awards in New York. Works of the 13 professional and non-professional category winners will also be shown at this exhibition. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing to have prints of your photographs shown in this exclusive traveling exhibition, and will not be receiving pecuniary compensation.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS™

OUR MISSION: TO SALUTE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE WORLD’S FINEST PHOTOGRAPHERS, TO DISCOVER NEW AND EMERGING TALENT, AND TO PROMOTE THE APPRECIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

The International Photography Awards™conducts an annual competition for professional, amateur, and student photographers on a global scale, creating one of the most ambitious and comprehensive photo competitions in the photography world today.

The category winners in both professional and amateur levels, listed here, will compete for IPA’s top two awards, which will be announced at the annual Lucie Awards Gala. The main professional prize is International Photographer of the Year, selected from the 11 professional category winners and earning the coveted Lucie Trophy and a cash prize of $12,000. The 11 category winners in the non-professional/student categories will compete for the title of Discovery of the Year. The winner will also be awarded the Lucie Trophy and a $6,000 cash prize.

IPA is a sister-effort of the Lucie Foundation, 501(c) 3 non-profit, charitable foundation whose mission is to honor master photographers, discover and cultivate emerging talent, and promote the appreciation of photography worldwide. The annual programming of the Lucie Foundation is funded largely though the International Photography Awards, including the signature event, the Lucie Awards.

CONTACT IPA

INTERNATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS USA

1318 E, 7th St.,
Suite 140
Los Angeles, CA
90021

INTERNATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS ASIA

Unit B, 10/F, ChinaChem Johnston Plaza
178-186 Johnston Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
China

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