The Top 50 Photo Contests for 2012
The end of the year means a lot to many people, but one thing that comes to my mind around this time of year are the many photo contests that are ending or about to end their submissions deadlines.
For a photographer, the best exposure comes not from your own mouth, but from others talking about your work. Photo contests are one of the best ways to get people talking about you and your work but sometimes these photo competitions are hard to find. This year, I want to share what I believe are some of the top photo contests around the world. Don't waste any time as some of these contest entry deadlines are fast approaching and the prizes are quite amazing. Some of the prizes up for grabs include 2 first class airline tickets, photo gear, cash, exhibits and more. There seems to be a contest for every type of photographer as well, ranging from teen contests to women only photographers contest, bird photography, sports, B&W, food and more.
This is the time for you to shine by showing your best photography work to the world. Good luck!
The Top 50 Photo Contests for 2012
Google Photography Prize
http://www.google.com/landing/photographyprize/index.html
Enter by January 31, 2012
The 155th International Print Exhibiton 2012
http://www.rps.org/international-print-exhibition
Enter by March 21, 2012
PDN Photo Annual
http://www.pdnphotoannual.com/
Enter by January 25, 2012
The Open Photo Contest
http://www.theworldopen.com/about-open
Enter by August 1, 2012
Prize: $50,000 up for grabs
World Press Photo Contest
http://submit.worldpressphoto.org/
Enter by January 6, 2012 (Central European Time)
Photography Masters Cup
http://www.thecolorawards.com/index.php
Enter by May 25, 2012
The Professional Photographer of the Year Awards 2011
Enter by January 27, 2012
Sony World Photography Awards 2012
http://worldphoto.org/competitions/
Enter by January 4th, 2012
The Black & White Spider Awards
http://www.thespiderawards.com/
Now Open for Entries
International Street Photography Award
Enter by January 5th, 2012
The Emergent Artist Award
http://emergentartistaward.com/Default.aspx
Enter by December 31, 2011
Food Photographer of the Year 2012
Enter by January 31st, 2012
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Enter by February 23rd, 2012
2012 Kellicutt International Juried Photo Contest
Enter by February 29th, 2012
Nikon Small World Competition
http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/
Enter by April 30, 2012
APO Productivity Photo Contest 2012
Enter by February 29, 2012
Canadian International Digital Photography Awards (CIDPA)
Enter by January 3, 2012
Alaska Airlines Photo Contest
http://www.paradigmcg.com/2012_Photo_Contest.pdf
Enter by February 15, 2012
Red Bull Illume Sport Photo Contest
TBD
Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers
Enter by December 30th, 2011
2012 San Francisco International Photography Competition
http://galleryphotographica.com/
Enter by January 20, 2012
Professional Women Photographers Juried Photography Competition
http://pwponline.org/page.php?page=index
Enter by January 31, 2012
Ceres Gallery 10th National Juried Exhibition ( Fine Art)
Juror: Samantha Rippner- Curator Metropolitan Museum of Art – NYC
Enter by February 15, 2012
Beyond Memory (Italy)
Enter by February 29, 2012
Black & White Alternative Photographic Processes
http://rangefinderalternative.com/
Enter by January 1, 2012
The Human Form Photo Contest
http://www.darkroomgallery.com/ex24
Enter by December 28, 2011
Exposure - A Competition Celebrating the Power of Image
http://www.artistswanted.org/exposure/?f=pp_pcn2
Enter by December 20, 2011
GRAND PRIZE- $10,000 cash grant
Nature’s Best Photography Picture Of The Week
http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/enter_othercompetitions.php
Ongoing
KL International Photo Awards 2012
Enter by March 31, 2012
Photographers Giving Back Award
http://www.thepgbphotoaward.com/home/
Enter by January 25, 2012
Animals Photographic Contest
http://lafango.com/contests/photography-animals
Enter by February 22, 2012
LENS 2012 International Juried Photography Exhibition (Fine Art Photography)
http://perspectivegallery.org/lens-2012
Enter by January 15, 2012
Digital Photo Pro 2nd Annual Photo Of The Year
Enter by January 3, 2012
Fellowship 12 International Photography Competition
Enter by January 15, 2012
MPA Wedding & Portrait Awards 2012 (UK)
Enter by May 18, 2012
Better Photography Photographer of the Year 2011
http://betterphotography.in/poy/
Enter by December 10, 2011
The 2012 Macquarie Photography Prize
Enter by May 24, 2012
2011 Gardens in Focus Photography Competition
Enter by December 10, 2011
International Photography Art Competition
http://www.showartists.com/magzine/41
Enter by October 30, 2012
Chromania
http://www.minispace.com/en_us/background/17/
Enter by January 31, 2012
Prize: iPhone 4s
Joys of Travel Photo Contest
http://www.kutoatravel.com/Giveaway/
Enter by December 31, 2011
Prize: Choice of Fantastic Holiday
PDN Top Knots Contest
http://topknotscontest.com/index.shtml
Enter by January 11, 2012
Red for Heart Photography Competition (UK)
Enter by January 6, 2012
1st Annual International Teen Photo Photography Contest
http://teenagephotographer.com/highschoolphotocontest/
Enter by December 31, 2011
Birds As Art 1st International Bird Photo Competition
http://www.birdsasart.com/competition/
Enter by March 31, 2012
5th Annual Emerging Pro Photo Competition
http://www.digitalphotopro.com/5th-annual-emerging-pro.html
Enter by December 20, 2011
Donkey Art Prize II
http://www.donkeyartprize.com/
Enter by February 15, 2012
2012 Charlatan Ink Art Prize for the VISUAL ARTS
http://www.charlatanink.com/artprize/rules2012.html
Enter by February 29, 2012
National Geographic Your Shot
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot
Ongoing
2012 International Art Competition and Exhibition
Enter by January 2, 2012
Prize: Trip to Japan
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Comments
Great article Matthew.
Also checkout http://www.photographycompetitions.net which keeps an updated list of open photo contests all year round
Nice list, Matthew, but you're only half-done with a truly helpful article. In addition, provide all the "rights-grabbing" scams hidden inside some of these photo contests. In some cases, any person submitting a photo loses control over rights to the submitted photos and in other cases, the so-called winners end up losing some or all rights to their images. In most cases, the benefits awarded to winners rarely compensates the photographer for the "rights-grab"!
Great Stuff man! Thank you very much for all the links, the info has been very useful for me.
Vary nice article, I think you should also let the people know about free directory of photo contest information http://photocontestinformation.com/
Superb list of contests, checkout this site also for FREE contests. http://thephotocontest.info
Please also have a look at Arles Photography Open Salon. http://www.photographyopensalon.com
Runs during and alongside the Arles Photography Festival Les Rencontres d'Arles
Currently open for entries until 10 May 2012
Nice list. Most of these competitions and contest are listed at http://www.PhotoVideoCompetitions.com.
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