Deadline: January 4, 2018
The World Press Photo Foundation invites all professional photographers worldwide to participate in its 61st Photo Contest. The annual Photo Contest rewards photographers for the best single-exposure pictures contributing to the past year of visual journalism. Whether entered as singles or stories, these pictures are judged in terms of their accurate, fair, and visually compelling insights about our world.
The World Press Photo of the Year award carries a cash prize of 10,000 euros, as well as return airfare and hotel accommodation for travel to Amsterdam during World Press Photo Festival. The winner also receives a selection of camera equipment provided by Canon and a Golden Eye Award.
The World Press Photo Foundation is a major force in developing and promoting visual journalism and visual storytelling. Through one of the most prestigious awards in photojournalism and digital storytelling, an exhibition seen by more than four million people worldwide each year, and extensive research and training programs, we strive to inspire, educate, and support both visual journalists and their global audience with fresh insights and new perspectives.
Categories
- Contemporary Issues: Single pictures (CI) or stories (CIS) documenting cultural, political or social issues affecting individuals or societies.
- All single pictures must have been shot in 2017.
- All story pictures must have been shot in 2016 or 2017. At least one picture in a story must have been shot in 2017 or first published in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures shot in 2017 will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- Environment: Single pictures (EN) or stories (ENS) documenting human impact, positive or negative, on the environment.
- All single pictures must have been shot in 2017.
- All story pictures must have been shot in 2016 or 2017. At least one picture in a story must have been shot in 2017 or first published in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures shot in 2017 will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- General News: Single pictures (GN) or stories (GNS) reporting on news topics and their aftermaths.
- All single pictures and stories must have been shot in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures (single pictures and pictures within stories) will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- Long-Term Projects: A project on a single theme that has been shot over at least three different years.
- Entries will contain between 24 and 30 pictures.
- An entry must contain pictures from at least three different years, and a minimum of four pictures must have been shot in 2017.
- Entries in this category will only be judged as a body of work and single pictures cannot be moved to another category.
- Single pictures are not eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- Nature: Single pictures (NA) or stories (NAS) showing flora, fauna and landscapes in their natural state.
- All single pictures must have been shot in 2017.
- All story pictures must have been shot in 2016 or 2017. At least one picture in a story must have been shot in 2017 or first published in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures shot in 2017 will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- People: Single pictures (PO) or stories (POS) of individuals or groups either in observed or posed portraits.
- All single pictures must have been shot in 2017.
- All story pictures must have been shot in 2016 or 2017. At least one picture in a story must have been shot in 2017 or first published in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures shot in 2017 will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- Sports: Single pictures (SP) or stories (SPS) that capture individual or team sports.
- All single pictures and stories must have been shot in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures (single pictures and pictures within stories) will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
- Spot News: Single pictures (SN) or stories (SNS) witnessing news moments or immediate events.
- All single pictures and stories must have been shot in 2017.
- Story entries must contain between 2 and 10 pictures.
- All pictures (single pictures and pictures within stories) will be eligible for the World Press Photo of the Year award.
Prizes
Nominees will be revealed on 14 February 2018, with the winners announced at the Awards Ceremony in Amsterdam, 12 April 2018.
- The prize-winning photographs are assembled into an exhibition that travels to 45 countries and is seen by more than 4 million people each year. The winning pictures are also published in the yearbook, which is available in multiple languages.
- All nominees are brought to Amsterdam in April to receive their prize during the World Press Photo Festival, an event featuring photographer presentations, screenings, talks, and the Awards Ceremony. A representative from each of the winning productions will have their travel and lodging paid for by the World Press Photo Foundation.
- The winners in each category will receive a diploma and a Golden Eye Award, presented during the annual Awards Ceremony.
- The World Press Photo of the Year award carries a cash prize of 10,000 euros.
Eligibility
- The World Press Photo contest is only open to professional photographers. Every photographer must provide valid evidence of current professional status.
- Team entries of two or more photographers are allowed. Per team member proof of professional status must be provided.
- The photographer(s) must be the author(s) of the pictures submitted in his/her/their name.
- The photographer(s), or the agent or representative entering on their behalf, must be the copyright holder(s) or have been authorized by the copyright holder(s) to submit the pictures.
- Pictures can be submitted whether or not they have been published.
- Pictures must meet the following specifications:
- Upload images with the original pixel size (unless cropped). Do not scale and do not change the resolution.
- ICC profile must be embedded. AdobeRGB, sRGB or grayscale Gamma 2.2 are recommended. No CMYK.
- Must be uploaded in JPEG format with high quality compression. We will use winning images for high quality reproduction.
- Pictures must not show the name of the photographer, agency, or publication, or any other information (these details can be included in the metadata of the pictures but must not be visible on the picture itself).
Application
- Obligatory registration: A username and password are required to enter the contest and must be requested before 4 January 2018, 12.00 (noon) CET.
- Submissions: For those registered, the deadline for submissions is 9 January 2018, 12.00 (noon) CET.
Find out how to enter, and read the entry rules.
For more information, visit World Press Photo Contest.
