Are you an enthusiastic photographer searching for a venue to display your abilities? The Smithsonian Institution, one of the top cultural and educational institutions in the world with headquarters in the United States, is hosting the famous worldwide competition known as the Smithsonian Annual Photo Contest 2024. Photographers from all around the world participate in this international competition, which showcases a wide range of photos that convey compelling events, compelling narratives, and the beauty of our planet. The competition welcomes participation from a varied range of photographers, including professionals and amateurs, and is open to photographers of all skill levels, backgrounds, and nationalities.
More than 470,000 images have been entered in the Smithsonian Annual Photo Contest during the previous 20 years, demonstrating the diverse range of inventiveness exhibited by contestants. This competition features a range of themes that provide an insight into distinctive environments, human stories, and fascinating subjects. Travel, People, Altered Images, Mobile Photography, and the Natural World are some of the categories. The competition celebrates the art and significance of photography by providing a forum for the exchange of innovative concepts and visual narratives, with winners and noteworthy entries having the opportunity to receive cash awards of up to $2,500.
Selected photos will also be published in Smithsonian Magazine, providing winners with important public exposure. Photographers have until the contest’s specified entry period to submit their work. Entries will be evaluated on the basis of their quality, originality, and degree to which they fit the contest’s themes.
Host Country: Online
University: The Smithsonian Institution,
Opportunity Type: international competition
Eligibility Country: All Nationalities
Financial coverage: Paid
Eligibility Criteria:
- The Grand Prize, Readers’ Choice Prize, and category prizes in Natural World, Travel, People, The American Experience, Artistic Images, and Drone/Aerial are open to photographers who are 18 years of age or older.
- To be eligible for any category in the contest, photos must have been taken after January 1, 2021.
- Contestants must attest that the photo they have submitted is their original work, with full creative and copyright ownership.
- All categories accept cropped photographs.
- In all categories, minor changes are permitted, including the removal of sensor dust, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast, tone, small colour adjustments, and grayscale conversion.
- It is not allowed to add or remove things from images, with the exception of the Artistic Images category.
- A model release is needed for every photo that includes a recognized person; in the case of a juvenile, the parent must supply this release.
- If participants upload pictures of other people’s artwork (such as paintings or sculptures), they must give permission for those photographs to be used.
- If necessary releases are not given, The Smithsonian retains the right to reject submissions.
- All local, state, and federal laws must be complied with by photos.
- Photos that violate someone else’s rights—including copyright—are not allowed to be entered in the competition.
Benefits:
- Global exposure is granted to winning or featured entries, making them visible to a large audience of amateur and professional photographers.
- The Smithsonian Annual Photography Contest offers cash awards to winners, recognizing their efforts with $2,500 for the Grand Prize, $500 for each Category Winner, and $500 for the Readers’ Choice award.
- Taking part in this esteemed competition enhances a photographer’s portfolio.
- Selected or winning photos may appear in print and online publications published by the Smithsonian.
- Photos may also be displayed on the Smithsonian’s website or added to an archive of contests that is open to the public.
Deadline: December 2, 2024
