Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. Highlighting the most compelling imagery – illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, hate, compassion, human rights failures or victories in ways small and large – the images will serve to inspire people to personally get involved and to take a stand for human rights. 

Seeking The Best Human Rights Photography​

Our esteemed jury is looking for compelling, dynamic and impactful images that tell the story of the challenges facing those people living in human rights crisis zones as well as photos of hope that depict the heroes working to deliver solutions to the difficult realities in their regions.

For more information about human rights and to reference the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the milestone United Nations document outlining the fundamental human rights to be universally protected by every nation, visit: www.ohchr.org

The Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award, granted by Médicos del Mundo Spain recognizes the work of professional photographers who, through their images, denounce inequities, injustices and abuses, or testify to the situations that propitiate them or that fight.

By giving this prize the proper name of the photographer and cooperator Luis Valtueña, tribute is paid to his memory and that of three other cooperating members of the association who were murdered in Rwanda (1997) and in Bosnia (1995) when they were carrying out actions humanitarian.

This award also wants to highlight human values and evidence all kinds of violations of people's rights. Doctors of the World is firmly committed to documentary photography to raise awareness among the general public and promote social mobilization, in order to contribute to the eradication of the worst of diseases: injustice.

Prize

A unique prize will be awarded. The winning person will receive a work grant of 6,000 euros  to make an in-depth report consisting of at least 50 photographs and how many pieces of video and / or audio it considers pertinent, around some of the lines of work of Doctors of the World, being able to be carried out in any of the countries in which the organization develops programs of humanitarian action and / or cooperation to the development.

What does an award-winning photograph look like? It can range from an captivating portrait of a family member to a moon-drenched landscape to movement captured at just the right time. Our 17th Annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions, and we're looking for the best of the best.

What category should I select for my photograph?

Use your best judgment, but here are the guidelines we suggest you follow when selecting the category:

• Natural World: Animals, plants and landscapes; geological or climatological features; and scientific processes and endeavors.
• Travel: Locales, peoples or activities in the United States and abroad that convey a sense of place.
• People: Portraits and photos of groups or individuals.
• The American Experience: Events, objects or activities connecting the American people to their history or their cultural heritage; photographs that tell us what it means to be an American and provide a sense of what it is like to live in this country.
• Altered Images: Photographs manipulated for artistic purposes by applying digital and/or traditional special effects.
• Mobile: Any photograph taken with a mobile device (phone or tablet).

​What are the prizes?

• Grand Prize winner: $2,500, plus a trip to Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel Island sponsored by The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
• Category winners: $500
  
• Readers' Choice winner: $500
  

​For full details, see our rules.

Water may be the oldest and the perfect companion of humankind. Not only is our bodies predominantly made of water, but water is a necessity within our daily lives. From nature to nurture to science and discovery; water is central to our universe.

Photography not only photographs the present, but in time creates a rich archive of the past and even inspires the imagination for the future. Water as a theme provides an endless and provocative subject that captures the photographer’s imagination and inspires an opportunity for photographic brilliance and storytelling.

Prizes

• The Grand Prize (USD $120,000) will be chosen from any category this season.
• Last day of participation will be on 31 October 2019 at 11:59 pm (UAE local time)
• There are THREE Special Awards for the Ninth Season - ‘The Photography Appreciation Award’, ‘The Photography Content Creator Award’ and the ‘Emerging Person/Organization in Photography Award’.
• Other categories are: General, Portfolio and Mobile photography
• The General Category will have two sub categories ‘Colour’ and ‘Black and White’.
• Participants are allowed to submit a Black and White photograph in all categories except the ‘General – Color’ sub category.
• Submitted Photo(s) must be in JPEG format, with high quality and resolution, of a minimum 5 MB in size, the minimum of the longest edge should be no less than 2000 pixel and the quality no less than 300dpi except the Mobile category where the photo must be no less than 2 MB and to be suitable for publication.
• Participants are requested to submit the RAW/original camera files at the same time of submitting their photographs.

Our esteemed jury is looking for compelling, dynamic and impactful images that tell the story of the challenges facing those people living in human rights crisis zones as well as photos of hope that depict the heroes working to deliver solutions to the difficult realities in their regions.

For more information about human rights and to reference the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the milestone United Nations document outlining the fundamental human rights to be universally protected by every nation, visit: www.ohchr.org

ExhibitionIn 2019, the Top 10 finalists' photos will be exhibited at the United Nations General Assembly Gallery in New York City. An opening reception will be held for artists, UN dignitaries and media to announce the winner on December 10th — Human Rights Day.
United Nations Gallery NYCThe winner of the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize will be announced on UN Human Rights Day in conjunction with the opening reception for the Photography 4 Humanity Exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters. The winning photographer, who will be selected by an eminent jury of photo editors, journalists and human rights champions, will receive a $5,000 USD cash prize and will have their photo promoted in all relevant media worldwide.

Photography started as a chemical experiment.   However, the acknowledged inventor of the process, Thomas Wedgwood, was the son and grandson of famous English potters.  His entire life he was surrounded by artists, creators.  Wedgwoods pals were William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  So, it is not unusual or unexpected that creative folks have taken his work and run with it.  For many photographers it’s about the camera, for others it’s about what can be birthed once it leaves the thing and for others it is the possibility of making images that are miraculous orphans.

Any unique handmade prints are eligible.   Eligible prints include but are not limited to cyanotype, lumens, Van Dyke, salt, chemigram, tintype, bromoil, gum bichromate, platinum/palladium, photogravure, albumen, liquid emulsion, ziatype, image transfers, kallitypes, lith prints, hand colored silver gelatin prints, encaustic and mordoncage.  Unique prints made from digital negatives are eligible.   The camera used for capture is immaterial.  Creativity is encouraged.

Awards

The awards are as follows:

• Jurors Award – $325.00
• Directors Award – $250.00
• Discretionary Honorable Mentions – an exhibition catalogue
• Visitors Award – $100.00

The Professional competition rewards and showcases the world’s most outstanding bodies of work.

Judges are looking for series that are technically brilliant, exciting and offer a fresh perspective on what contemporary photography can do. They want to uncover work that would otherwise be unseen, and share it with a worldwide audience.

For emerging photographers, the Awards can open doors to publishing deals, gallery representation and worldwide exhibitions. For established artists, the Awards offer a global platform to share personal projects and recognition for your passion for the medium.

Artists can enter multiple series of works to the following categories: Architecture, Creative, Discovery, Documentary, Environment, Landscape, Natural World & Wildlife, Portraiture, Still Life, and Sport.

Read about the Latin America Professional Award, new for the 2020 Sony World Photography Awards' Professional competition. 

Prizes

• Photographer of the Year receives $25,000 (USD), a range of Sony digital imaging equipment and inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London
• Ten category winners receive flights and accommodation to the Awards ceremony in London, a range of Sony digital imaging equipment, publication in the Sony World Photography Awards book, inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London.
• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners receive Awards ceremony ticket, publication in the Sony World Photography Awards book, inclusion in the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London
• Shortlisted photographers - works shown on digital screens at Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London