Impactful landscape photography tells a meaningful story about a place. Mountains, rivers, open plains, coastal scenes, and deserts can all make beautiful subjects for this genre. A strong landscape image conveys a sense of scale, atmosphere, or drama, making viewers feel as though they’re in that location themselves.

 

In this category, the natural landscape should be the main subject in your photograph. People, wildlife, or structures may be present, but they should only play a supporting role. 

Wildlife photography allows us to look at the world from a completely different lens. This category celebrates the diversity of different animals around the world. Great wildlife images often capture an intriguing expression or interaction that reveals something unique about the subject.

 

Entries in this category should focus on wild and undomesticated animals. Photos of pets or captive animals won’t be accepted. 

Street photography captures candid moments in public spaces. It can tell a story about a culture, a community, or a specific location. A successful street image feels authentic and often reveals beauty in the ordinary.

 

People are often central to this genre, but the environment that they’re in also plays an important role. Entries should emphasize spontaneous moments rather than something staged.

Aerial photography offers a unique perspective by capturing the world from above. This category includes images made from drones or aircraft, showcasing patterns, textures, and landscapes that are rarely seen at ground level. 

 

For this category, subjects can include natural scenes, urban designs, or even events captured from above. The key is to create images that help viewers see the world in a new way. 

Portrait photography goes beyond photographing a face. To take a striking portrait, you need to pay attention to expressions, angles, and backgrounds. A good portrait should reveal something genuine about the subject and invite the viewer to engage with them on a personal level.

 

For this category, feel free to submit professional studio portraits, casual lifestyle photos, or environmental portraits. As long as there’s a visible face in the photo, we’ll accept it.

Underwater photography allows us to explore a world that’s completely different to ours. This category celebrates the mystery and beauty of the aquatic world.

 

Entries should be taken beneath the water’s surface, whether in oceans, lakes, or pools. The subject itself doesn’t matter (portrait, wildlife, plant, etc.), but the photo must have been taken underwater.

Architectural photography focuses on the design, shape, and details of buildings and other structures. This category highlights the engineering of buildings. These buildings can be skyscrapers in a bustling city or unusual structures in your local area.

 

Entries can focus on exteriors, interiors, or anything that includes some kind of architecture. The emphasis should be on design, shape, and composition. 

For this category, you’re open to submit photos of starry skies, moonlit landscapes, cityscapes, light trails, or creative low-light experiments.

 

Successful entries will showcase the technical skill required to work in low light. You’re welcome to use additional artificial light (e.g. a flashlight) to enhance the scene that you’re photographing.

Travel photography is all about exploration. For this category, you can submit photos that capture the essence of a place and its culture. Your entry should tell a clear story about a specific location, culture, or community anywhere in the world. 

 

This genre isn’t limited to a specific subject, so you’re welcome to photograph anything that describes a location and its unique personality. This may be a colorful market, a festival, or a group of people celebrating a national holiday. The possibilities are endless!

Bird photography focuses on one of the most diverse and dynamic groups of animals. Strong images of birds capture both motion and fine details. Make it your goal to photograph birds not just for their beauty, but for the story they tell through their behavior and habitat. 

 

Entries should feature wild birds in natural environments, not domesticated or captive settings. 

Macro photography reveals the intricate details of subjects that are often invisible to the naked eye. For this category, we encourage you to take a closer look at the world around you and capture its unique beauty, no matter how small. 

 

Your goal is to spark curiosity and wonder by revealing patterns, colors, and structures hidden in plain sight. You can photograph anything that’s small, whether it’s a tiny insect, a detail in a flower, or a piece of fabric that creates an abstract look when magnified. 

The Open category is a space for creativity that doesn’t fit neatly into the other themes. Do you have a colorful abstract photo that doesn’t seem to belong anywhere? Have you been experimenting with an unusual photography technique that is a combination of different genres? You’re welcome to submit it here! 

 

We welcome any subject matter or style. Feel free to experiment as much as you like and surprise us with your unique vision.