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Enter the 39th Nikon Photo Contest

Posted on Oct 25, 2022

Header image © Nikon

Cameras at the ready! Entry date for the biggest international photo competition is announced

Beginning in 1969, the Nikon Photo Contest aims to enrich imaging culture by providing an opportunity for professional and amateur photographers around the world to express themselves and engage with one another. In previous years, the competition has seen 26,000 participants from over 150 countries and regions across the world, submitting a mammoth 65,000 photographs between them.

The widely anticipated contest will be accepting entries from 27 October 2022 at 4am GMT (6am CET) and will close on 13 February 2023 at 4am GMT (6am CET). Entrants have the option to submit both stills and video, all relating to this years’ theme of ‘Beloved’. Nikon will be looking for images that express individual priorities from various perspectives in both the ‘Single Photo’ or ‘Photo Story’ categories. The theme celebrates the richness of things we value the most in life, whether it’s respect for home, family, friends, and nature – judges expect to see surprising, emotional, fresh and creative imagery.

Meanwhile, the theme of the film comp is ‘Next Steps’. Nikon would like entries to the ‘Short Film’ and ‘Super Short Film’ categories to express the future growth and evolution of the world, especially in the post-pandemic era. Share what it means to be alive and your personal vision of the world around you.

Sarah Leen, the first female Director of Photography for National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Partners will lead this year’s esteemed panel of judges. In 2020, Sarah established Visual Thinking Collective, a community of female editors, teachers and curators that specialise in creating and managing visually driven projects.

On her appointment as lead judge, Sarah comments:

“My hope for the Nikon Photo Contest is to gather stories that represent our world today. We are just getting used to a new way of life after three years of isolation and fear from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, we have new opportunities and new chances. So, think about your world, think about what you’ve seen change and grow and are now there as new opportunities. I’m really looking forward to seeing work that comes from all over the world. We have this opportunity with this contest to show where we are today and tell our stories, tell your personal stories.”

It is open to all professional and amateur photographers, regardless of age, gender, or nationality. Winners are expected to be announced in July 2023.

View the past winners in the Awards Archive.

To find out more about the competition and how to enter, head to the Nikon Photo Contest website.

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