Here are some great photo competitions to consider entering this year.
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Photo © Fabi Fregonesi
The Mono Awards celebrate everything you love about black & white photography.
Hosted by Australian Photography and Capture, the competition offers a prize pool of A$12,500 and is open to photographers around the world.
Entries open from February to May and the Top 40 entries in each of the three categories (People, Places and Animals) are published in Australian Photography (Oct-Nov issue, available mid-September).
ENTRIES OPEN: February to May
WHO CAN ENTER: Open to all photographers from around the world
RESULTS ANNOUNCED: September. Top entries showcased in Australian Photography magazine (October-November) and at www.australianphotography.com and at www.themonoawards.com.au
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Photo © Alanna Walshe
Australasia's Top Emerging Photographers recognises, encourages, and promotes talented photographers in the early stages of their photography careers.
The competition is open to Australian and New Zealand photographers with less than four years' professional photography experience (including amateurs).
This year, winners and runners-up share in a prize pool worth more than $27,000, including $9,000 in cash, a Fujifilm GFX100SII and lens valued at over $10,000, plus four WD prize packs each valued at $1,500. The best entries will also be showcased online and in a special print edition of Capture magazine.
Any questions, feel free to drop us an email.
ENTRIES OPEN: October to March 29
WHO CAN ENTER: Open to Australian and New Zealand photographers with less than four years' professional photography experience (including amateurs).
RESULTS ANNOUNCED: June. Top entries showcased in Capture magazine (Winter 2026 issue) and at www.capturemag.com.au
DEADLINE EXTENDED: ENTRIES CLOSE SUNDAY 29 MARCH
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Photo © Susan Vearncombe
Photographer of the Year is the largest photo competition for amateur photographers in the Southern Hemisphere.
Over the past decade, Photographer of the Year has become an important launchpad for many amateur photographers in Australia and New Zealand. Entrants compete for a prize pool valued at more than $16,000.
Photographer of the Year includes six portfolio categories – Landscape, Animal & Nature, People, Aerial, Travel and Black & White – and three single-image categories – Single Shot (Previously Photo of the Year), Creative and Junior (for entrants under 18).
For the Portfolio categories, you must enter four images. Note that images are judged as a series (not individually) so choose images that work well together, both thematically and aesthetically. For the Single Image categories, you only need to enter one image.
To enter, you must be an amateur photographer (defined as a person who has not earned more than $5,000 from photography (including videography) in a 12-month period), and a citizen or resident of Australia or New Zealand. The competition is open for entries from May to October.
ENTRIES OPEN: May to October
WHO CAN ENTER: Amateur photographers from Australia and New Zealand. An amateur photographer is defined as someone who has not earned more than $5,000 from photography (including videography) in any 12-month period in the previous five years, dating from the time of entry and has not completed their final year of study in a tertiary-level, multi-year photography qualification.
RESULTS ANNOUNCED: December. Top entries showcased in Australian Photography magazine (Photographer of the Year special edition) and at www.australianphotography.com
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Photo © Darren Wassell.
The Landscape Awards is open to professional and amateur photographers from Australia and New Zealand.
There are four categories – Landscape, Seascape, Aerial and Urban – and winners and runners-up share in a prize pool worth more than $22,000 including $8,000 cash prizes.
The competition is open to entries from October to January, with winners announced in Australian Photography in the June-July issue.The competition has raised over $25,000 for charities including the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Wilderness Society.
ENTRIES OPEN: September to February
WHO CAN ENTER: Open to Australian and New Zealand photographers
RESULTS ANNOUNCED: May. Top entries showcased in Australian Photography magazine (June-July) and at www.australianphotography.com
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The Capture Awards showcase the remarkable work of Australia and New Zealand's best photographers. The competition is open to all levels and offers more than $20,000 in prizes.
Plus, the top entries in each category are showcased in a stunning end-of-year celebration edition of Capture magazine.
The Awards recognise the best work of the past year across six categories:
• Portrait & People
• Landscape & Environment
• Wedding & Event
• Advertising & Fashion
• Documentary & Street
• Art & Conceptual
ENTRIES OPEN: May to September
WHO CAN ENTER: Open to all Australian and New Zealand photographers
RESULTS ANNOUNCED: November. Best entries showcased in Capture magazine (Winter edition) and at www.capturemag.com.au
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Photo © Benjamin Maze
This free-to-enter photo competition includes a new theme each month and all entries appear at www.australianphotography.com. Shortlisted images are published on the Australian Photography Facebook page.
Entries open: Beginning of each month
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