Your Best Shot

Your Best Shot is a photo competition open to Australian residents. There's a different theme every couple of months, and a selection of the winning shots will be published in AP mag and online.

Each issue, AP's Editor Mike O'Connor will choose six images to be published both in print and online, with both a winner and a runner-up selected. Our winner will also receive an amazing prize thanks to Think Tank.

The prize

Thanks to the team at Think Tank, our winner each issue will take home a Think Tank DarkLight Backpack 20L in black with an rrp of $389. The DarkLight backpack is the ideal blend of tactical style and everyday functionality. Built with a laser-cut MOLLE panel and tactical webbing rails, this rucksack allows you to precisely configure your loadout. You can seamlessly attach Think Tank modular pouches to expand your carry capacity, ensuring you’re ready for any photographic operation. More info: thinktankphoto.com

How to enter

To enter, upload your entry via the competition theme boxes below.

The image file must be the same as your name, for example Jane Smith.jpg. If you enter multiple images, each new image file name should be appended with a unique number, eg Jane Smith2.jpg. You'll need to do a separate entry for each image.

A maximum of three images can be entered per person.

Images must be in JPEG format, and your email size must not exceed 5MB.

In addition, please include up to 200 words explaining how you created your image in the Entry Description field. Please also include technical details including camera, lens, focal length, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, tripod (if used) and a brief summary of any software edits.

ABSTRACT - Entries close 31 January 2026

BIG AND SMALL - Entries close 31 March 2026

SOFT LIGHT - Entries close 31 May 2026

MINIMALISM - Entries close 31 July 2026

When we announce the winners

ABSTRACT
Closes: 31 January 2026
Shortlist published in the Apr/May 2026 issue of AP.

BIG AND SMALL
Closes: 31 March 2026
Shortlist published in the June/July 2026 issue of AP.

SOFT LIGHT
Closes: 31 May 2026
Shortlist published in the Aug/Sep 2026 issue of AP.

MINIMALISM
Closes: 31 July 2026
Shortlist published in the Oct/Nov 2026 issue of AP.

Conditions of entry

To enter, you must be an Australian resident or citizen with an Australian mailing address.
The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Employees of Yaffa Media (and freelance contributors) are not eligible to win the prize.
Submitted images must have been taken no more than 24 months before the competition deadline.
The prize is subject to change without notification.
You must have an Australian street address to be eligible to win the prize.

You retain copyright of your images. By entering, you grant Yaffa Media a limited-use licence to publish your image in Australian Photography, at australianphotography.com, on Australian Photography's social media channels (including Facebook and Instagram) and in the Australian Photography email newsletter and other media for the purposes of promoting the Your Best Shot competition.