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LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards 2025

Lens Culture Black & White Photography Awards
Deadline:
Entry:
Both Free & Paid
Age Limit:
Over 18 Only
Experience:
Any Experience
Open to Entries:
Worldwide
Other Requirements:
Previous submissions winning a LensCulture cash prize are not eligible to win cash prizes in subsequent competitions.
Competition Details

LensCulture’s Black & White Photography Awards is an international competition seeking photographers who work in monochrome, using classic, digital, or experimental techniques. The awards aim to celebrate the art and craft of black and white photography.

A total of 37 photographers will be recognized as winners, jurors’ picks, and finalists. The top winners will be featured in a group exhibition in New York, providing them with a unique opportunity to have their work seen by curators, editors, gallerists, and collectors, and to connect with a global community of photography experts and enthusiasts.

For two decades, LensCulture has been dedicated to supporting photographers of all levels in their creative and professional growth. Over this time, the platform has helped hundreds of photographers achieve career breakthroughs through their participation in the LensCulture community.

Entry Fees:

Single: Best for single standout images:

  • One Free entry per person, Extra images: $10 each, 5 for $35.
5+ Single: Best price for multiple single standout image:
  • For $35 submit 5 images judged individually ($10 for each extra).
  • Get feedback from our editors — add a written review for $25

 

Series: Best for cohesive group of images judged as a whole

  • For $45 submit up to 10 images as a unified group — thematic or aesthetic
  • Get feedback from our editors — add a written review for $25

 

Enrolled students receive a 30% discount on entry fees.

Winners Are:
Judged
Judging Process Published:
No
Judging Anonymous:
Not Stated
Winners Announced by:
Not Stated

Prize & Judging Details

Series prize winners:

  • 1st Place: $3,500
  • 2nd Place: $2,000
  • 3rd Place: $1,000

Single image prize winners:

  • 1st Place: $2,000
  • 2nd Place: $1,000
  • 3rd Place: $500

Jurors’ Picks:

Each juror will select an individual Juror’s Pick to receive special distinction, including quotes from the experts praising each of the selected series or single images.

Finalists:

25 Finalists and their work will be highlighted and featured on the winners’ page, and in the worldwide promotions, along with the Winners and Jurors’ Picks.

Benefits for All Who Enter:

Benefits6 Winners6 Jurors’ picks25 FinalistsEditors’ Picks(1)Every Entrant
$10,000 in Cash Awards
Exhibition in New York
Solo Feature Published on LensCulture(2)
Visibility with LensCulture Insiders
International Press Exposure
Massive Exposure to our Global Audience of 3 Million
LensCulture Portfolio Account(3)
Opportunity to be in LensCulture Discoveries online directory of top-rated photographers(4)
Share your Work with the Global Photography Community
Opportunities for Immediate Exposure

(1)Editors’ Picks: During the competition, LensCulture’s editors will curate hundreds of entries for immediate exposure to our global audience through the competition gallery and our Instagram and Facebook pages, all updated daily.(2)Solo Feature for series winners.(3)LensCulture Portfolio Account: Available for all Series entries and 5+ Single entries.(4)All highly-rated photographers are automatically included in LensCulture Discoveries online directory.

Retain Moral Rights:
Credit Only
License Duration:
Not Stated
Photo Use Term:
Promotional Only

Usage Rights, Copyright & Moral Rights
Usage License

Winning photographs may be included in the future in traveling group gallery exhibitions and/or screenings and projections at arts institutions and festivals worldwide. Proper credit lines will be attributed to each photographer when exhibited or screened anywhere by LensCulture.

All entrants agree that all photograph(s) submitted to the competition may be reproduced (with photographer copyright credit) and used to conduct and promote LensCulture competitions. You hereby grant LensCulture with a right to use submitted photographs in the framework of such promotional activities.


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Disclaimer: Although we make every effort to provide accurate information, we advise a thorough review of the competitions rules and details to ensure your understanding and acceptance before proceeding with your entry.

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Report Rating Guide

Our goal is to help photographers make informed choices and to support organizers in building trust. This report details our assessment of this competition’s adherence to our Photo Competition Standards, highlighting its strengths and areas for potential enhancement.

★☆☆☆☆ 1.0 Stars ->: Significant Issues

★★☆☆☆ 2.5 Stars ->: Basic Compliance

★★★☆☆ 3.5 Stars ->: Meets Expectations Well

★★★★★ 5.0 Stars: Exemplary Standard

Key Principles of Fair Usage.

  • Respect for copyright: Organizers should acknowledge and respect the photographer’s ownership of their work.
  • Limited use: Usage rights should be limited to purposes directly related to the marketing/promotion of the competition, photos and photographers.
  • Specific Usage: Detailed information regarding where the images will be used for the promotion of the competition, this should include websites, social media, partners website, media outlets, books & calendars etc.
  • Moral Rights: Photographers should be credited whenever their images are used. This includes publication and Media not owned by the organiser. Editing and manipulation of the images should be kept to a minimum.
  • License Duration: The usage license should be limited in time with a maximum of 5 years, but ideally less.
  • Compensation: Photographers should be compensated for commercial use of their images beyond promotional purposes. This can be detailed in the terms or by a separate agreement.

In essence, fair usage in a photo competition balances the organiser’s need to promote the competition, its winning entries and photographers, with the photographer’s right to control their work and receive any appropriate compensation.

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