Quick links to award categories: Spot News / Portraits / Nature & Environment / Recreational & Traditional Sports / Sports Action / General News / Daily Life / Daily Life Picture Story / Portrait Series / Issue Reporting Picture Story / Cultural Practices / Photographer of the Year, Asia
Single image categories:
1. SPOT NEWS: This is a category for single photographs of breaking news or events in which no planning was possible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
2. PORTRAITS: A single photograph of a person or group of people that increases the understanding and appreciation of the subject(s). Selfies or self-portraits are acceptable. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
3. NATURE & ENVIRONMENT: A single photograph that increases the understanding and appreciation of nature and our environment. Photographers are encouraged to explore the relationship between human and nature/environment. Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
4. RECREATIONAL & TRADITIONAL SPORTS: A single photograph that celebrates the role sports play in the community. Images may show the emotional highlights of players on the field or the reactions of fans. Local, traditional, and obscure games which are often neglected in mainstream media are welcome in this category. The pictures must be from non-professional settings. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
5. SPORTS ACTION: A single photograph that captures peak action of an individual or team sport. While Recreational & Traditional Sports is mostly for amateur settings, entries in this category should be from professional, semi-professional and school competitions. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
6. GENERAL NEWS: A single photograph of a news event or social issue for which planning was possible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
7. DAILY LIFE: A single photograph, candid and un-posed, that reflects the human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2022.
Multiple images categories:
8. DAILY LIFE PICTURE STORY: A narrative picture story that reflects the everyday human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. Each submission consists of 5 to 10 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 3 submissions. All images must be taken in 2022.
9. PORTRAIT SERIES: A series of photographs that reflects a strong sense of identity or narrative. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 10 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 3 submissions. All images must be taken in 2022.
10. ISSUE REPORTING PICTURE STORY: A long-term project on a single topic. It could focus on science, news, politics or any number of topics, ranging from coverage of a single person to an entire community. The project must convey a deep understanding of the subject. Each submission consists of 10 to 40 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 3 submissions. All images must be taken in 2022.
11. CULTURAL PRACTICES: A set of photographs that increases the understanding and appreciation of a cultural practice. It can be about festivals, religion, traditions, or contemporary cultural trends. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 20 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions. All images must be taken in 2022.
12. PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, ASIA: This premier category is open to all photographers — independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. Please submit 10 to 50 images per portfolio consisting of at least two stories. Single images are optional. Each participant is allowed to enter only one portfolio. All images must be taken in 2022.
Please create a blank, black slide (.jpg). Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the story title and story summary for the blank slide. Place the slide it at the beginning of each story. Title the slide with name of the project.
Single images may be included but are not required. Place them at the beginning of your portfolio. A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images). 50 images maximum (not including black slides).
Special non-competition category:
1. WAR IN UKRAINE: This is a special non-competition category for photographs taken in Ukraine during the war. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 30 images which can be singles or stories or a combo. Photographers who have already submitted pictures on the war to Pictures of the Year International need not submit here. The images must be taken in 2022.
