What juries look for in open theme photography
- A picture that holds up at thumbnail size, because the first round of an open contest is usually judged on a grid.
- A clear idea, not just a pleasant subject.
- Technical control that serves the image rather than showing off.
How to prepare your entry
Choose work you would hang on a wall. In an open field the jury sees every genre side by side, so the image has to win against landscapes, portraits and street pictures at once. A tight edit of one to three frames beats a scattered handful.
Before you pay a fee
Large open contests often have several fee tiers and early bird deadlines. Compare the cost per image with the prize pool and check how many winners are named, not just the size of the top prize.
Every listing on Photographers First shows the deadline in your time zone, the fee in your currency, the prize as stated by the organizer, and a direct link to the official rules. Pro members also get advanced filters by fee, prize and country, unlimited saved contests, and an entry tracker for deadlines and spending. See what Pro adds.