Photography Contest

Polaroid x Magnum Open Call

Deadline |
CLOSEDTheme |
Empathy-driven storyTerritory |
WorldwideEligibility |
Open to allEntry Fees |
FREEPrizes |
EquipmentHost |
Magnum PhotosEnter your photography folio and the empathy-driven story you want to capture for your chance to earn a Polaroid I-2 camera, 12 packs of Polaroid Film to capture your story and participate in online critique with three Magnum photographers.
Instant photography is a tool for building human connection.
As our world becomes increasingly hyper-digitized, it’s critical that we preserve a core pillar of photography: human connection. The ability to see things from someone else’s perspective. Empathy. And seeing life not as only black and white, but all shades of gray. We are looking for stories of subcultures, topics, professions, beliefs or movements that are often overlooked, misunderstood or could be simply benefitted by viewership through an empathetic lens.
To join the Polaroid X Magnum Open Call, submit two separate photo stories, with up to 15 images per story and a 50-word write-up of an empathy-building, perspective-changing story you believe will help people see life in all shades of gray. This story must be feasible to shoot—or a project you’re currently shooting—as, should your entry be selected, you will receive a Polaroid I-2 Camera and enough Polaroid Film to capture this story. Which will have the opportunity to be showcased and accredited globally on Polaroid and Magnum channels.
NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT POLAROID IMAGES. Analog or digital imagery is acceptable as the winners will receive everything they need to become competent in instant photography.
What winners receive
A Polaroid I-2 Instant Camera
12 packs of Polaroid i-Type BW Film
Intro session with Polaroid representative
3 online group critiques with Magnum-represented photographers (of approx. 2 hours each) with the other winners
Instant photography is a tool for building human connection.
As our world becomes increasingly hyper-digitized, it’s critical that we preserve a core pillar of photography: human connection. The ability to see things from someone else’s perspective. Empathy. And seeing life not as only black and white, but all shades of gray. We are looking for stories of subcultures, topics, professions, beliefs or movements that are often overlooked, misunderstood or could be simply benefitted by viewership through an empathetic lens.
To join the Polaroid X Magnum Open Call, submit two separate photo stories, with up to 15 images per story and a 50-word write-up of an empathy-building, perspective-changing story you believe will help people see life in all shades of gray. This story must be feasible to shoot—or a project you’re currently shooting—as, should your entry be selected, you will receive a Polaroid I-2 Camera and enough Polaroid Film to capture this story. Which will have the opportunity to be showcased and accredited globally on Polaroid and Magnum channels.
NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT POLAROID IMAGES. Analog or digital imagery is acceptable as the winners will receive everything they need to become competent in instant photography.
What winners receive
A Polaroid I-2 Instant Camera
12 packs of Polaroid i-Type BW Film
Intro session with Polaroid representative
3 online group critiques with Magnum-represented photographers (of approx. 2 hours each) with the other winners
Featured Photo Contest
AAP Magazine #48/Portrait
$1,000 cash prizes | Winning image(s) published in AAP Magazine #48 | Extensive press coverage and global recognition
© Karoline Schneider
Best Photography Contests in 2023
Each year, there are hundreds of photography competitions all over the world, so we've decided to select for you the best of the best! Our selection of the best photo contests in 2023 is thoroughly curated to help you, whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur, to help find your next creative breakthrough. These all-star competitions offer the greatest opportunities for international exposure and/or incredible financial benefits. Some of them are closing soon, so get your photo submissions in!
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ENDS 05/08/25
TIFA connects photographers from around the world with the creative community in Tokyo, Japan, providing them with an excellent platform to present their work to a new market.
ENDS 05/12/25
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ENDS 05/13/25
Our 48th printed issue of AAP Magazine will feature the best projects showcasing the theme "Portrait".
ENDS 05/16/25
Submit your best work to our photo competition for a chance to win up to $11,500 in cash prizes, be selected by our curators for the PX3 exhibition in Paris and inclusion in the Annual PX3 book.
ENDS 05/18/25
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
ENDS 05/18/25
The Global Peace Photo Award recognizes and promotes photographers from all over the world whose pictures capture human efforts towards a peaceful world and the quest for beauty and goodness in our lives.
ENDS 05/31/25
POWER will be the main theme of the season. The Grand Prize of USD $200,000 will be awarded to one winner from any category this season, not limited to the main theme.
ENDS 05/31/25
The international photography contest URBAN Photo Awards is here: registrations will open on March 28th and this 16th edition will be the largest and most important ever.
ENDS 06/01/25
This year’s PhotoVogue Global Open Call celebrates the limitless ways women see and are seen—embracing photography and film as powerful tools to reclaim, redefine, and expand visual storytelling
ENDS 06/02/25
BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS is an international platform for photographers from all levels and genres to share their best images with the creative community in Hungary and Eastern Europe.
ENDS 06/05/25
Jon Lee Anderson, president of the jury of the 32nd edition
ENDS 08/05/25
The 2025 Global Contest promotes climate justice. We believe climate change is a human rights issue, so we are looking for images that show people impacted by the escalating climate crisis.