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Photographer of the Year Contest Featured Image

Contest Closed

View the 2026 Winner’s Gallery or subscribe to be the first to hear when the Photographer of the Year Contest relaunches, as well as to receive news and updates about other contests.

Winner's Gallery

Photographer of the Year Contest

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About the

Global Community:

10k+

Photographers

$107,000

Total Prize Money Awarded

125+

Countries

Awards & Benefits

Winners of the Exposure One Awards enjoy more than prizes; honorees will be actively promoted and celebrated throughout the year and beyond.

Prizes are designed to meet your needs as a photographer, wherever they are in their careers.

Our Most Prestigious Title 
Cash Prizes 
Exhibition 
Winner's Assets 
Global Exposure 
Artist Directory 
Press Release 
Winner’s Interview 

Photographer of the Year Contest

Earn Photographer of the Year or Discovery of the Year honors in your category.

Category winners advance
to compete for the overall titles.

Contest Judges

Our international panel of judges represents today’s topmost tier of influence and distinction within our photography community.

Judges include world-renowned photographers, curators, directors, and industry professionals who were chosen based on their respected positions within the global photography world.

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Testimonials

Silke Hullmann

“The Exposure One team was a joy to work with—always friendly, responsive, and efficient. From interviews and bios to prizes and support, everything was handled with care and professionalism. It truly felt like a photographer-focused experience.”

Silke Hullmann

Germany

Andrey Sobolev

“Winning showed me that my artistic vision is on the right path. In a field judged by professionals from diverse photography backgrounds, it’s a powerful form of validation. It feels like a beacon — proof that my work and style have been seen and appreciated.”

Andrey Sobolev

Ukraine

Lyon van den Oord

“This contest pushed me to think beyond just the image—it helped me grow by combining design, marketing, and photography into a more complete creative practice.”

Lyon van den Oord

United States of America

Thierry Lagnel

“I’d absolutely recommend entering. It’s fascinating to see which images resonate with the public through the People’s Vote — it offers real insight into which of your photos have potential.”

Thierry Lagnel

Switzerland

Romeo Angeles

“Recognition from this contest has given me greater exposure and credibility as a photographer. It introduced my work to a wider audience, sparked new collaborations, and motivated me to continue refining my craft with purpose.”

Romeo Angeles

Philippines

Claudia Musal

“I was deeply honored to have my work recognized by such an experienced jury — especially with a photo that had gone unnoticed on social media. I believed in the image from the moment I saw it on my camera, and submitting it against all advice was a leap of faith. When I won, I was in tears — relieved and beyond happy.”

Claudia Musal

Germany

Xidong Luo

“Beyond the honor itself, the visibility has been transformative. My social media following grew after the announcement, and I’ve since been contacted by galleries and publishers.”

Xidong Luo

China

Wei Zhang

“This contest truly honors depth, experimentation, and honesty — qualities that often get overlooked in more commercial settings. There’s a rare sense of care here.”

Wei Zhang

United States

Malini Chandrasekar

“Winning was deeply validating and helped me define my style more clearly. The exposure and encouragement I received — especially on social media — truly pushed me forward.”

Malini Chandrasekar

United Kingdom

Silke Hullmann

“The Exposure One team was a joy to work with—always friendly, responsive, and efficient. From interviews and bios to prizes and support, everything was handled with care and professionalism. It truly felt like a photographer-focused experience.”

Silke Hullmann

Germany

Andrey Sobolev

“Winning showed me that my artistic vision is on the right path. In a field judged by professionals from diverse photography backgrounds, it’s a powerful form of validation. It feels like a beacon — proof that my work and style have been seen and appreciated.”

Andrey Sobolev

Ukraine

Lyon van den Oord

“This contest pushed me to think beyond just the image—it helped me grow by combining design, marketing, and photography into a more complete creative practice.”

Lyon van den Oord

United States of America

Thierry Lagnel

“I’d absolutely recommend entering. It’s fascinating to see which images resonate with the public through the People’s Vote — it offers real insight into which of your photos have potential.”

Thierry Lagnel

Switzerland

Romeo Angeles

“Recognition from this contest has given me greater exposure and credibility as a photographer. It introduced my work to a wider audience, sparked new collaborations, and motivated me to continue refining my craft with purpose.”

Romeo Angeles

Philippines

Claudia Musal

“I was deeply honored to have my work recognized by such an experienced jury — especially with a photo that had gone unnoticed on social media. I believed in the image from the moment I saw it on my camera, and submitting it against all advice was a leap of faith. When I won, I was in tears — relieved and beyond happy.”

Claudia Musal

Germany

Xidong Luo

“Beyond the honor itself, the visibility has been transformative. My social media following grew after the announcement, and I’ve since been contacted by galleries and publishers.”

Xidong Luo

China

Wei Zhang

“This contest truly honors depth, experimentation, and honesty — qualities that often get overlooked in more commercial settings. There’s a rare sense of care here.”

Wei Zhang

United States

Malini Chandrasekar

“Winning was deeply validating and helped me define my style more clearly. The exposure and encouragement I received — especially on social media — truly pushed me forward.”

Malini Chandrasekar

United Kingdom

Silke Hullmann

“The Exposure One team was a joy to work with—always friendly, responsive, and efficient. From interviews and bios to prizes and support, everything was handled with care and professionalism. It truly felt like a photographer-focused experience.”

Silke Hullmann

Germany

Andrey Sobolev

“Winning showed me that my artistic vision is on the right path. In a field judged by professionals from diverse photography backgrounds, it’s a powerful form of validation. It feels like a beacon — proof that my work and style have been seen and appreciated.”

Andrey Sobolev

Ukraine

Lyon van den Oord

“This contest pushed me to think beyond just the image—it helped me grow by combining design, marketing, and photography into a more complete creative practice.”

Lyon van den Oord

United States of America

Thierry Lagnel

“I’d absolutely recommend entering. It’s fascinating to see which images resonate with the public through the People’s Vote — it offers real insight into which of your photos have potential.”

Thierry Lagnel

Switzerland

Romeo Angeles

“Recognition from this contest has given me greater exposure and credibility as a photographer. It introduced my work to a wider audience, sparked new collaborations, and motivated me to continue refining my craft with purpose.”

Romeo Angeles

Philippines

Claudia Musal

“I was deeply honored to have my work recognized by such an experienced jury — especially with a photo that had gone unnoticed on social media. I believed in the image from the moment I saw it on my camera, and submitting it against all advice was a leap of faith. When I won, I was in tears — relieved and beyond happy.”

Claudia Musal

Germany

Xidong Luo

“Beyond the honor itself, the visibility has been transformative. My social media following grew after the announcement, and I’ve since been contacted by galleries and publishers.”

Xidong Luo

China

Wei Zhang

“This contest truly honors depth, experimentation, and honesty — qualities that often get overlooked in more commercial settings. There’s a rare sense of care here.”

Wei Zhang

United States

Malini Chandrasekar

“Winning was deeply validating and helped me define my style more clearly. The exposure and encouragement I received — especially on social media — truly pushed me forward.”

Malini Chandrasekar

United Kingdom

Winner Coverage

We're thrilled to have helped the winners of our contests receive the attention their work deserves in global media placements.

Forbes
CNN
Smithsonian
Washington Post
Artnet
Insider
The Guardian
Daily Mail
Artsy
Hyperallergic
Digital Camera World
My Modern Met
The Times
Peta Pixel
ArtReview

The Exposure One Trophy

At the Exposure One Awards, a custom metal trophy is reserved for contest and category winners. This trophy celebrates extraordinary black and white photography, and is personalized with the winner's name and honor awarded.

*Winner's titles and award distribution may vary depending on the contest.

Contest Categories

Wildlife

Fine Art

Landscapes

Nature

Street

People

Portrait

Minimalism

Architecture

Travel

Abstract

Conceptual

Photojournalism

Nude

Domestic Animals

Event

Film/Analog

Still Life

Aerial

Fashion & Beauty

People's Vote Awards

Worldwide Exposure for All Nominated Images

All jury-nominated entries will automatically qualify for the People's Vote Awards, where the public votes for their favorite image in each category.

Marc Ollivier

Entry Info & Pricing

2026 Photographer of the Year Contest

Contest Closed

View the 2026 Winner’s Gallery or subscribe to be the first to hear when the Photographer of the Year Contest relaunches, as well as to receive news and updates about other contests.

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TO THOSE CREATING EXCEPTIONAL MONOCHROME IMAGES THAT CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND AMPLIFY BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY: WE WANT TO SEE YOUR WORK.

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