World Press Photo Foundation invites applications for the 2022 Contest for photographers and visual storytellers worldwide.
The first World Press Photo award, back in 1955, came about when some members of the Dutch photojournalists’ union (Nederlandse Vereniging van Fotojournalisten, NVF) had the idea of turning a national competition—the Zilveren Camera—into an international one. The new international contest marked the 25th anniversary of the NVF, with a public exhibition to be held in December 1955. Almost immediately, the step was taken from organizing a one-off event to creating an annual contest – and one has been held almost every year since then. Since that very first contest, winning pictures have been put together into an exhibition.
Today, World Press Photo finds itself in the position where it not only runs the world’s most prestigious contest of photojournalism, but administers the world’s widest-ranging annual photo exhibition and offers a breadth of related activities that is unmatched. With each year, an evaluation of the contest brings about adjustments and expansions that build upon the existing structure, such as the use of specialized juries in 2010 and the creation of a distinct contest for multimedia productions in 2011. This dynamic approach ensures that the contest continues to grow and evolve alongside the profession.
Worth of Award
- The winners of the World Press Photo of the Year and the World Press Photo Story of the Year awards receive €5,000 each.
- The prize-winning photographs are assembled into a worldwide year-long exhibition.
- The winning pictures are also published on World Press Photo’s website, across their social media platforms, and in their annual yearbook, which is available in multiple languages.
Eligibility
The World Press Photo Contest recognizes the best visual journalism and awards visual stories in eight categories:
- Contemporary Issues
- Environment
- General News
- Long-Term Projects
- Nature
- Portraits
- Sports
- Spot News
The World Press Photo contest is only open to professional photographers. Every entrant needs to provide a document with a valid date that proves their current professional status. Examples of documents that count as proof include, but are not limited to:
- a recent letter of reference (must be from 2019 or 2020) from a photo agency, photo editor, media organization or publication;
OR - membership document from a recognized photographic association that show photographer is a professional member;
OR - at least 1 tearsheet showing your picture/s from 2019 or 2020, with your name visible as credit, in either online or print format from a recognized media organization or publication;
OR - journalism union membership card;
OR - press card.
How to Apply
- To apply, complete the online form by the deadline.
Deadline: The 2021 World Press Photo Contest is open for entries until January 11, 2022, 12.00 (noon) CET.