Black & White Photography

The International Black & White Photography Awards celebrates the power of monochrome imagery to convey emotion, texture, and contrast in ways that color photographs sometimes cannot. By stripping away color, photographers can focus on the essence of their subject, exploring the nuances of light, shadow, form, and composition to create compelling, evocative images.

Open to photographers from every corner of the globe, this category recognizes the enduring appeal of black and white photography, inviting submissions that showcase the unique ability of black and white photography to communicate, evoke, and mesmerize. Join us in this celebration of monochromatic artistry, where simplicity is sophistication, and every shade of gray tells a story.

Categories

BW2601. 360 Degree
BW2602. Abstract
BW2603. Adventure
BW2604. Architecture
BW2605. Atmospheric
BW2606. Boudoir
BW2607. Candid
BW2608. Children
BW2609. Cityscape
BW2610. Conceptual
BW2611. Dramatic
BW2612. Drone
BW2613. Fashion
BW2614. Fine Art
BW2615. Fish Eye
BW2616. Forced Perspective
BW2617. Historical
BW2618. Human Form
BW2619. Landscapes
BW2620. Lifestyle
BW2621. Macro
BW2622. Nature
BW2623. Newborn
BW2624. Nudes
BW2625. Panorama
BW2626. People
BW2627. Pets
BW2628. Photojournalism
BW2629. Portrait
BW2630. Religious
BW2631. Retro
BW2632. Seascape
BW2633. Sports
BW2634. Still Life
BW2635. Street
BW2636. Surreal
BW2637. Symbolic
BW2638. Symetrical
BW2639. Travel
BW2640. Urban
BW2641. Vintage
BW2642. Wedding
BW2643. Wildlife
BW2600. New Category

Entry Fees

Standard Entry Fees

$40/image for professional and $35/image for amateur/student categories. There are no limits in the number of entries.

Fees are non-refundable. Withdrawn entries (whether withdrawn by entrant or by the award for entrant's failure to comply with the entry rules) will NOT be refunded.

Multiple entries must be submitted at the same time as your first entry in order to be counted as "additional entries". An entry submitted at a later time will be counted as a "first entry".

Enter Awards

Bundle Entries Package

Participants may purchase a Bundle Entries Package, which can be used within the year of the competition when the package is purchased. The package is priced at $200 for 10 Credits.

One (1) Entry Category = One (1) Credit. With the package, you are able to save up to $20 per entry.

ENJOY ENTRY SAVINGS NOW

Entry Deadlines

2026 Entry Period Early Bird
(May 21 - Jun 18, 2026)
Regular
(Jun 19 - Jul 16, 2026)
Final
(Jul 17 - Aug 13, 2026)
Final Extension
(Aug 14 - Sep 10, 2026)
Professional Single $35 $40 $45 $50
Professional Series
(2-8 images)
$45 $50 $55 $60
Amateur / Student Single $30 $35 $40 $45
Amateur / Student Series $40 $45 $50 $55
Additional Category $25 $30 $35 $40
Bundle Entries Package: $200 for 10 Credits
One (1) Category = One (1) Credit
Winners Announcement: Sep 25, 2026

*Work submitted must have been created within the last 5 years (2021-2026).

Winner's Benefits

Benefits / Winning Level Photographers of the Year Category Winners of the Year Platinum Winners Gold/Silver Winners
Cash Prizes $5,000 (Pro)
$3,000 (Amateur / Student)
$100 / Category / /
Maia Statuette YES / / /
Exclusive “Photographer of the Year” Certification YES / / /
Seasonal Features on Winners Highlight Section YES YES / /
Listed in Official Winner Press Release YES YES / /
Priority Features on Global Photography Awards e-Newsletter YES YES / /
Winning Image Showcased on a Global Virtual Exhibition YES YES / /
Photo Showcased at Gallery Section YES YES / /
Spotlighted Winner Article on Media Partner Site – Muse.World YES YES YES /
Dedicated Social Media Posts YES YES YES /
Dedicated Winner Profile Page YES YES YES YES
Exclusive Access to Winner’s Interview YES YES YES YES
Dedicated Winning Page YES YES YES YES
Eligible to Purchase Maia Statuette YES YES YES YES
Winner e-Certificate YES YES YES YES
Digital Winner Badge YES YES YES YES

*Note: Cash prizes are not cumulative. Only one cash prize can be awarded to each winner with the highest available prize applied.

For example, if a winner is awarded both Professional Photographer of the Year (Professional Category) and Category Winner of the Year, they will only receive the $5,000 cash prize from the Photographer of the Year and not $100 from winning the latter. Category Winners can only receive one $100 cash prize even if they win the title in multiple categories.

If you submitted your entries through an award agent and won either Photographer or Category Winner of the Year, IAA will proceed to issue the cash prize to the closest representative of the winning entry, the award agent, to collect it on your behalf. Please liaise with your award agent on the matter of cash prizes. Cash prizes will be issued either to the winners or award agent within a month after the announcement of results.

The Global Photography Awards and International Awards Associate’s decision are final in its sole discretion and binding in relation to all matters relating to Competitions and may not be subject to any discussions or correspondence

Submission Details

Step 1
Tap the "My Account" button to register your username and password. If you are already a member, tap "Log In."
Step 2
Complete the short online entry form. Don't forget that you can enter each work in more than one category.
Step 3
Upload your supporting document or files to the system.
Step 4
Click “Checkout” to process your entry fees.

Kindly provide a synopsis of your design of approximately 350 words. The brief should strengthen your entry, as well as providing the jury a better understanding of your project. A written translation or adaptation of non-English entries is highly recommended.

The submissions should be saved in a flattened JPEG or JPG format. (Keep them under 4MB, 1,200px wide is preferable, 300dpi, RGB).

Enter Global Photography Awards