LensCulture Portrait Awards 2017

Photography competition LensCulture Portrait Awards 2017 is an international competition seeking the best portrait photography from all the corners of the world.

This competition is open to all points of view and all ideas of portraiture. From fine art to spontaneous selfies, from hyper-perfect photoshopped portraits to seductive (and often fictitious) social media profile pics, to mobile phone snaps altered with digital nostalgia filters. Some are candid, some are staged, some are outrageous and silly, others are just plain beautiful.

There are two categories in which you can participate:

- Photo Series: - submit up to 5 or more photographic portraits that work well together as a series — variations of a single person, or members of a group, changes over time, etc. This category is open to all interpretations of what can be called a "portrait" - thematically, conceptually, sociologically, as a story, or simply as a range of your photographic talent.

- Single Image: - often, a single powerful portrait captures our attention as honest, genuine, striking, meaningful, and memorable. A great portrait can stand on its own, demonstrating a remarkable level of intimacy, psychological perception, sensitivity, and creativity. All techniques of photography are welcome, and all interpretations of what defines a "portrait" are invited, as well.

All entrants must be able to supply high resolution images suitable for printing in media, and for public exhibition. All photographers retain full copyrights for their own work.

Entry fee for this competition is 20 USD for 1 single photo, 50 USD for 2 or 3 single photos and 60 USD for a related series of up to 10 photos.

The competition is open to everyone worldwide, 18 years and older, professional and amateur photographers alike.

There are three cash prizes for the Photo Series Award:

- Grand prize: 5,000 USD
- 2nd prize: 2,000 USD
- 3rd prize: 1,000 USD

And there are three cash prizes for the Single Image Award:

- Grand prize: 3,500 USD
- 2nd prize: 1,500 USD
- 3rd prize: 1,000 USD

Moreover, each juror will select one photographer to receive a 1,000 USD Juror's Pick Award. Also, 5 student photographers will be selected by our international jury to receive the Student Spotlight Award.

All highly rated entries (not only winners and finalists) will gain visibility with LensCulture Insiders, and will win invitation-only LensCulture Portfolio accounts, which serve as a platform to reach our audience of over one million worldwide.