Photography Contest

Out of the ordinary

Deadline |

CLOSED

Theme |

Out of the ordinary

Territory |

Worldwide

Eligibility |

All photographers 18 years or older worldwide may enter the competition by submitting their own, original work.

Entry Fees |

€20.00 for the first 3 images, €25.00 for 5 images...

Prizes |

Exhibition
Out of the ordinary is often characterised as strange, unusual, odd, peculiar, bizarre, uncanny, weird, mysterious, or even surreal. Subjects, scenes, themes, perspectives, compositions, portrayed events, visual experiences, and imaginative narratives may all deviate from the ordinary. Photographers often step into the realm of the extraordinary through the lens of their camera, embracing the unconventional, where the peculiar dances with the mysterious, and the odd intertwines with the surreal. They explore the realms of strange, unusual, and uncanny. Some venture into the world of traditional straight photography, where authenticity captures the essence of the outlandish. Others delve into staged photography, where each frame unfolds a narrative beyond the ordinary, or embrace the art of photomontage, seamlessly blending disparate elements to craft a visual tapestry of uniqueness. AI-generated photo-based images offer a digital canvas to manifest the bizarre and create a fusion of reality and imagination. This exhibition celebrates the diversity of perspectives that redefine the ordinary and elevate the extraordinary. The photographer’s lens is the gateway to a realm where the peculiar becomes art, the bizarre transforms into beauty, and the unconventional takes centre stage.

PH21 Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for a group exhibition themed Out of the ordinary. We welcome submissions from all photographers interested in this subject, aiming to showcase their work to a broader international audience through the exposure provided by PH21 Gallery. The theme is broadly construed, traditional straight photography, staged photography, photomontage, and AI-generated photo-based images are all welcome. We are keenly interested in all possible creative photographic interpretations of the theme.

​ One curator’s choice and up to three honourable mentions will be announced. The juror’s choice receives three free entries for any upcoming themed group exhibition calls at PH21 Gallery. (Each free entry includes up to 15 images.)

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

Best Photography Contests in 2024

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 2024 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!

ENDS 04/22/25
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ENDS 04/22/25
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ENDS 04/25/25
This new initiative is dedicated to empowering photographers globally, providing grants and resources to support the creation of compelling documentary photo essays
ENDS 04/25/25
Gomma invites you to take part in this new adventure. Show us the limitless nuances of our world in monochrome.
ENDS 04/28/25
Women photographers can participate with her female visual perspective in 23 thematic categories.
ENDS 04/30/25
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 04/30/25
Tthe Inge Morath Award, a $7,500 grant given to a woman photographer under the age of 30 to support the completion of a long-term documentary project.
ENDS 04/30/25
Nikon’s Small World is regarded as the leading forum for showcasing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope. The Photomicrography Competition is open to anyone with an interest in microscopy and photography.
ENDS 04/30/25
Three laureates will each be awarded a prize of €10,000, one of which will be fully funded by the SAIF.
ENDS 05/03/25
Exhibition Dates: June 21 – July 12, 2025
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
This prize, with a production budget of €25,000, is open to any new photographer or artist using photography, submitting a previously unpublished dummy book.
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
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 05/18/25
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
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 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 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.