September's Grants and Awards

The PHM 2017 Women Photographers Grant, Carmignac Photojournalism Award, and Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship all feature in our selection of the most important awards open for submissions this September.

The PHM 2017 Women Photographers Grant, Carmignac Photojournalism Award, and Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship all feature in our selection of the most important awards open for submissions this September.

PHM 2017 Women Photographers Grant

The first PHM Grant for women photographers is open for submissions, offering £8,000 in cash prizes, a projection at Photo Vogue Festival, and a nomination for World Press Photo’s Joop Swart Masterclass, plus other relevant opportunities.

The PHM 2017 Women Photographers Grant aims to empower the work and careers of female and female-identifying professionals of all ages and from all countries working in diverse areas of photography. It further means to facilitate the growth of the new generations and promote stories narrated from a female perspective, while responding to the necessity to fight against gender discrimination within the industry. Applications will be reviewed by Donna Ferrato (Photographer), Alessia Glaviano (Senior photo editor for Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue and Web Editor of Vogue.it), Rebecca McClelland (Director of Photography, Art Buyer and Creative Director) and Daniella Zalcman (Photographer, Founder of womenphotograph.com).

Photographers can benefit from a £15 early bird fee during the first two weeks of the application window. The submission deadline is 12 October. Learn more and apply at phmuseum.com/grant.

9th Carmignac Photojournalism Award

Fondation Carmignac created the Carmignac Photojournalism Award in 2009 with the aim of funding and promoting an investigative photo report on human rights violations each year. In this, the 9th edition, one winner will receive a €50,000 grant to produce an in-depth, in-the-field photographic essay dedicated to the threats facing the Arctic. “From the middle of the 2000’s, [the Arctic] has attracted attention for three principle reasons: the disappearance of the sea ice, the growing need for hydrocarbons, and the prospect of new maritime routes” say the Fondation. “This edition will support an investigative photojournalism project that will shine a light on these competing interests, and highlight what the consequences of climate change will have on the region” it adds.

After the work has been completed, Fondation Carmignac provides further support by financing both a monograph on the investigation and an international touring exhibition. The jury will be chaired by climatologist, Jean Jouzel, the winner of the 2010 Vetlesen Prize for his research on the ice of the Antarctic and Greenland. Fellow judges include David Barber (climate change specialist), Emma Bowkett (Director of Photography, Financial Times Weekend Magazine), Pascal Beausse (Director of the photography collection, Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP)), Nicolas Jimenez (Director of Photography, Le Monde), and Sarah Leen (Director of Photography, National Geographic Magazine).

The submission deadline for proposals is Sunday 15 October. Learn more at fondation-carmignac.com.

Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship

Made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Geographic Society, the Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship offers an opportunity for U.S. citizens to participate in an academic year of overseas travel and storytelling in one, two, or three countries, with the aim of documenting a globally significant issue. “Utilising a variety of storytelling tools - including text, photography, video, audio/podcasts, public speaking, maps, graphic illustrations, and/or social media - storytellers will share their stories, and the stories of those they meet” say the organisers. Participants will publish their work on a dedicated program blog, and if the stories are deemed of interest or merit, they may be considered for publication on other National Geographic platforms.

In addition to receiving the logistical Fulbright benefits, namely travel, a stipend, health insurance, materials, and a special reporting allowance, selected storytellers will be granted tuition in the best storytelling practices, which include effective blog writing, video production, photography, and other relevant training by National Geographic staff prior to departure. The broad themes of this year’s competition fall under National Geographic's three lenses: The Human Journey, Our Changing Planet, and Wildlife and Wild Places.

The deadline for the 2018-2019 fellowship is 6 October. For further information, go to us.fulbrightonline.org.

[OFF] Triennale

Every three years, the city of Hamburg plays host to the Triennial of Photography, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists across the city’s major museums, cultural institutions, independent galleries, and various artist spaces.

OFF TRIENNALE invites photographers to submit work reflecting upon the theme, Breaking Point. Searching for Change for a series of solo-exhibitions. Participating artists will be supported by the festival with up to €1000, and each of the selected projects will feature in the Triennial of Photography catalogue. The open call will be juried by a panel that includes Krzysztof Candrowicz (Artistic Director of the Triennial of Photography 2018), Ute Meta Bauer (Founding Director of the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) in Singapore), W.M. Hunt (Photography Collector, Curator), Susanna Kirschnick (Owner and Founder of gOlab Berlin), Alison Nordström (Founding Director of the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach), and Nina Venus (Artist, Curator of OFF TRIENNALE).

The deadline for applications is 28 September. For further information, visit off-triennale.picter.com.

Paris Photo-Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards

The annual Paris Photo - Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards celebrate the photobook’s contribution to the evolving narrative of the photography medium. Photographers, publishers, galleries, and institutions are invited to submit their photobooks into three different categories: The First PhotoBook Prize (for a first self-published book / first limited-edition book); The PhotoBook of the Year Prize (to be granted to a book in which the dominant content is photography, whether authored by more than one photographer/artist); and The Photography Catalogue of the Year Prize (awarding the best exhibition catalogue or museum publication of the year).

The judging will take place in two stages. An initial jury will meet in New York to select the shortlisted entries in each of the categories, after which a separate panel will convene in Paris before Paris Photo to decide the final winners. Following their display during Paris Photo, an exhibition of the thirty shortlisted books will travel to Aperture Gallery in New York.

Entry fees: First PhotoBook, $30 per book; PhotoBook of the Year, $60; Photography Catalogue of the Year, $60. Deadline: 15 September. Find out more by visiting aperture.picter.com.

Burn Magazine Emerging Photographer Fund

The Burn Magazine Emerging Photographer Fund was created to provide recognition to the finest emerging authors and grant funding to selected photographers to help with the continuation of a personal project.

An international jury featuring Alessia Glaviano (Senior photo editor for Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue and Web Editor of Vogue.it), Wayne Lawrence (Photographer), Newsha Tavakolian (Photographer, Magnum), Teun van der Heijden (Photobook designer, Heijdens Karwij), and Jamie Wellford (Senior photo editor, National Geographic) will select the winner of both the Main EPF (US$10,000) and the FujiFilm/Young Talent Award (US$5,000). The latter is only open to those photographers 25 years of age or younger. Submitted bodies of work may be of either journalistic mission or purely personal artistic imperatives.

The entry fee is US$25 and the deadline for applications is 15 September. Visit burnmagazine.org for more information.

Gomma Grant

The Gomma Grant is an international competition that aims to sustain the practice of photographers by funding their shooting, and working expenses, through cash endowments and other supportive initiatives. Since its foundation in 2004, Gomma has gained a reputation for promoting emerging photographers, oftentimes completely unknown within the industry, applying a strict meritocratic approach to judging. “Gomma's editorial staff enjoys entering into uncharted territory to spot fresh, new talent and to support them so that they can receive appropriate recognition” say the Grant organisers.

This year, a jury comprised of Caroline Hunter (Picture Editor, The Guardian), Diane Smyth (Executive Editor, The British Journal of Photography), Enrico Stefanelli (Founder, PhotoLux Festival), Joao Linneu (Founder and curator, VOID), Luca Desienna (Mentor, Gomma), Peggy Sue Amison (Artistic Director, East Wing), and Stephane Charpenter (Curator, TempsZero) will award a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize, worth €1000, €500, and €100 respectively. An Honorable Mention and six other prizes, namely Best Colour Documentary, Best Black and White Documentary, Best Colour Picture, Best Black and White Picture, Best Daily Life Story and Best Rising Talent will also be granted, each coming with a €100 cash award.

Deadline: 31 October (€25). Learn more at gommagrant.com.

Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture

Established by the Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation in 2009, The Arnold Newman Prize is awarded annually to a photographer demonstrating “a compelling new vision in the genre of portraiture.” The award is designed to assist the winner in the continuing pursuit of stories, and serve as a platform from which they can launch the next phase of their career.

All jurying will be done anonymously, with submissions to be judged on originality, overall impact, artistic merit, technical excellence, and uniqueness of vision. The winner will receive $20,000 and an exhibition in New York City. Applications should be comprised of a cohesive group of 12 images that are all a part of a single project, portfolio, or series focused on photographic portraiture, and an artist statement no longer than 500 words. The call for entries will close on 15 September. There is a $55 entry fee per submission. Go to mainemedia.edu/newman to find out more.

Tokyo International Photography Festival 2017 Competition

The Tokyo International Photography Competition aims to discover new photographic talent from around the world and offer an opportunity to both Japanese photographers trying to enter international markets, and those wanting to present and exhibit their work in Japan. The theme of the competition this year is borders. “To put it simply, borders primarily enforce boundaries, minimising - if not eliminating - grey areas” say TIPC. “They can indicate physical lines separating political and/or geographic regions. We encourage applicants to consider the concept of borders as both physical barriers and intangible perimeters” they add.

A panel of 9 jurors will review all applications and select eight photographers whose work will be exhibited as part of a travelling exhibition that will appear in Tokyo, New York, and a number of other host cities set to be announced. Submission Deadline: 2 October. Entry Fee: US$40 per series of up to 5 images. For more information, go to tokyophotocompetition.com.

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Every month we curate a list of what is coming up in the world of photography awards. Aimed at early, mid-career, and professional photographers, this list offers details of the most exciting opportunities. To stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter by registering your email address in the space at the bottom of this page.

© Katia Repina, from the series, My Own Wings
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© Katia Repina, from the series, My Own Wings

© Newsha Tavakolian (2013 Carmignac Photojournalism Award winner)
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© Newsha Tavakolian (2013 Carmignac Photojournalism Award winner)

© Christiana Botic, from the series, Serbia (2016-17 Fulbright-National Geographic Storyteller)
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© Christiana Botic, from the series, Serbia (2016-17 Fulbright-National Geographic Storyteller)

© Laia Abril, from the series, A Bad Day (2015 Triennial of Photography Hamburg exhibitor)
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© Laia Abril, from the series, A Bad Day (2015 Triennial of Photography Hamburg exhibitor)

© Michael Christopher Brown, Libyan Sugar (Winner of the 2016 First PhotoBook Prize)
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© Michael Christopher Brown, Libyan Sugar (Winner of the 2016 First PhotoBook Prize)

© Annie Flanagan, from the series, Deafening Sound (2016 EPF Grant winner)
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© Annie Flanagan, from the series, Deafening Sound (2016 EPF Grant winner)

© Zackary Canepari, from the series, Flint is a Place (Best Daily Life Story 2016)
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© Zackary Canepari, from the series, Flint is a Place (Best Daily Life Story 2016)

© Ilona Szwarc, from the series, Rodeo Girls (2014 winner)
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© Ilona Szwarc, from the series, Rodeo Girls (2014 winner)

© Magdalena Sole, from the series, The Delta (2016 featured photographer)
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© Magdalena Sole, from the series, The Delta (2016 featured photographer)

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