Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027
Communication Arts (Coyne & Blanchard, Inc.) commarts.com ↗
Closes Mar 12, 2027
·
D − 151
Worth entering? Paid entry (moderate) — weigh the jury read and the rights terms below before the fee. Jury read ↓ · Rights & disqualifiers ↓
Submit-Safe · before you pay the entry fee
Read the fine print
Read the fine print first — Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027 has 4 hard disqualifiers and demanding rights terms.
What this contest takes
Standard terms — you keep copyright and full control; the licence is limited to promoting the contest.
- Copyright stays with the entrant. Rule text: "Submission of entries acknowledges the right of Communication Arts to use them for publication and exhibition." "All entrants grant Communication Arts the right to reproduce work selected in the Photography Competition on the Communication Arts website and in materials used to promote the magazine, the competition and/or future related promotions." FAQ: "You retain all rights to your images."
- Duration: Not stated
- You keep your copyright
- Credited when used
What disqualifies you
Generative fill is out; AI denoise / sharpen / upscale are fine — but “excessive manipulation” is judged subjectively, so keep the edit honest.
- Ai generation AI text-to-image generated submissions are not accepted; conventional retouching for commercial work is not restricted by the published rules. “In support of these hardworking artists, we will not be accepting AI text-to-image generated submissions in our Photography competition.”
- Capture date after Work must have been first published or produced between March 2026 and March 2027. “Any photograph first published or produced from March 2026 through March 2027 is eligible.”
- Copyright ownership Work must be original and not use content owned by another copyright holder without specific usage rights (stated for student work; credits requested from winners). “The work must be completely original and not utilize content owned by another copyright holder unless the entrant has been granted specific usage rights.”
- Image format Digital images must be RGB JPGs, max 2MB; series limited to five photographs from the same project/campaign. “Digital Images: Must be RGB in JPG format with a maximum file size of 2MB.”
Closes Mar 12, 2027 · D−151
40 USD per image
Upload spec:
Files: JPGUnder 2 MBRGB colour profileNo watermarks
Check your photo against these exact rules — free →
No account · reads the editing line, the AI clause and the file spec · rules human-verified
The full editorial read continues with past-winner pattern, fee-to-prize value, rights translated, and three comparable competitions. Studio reads the rest.
Categories
Advertising
Single
Commercial photography for print/digital ads, posters, packaging. Single $40; series of up to five $80.
Books
Single
Published book covers, jackets and interiors. Single $40; series $80.
Editorial
Single
Editorial photography for consumer or trade magazines and newspapers. Single $40; series $80.
For Sale
Single
Posters, prints, greeting cards, licensing/stock, gallery sale, online store. Single $40; series $80.
Institutional
Single
Company/association publications, annual reports, catalogs, client websites, blogs. Single $40; series $80.
Self-Promotion
Single
Promotion for photographers, design firms, agencies, art schools. Single $40; series $80.
Unpublished
Single
Commissioned-but-unpublished, personal or experimental work. Single $40; series $80.
Series (any category)
Series · up to 5 photos (min 2)
Up to five photographs from the same project or campaign, judged together ($80).
Student Work
Single
Photography created for a school assignment (JPG $20; series of up to five $40).
F Format requirements 1 spec
ca_entry
- File types: jpg
- Max size: 2.0 MB
- Color profile: RGB
- No watermarks
E Eligibility 4 rules
-
AI text-to-image generated submissions are not accepted; conventional retouching for commercial work is not restricted by the published rules.
hard
“In support of these hardworking artists, we will not be accepting AI text-to-image generated submissions in our Photography competition.”
-
Work must have been first published or produced between March 2026 and March 2027.
hard
“Any photograph first published or produced from March 2026 through March 2027 is eligible.”
-
Work must be original and not use content owned by another copyright holder without specific usage rights (stated for student work; credits requested from winners).
hard
“The work must be completely original and not utilize content owned by another copyright holder unless the entrant has been granted specific usage rights.”
-
Digital images must be RGB JPGs, max 2MB; series limited to five photographs from the same project/campaign.
hard
“Digital Images: Must be RGB in JPG format with a maximum file size of 2MB.”
Jury context
International jury of distinguished creative directors and photographers; each juror votes "in" or "out", majority required to reach finals. The competition rewards commissioned and commercial craft as much as personal work — the Annual is a sourcing tool for art directors, designers and art buyers. No cash prize; the prize is the Award of Excellence and the Annual.
Priorities: creative excellence craft concept fit to brief
Tone: commercial craft editorial advertising conceptual
Avoid: text to image ai work outside eligibility window
Prizes
No cash prize. Winners are published in the Communication Arts Photography Annual (print and digital) and on commarts.com, and receive a personalised Award of Excellence milled from solid aluminium.
- Personalised aluminium Award of Excellence + certificates for firms, individuals and clients
- Inclusion in the Communication Arts Photography Annual (print + digital) and commarts.com with contact index
Publication
R Rights & licensing what you grant the organizer
- What you grant
- Copyright stays with the entrant. Rule text: "Submission of entries acknowledges the right of Communication Arts to use them for publication and exhibition." "All entrants grant Communication Arts the right to reproduce work selected in the Photography Competition on the Communication Arts website and in materials used to promote the magazine, the competition and/or future related promotions." FAQ: "You retain all rights to your images."
- Duration
- Not stated
- Exclusivity
- none
- Attribution
- Required
- Copyright retained by photographer
- Yes
Before you enter — quick answers
- Is Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027 free to enter?
- Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027 is not free: 40 USD per image. Check the organizer's page for the full fee rules and any waivers.
- Are AI-generated images allowed in Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027?
- AI-assisted editing is permitted at Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027, but the image must originate from a real photograph and manipulation may need to be disclosed. A fully AI-generated image is not eligible as a photograph.
- When is the Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027 deadline?
- Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027 closes on Mar 12, 2027 (in 151 days).
- How do I know if my photo is eligible for Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027?
- Read your photograph against Communication Arts Photography Competition 2027's published rules — the editing line, the AI clause, and the file requirements — free and without an account with WinPhoto's eligibility check. It tells you whether your image is eligible before you pay the entry fee.