Monochrome Photography Awards 2026
Monochrome Photography Awards (Mono Awards) monoawards.com ↗
Closes Nov 15, 2026
·
D − 34
Worth entering? $2.0K top prize against 22 USD per image. The jury read and the rights terms below are what decide it — not the prize math. Jury read ↓ · Rights & disqualifiers ↓
Submit-Safe · before you pay the entry fee
Read the fine print
Read the fine print first — Monochrome Photography Awards 2026 has 3 hard disqualifiers and demanding rights terms.
What this contest takes
You keep copyright, but the licence reaches past promoting the contest — wider uses, sub-licensing or passing it to others. Read the licence clause before entering.
- Copyright stays with the entrant. Rule text: "You hereby grant the Monochrome Awards a non-exclusive, irrevocable license in each Entry throughout the world in all media for any use in connection with the competition." For awarded images: "unlimited non-exclusive use of high-resolution images for activities in all media [...] in relation to the contest and all promotional activities without any remuneration being due." Copyright stays with the photographer; images are not resold to third parties.
- Duration: irrevocable (competition-connected use)
- You keep your copyright
- Credited when used
What disqualifies you
- Age minimum Entrants must be over 18. “Anyone over 18 years of age can enter the competition with the exception of employees of the Monochrome Awards, their associated companies and employees of any company chosen to sponsor prizes for the competition.”
- Image format Black and white only (toned images such as sepia or selenium accepted); film or digital; 1200px longest side JPEG, no watermarks or borders. “Only black and white photographs will be accepted to the contest. Toned images (like sepia, selenium, etc.) will be also accepted.”
- Copyright ownership Entrant must be the sole copyright owner and have permission from people featured. “The entrant must be the sole copyright owner of all photographs entered and must have obtained permission of any people featured in the entries (or their parents/guardians if children under 16 are featured).”
Closes Nov 15, 2026 · D−34
22 USD per image
Upload spec:
Files: JPGMax 1200px long edgesRGB 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
Abstract (black and white)
Single
Black and white abstract photography. Professional and Amateur sections.
Architecture (black and white)
Single
Black and white architecture and buildings.
Conceptual (black and white)
Single
Black and white conceptual photography.
Fashion / Beauty (black and white)
Single
Black and white fashion and beauty photography.
Fine Art (black and white)
Single
Black and white fine art photography.
Landscapes (black and white)
Single
Black and white landscape photography.
Nature (black and white)
Single
Black and white nature photography.
Nude (black and white)
Single
Black and white fine-art nude.
Photojournalism (black and white)
Single
Black and white photojournalism and documentary.
Photomanipulation (black and white)
Single
Black and white photomanipulation.
Portrait (black and white)
Single
Black and white portrait photography.
Street (black and white)
Single
Black and white street photography.
Wildlife (black and white)
Single
Black and white wildlife photography.
F Format requirements 1 spec
mono_entry
- File types: jpg
- Max long edge: 1200px
- Color profile: sRGB
- No watermarks
E Eligibility 5 rules
-
Entrants must be over 18.
hard
“Anyone over 18 years of age can enter the competition with the exception of employees of the Monochrome Awards, their associated companies and employees of any company chosen to sponsor prizes for the competition.”
-
Black and white only (toned images such as sepia or selenium accepted); film or digital; 1200px longest side JPEG, no watermarks or borders.
hard
“Only black and white photographs will be accepted to the contest. Toned images (like sepia, selenium, etc.) will be also accepted.”
-
No AI-specific rule is published. The FAQ accepts digital manipulation "within reason and taste" and there is a Photomanipulation category — a grey zone to check with the organiser before entering AI-touched work.
soft
“Digitally manipulated images are accepted, although within reason and taste.”
-
Entrant must be the sole copyright owner and have permission from people featured.
hard
“The entrant must be the sole copyright owner of all photographs entered and must have obtained permission of any people featured in the entries (or their parents/guardians if children under 16 are featured).”
-
Professional section if you earn at least half your income from photography; otherwise Amateur (cheaper fee, separate prize).
soft
“We consider professional photographers those who earn at least half of their income from photography. The Amateur category is for photographers who do not make their main income from photography.”
Jury context
Long-running (since 2014) online awards dedicated to black and white photography, open to film, wet collodion and digital. Judged by a nominated jury on "artistic merit, originality, subject and style".
Priorities: artistic merit originality subject style
Tone: tonal range graphic contrast fine art minimalist
Avoid: colour images watermarks borders
Prizes
Monochrome Photographer of the Year (Professional): $2,000. Monochrome Discovery of the Year (Amateur): $1,000. Category winners and Honorable Mentions: online gallery, Annual Book inclusion, logo and certificate.
Publication
R Rights & licensing what you grant the organizer
- What you grant
- Copyright stays with the entrant. Rule text: "You hereby grant the Monochrome Awards a non-exclusive, irrevocable license in each Entry throughout the world in all media for any use in connection with the competition." For awarded images: "unlimited non-exclusive use of high-resolution images for activities in all media [...] in relation to the contest and all promotional activities without any remuneration being due." Copyright stays with the photographer; images are not resold to third parties.
- Duration
- irrevocable (competition-connected use)
- Exclusivity
- none
- Attribution
- Required
- Copyright retained by photographer
- Yes
Before you enter — quick answers
- Is Monochrome Photography Awards 2026 free to enter?
- Monochrome Photography Awards 2026 is not free: 22 USD per image. Check the organizer's page for the full fee rules and any waivers.
- Are AI-generated images allowed in Monochrome Photography Awards 2026?
- See the published rules for Monochrome Photography Awards 2026's AI policy.
- When is the Monochrome Photography Awards 2026 deadline?
- Monochrome Photography Awards 2026 closes on Nov 15, 2026 (in 34 days).
- How do I know if my photo is eligible for Monochrome Photography Awards 2026?
- Read your photograph against Monochrome Photography Awards 2026'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.