[ the open call ]

Friday, August 21st

Hi, and happy Friday!

Six worth your time this week. Let's get into it.
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[1] Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award

Deadline: October 11th

This is my pick of the week, especially if your work lives anywhere near human stories — migration, displacement, the situations that pull people across borders. Run by Doctors of the World, it's free to enter and open to anyone, anywhere, over 18. You submit a documentary series of 5–10 images; the winner takes €6,000, with a €1,500 special prize on top. Selected work tours in a group exhibition and lands in a printed catalogue, and they fly you to Madrid for the opening.

Read more and apply https://premioluisvaltuena.org/en/

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[2] W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography

Deadline: October 12th

The big one, arguably the most respected grant in documentary photography. $30,000 to the winner, plus two $10,000 finalist grants, for a project that speaks to the human condition: social change, conflict, migration, the environment. Open worldwide to anyone 18 or over. There's a $50 entry fee, but don't let that stop you if money's tight. They hand out waivers through partners like Magnum Foundation, Women Photograph and Diversify Photo, so check those before you pay.

Read more and apply https://www.smithfund.org/eugene-smith-grant

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[3] Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant

Deadline: August 31st (this one's soon!)

For the younger and emerging photojournalists among you. Worldwide, free, and genuinely career-launching. £10,000 towards your project, a year's loan of Canon gear, publication by The Guardian, and a year-long mentorship with photojournalist Giles Duley. The one thing to know: you need to be 24 or under (or 25 within this year), or, if you're older, enrolled in a full-time photography course.

Read more and apply https://www.ianparry.org/the-ian-parry-photojournalism-grant

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[4] PhMuseum 2026 Photography Grant

Opens: September 8th (one to get ready for)

Not open quite yet, but worth prepping now. €10,000 in cash prizes (a €5,000 first prize, then €2,000 and €1,000), plus a €2,000 New Generation Prize for emerging talent. The winner also gets a solo show at PhMuseum Lab in Bologna, travel and accommodation covered. It's worldwide, and made for cohesive, visually-driven projects of 5–20 images.

Read more and apply https://phmuseum.com/grants

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[5] CEWE Photo Award 2026

Deadline: May 31st, 2027

And to close, the easy, no-pressure one. The world's largest free photo competition, open to everyone, shot on any camera or phone. This year's theme is "Our world is beautiful," which is basically an open invitation for your travel and landscape work. You can enter up to 100 images across ten categories, and the prize pool is enormous.

Read more and apply https://contest.cewe.co.uk/cewephotoaward2027/en_gb/​

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See you next Friday.
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- Melissa