Open Photography Contests & Competitions 2026

Theme: "Motion > Blur" In most cases, photography is used to “freeze time,” with a still image. Motion in photography creates a paradox: the image is a frozen moment in time but what is captured is an object that is a blur of motion – an apparent streaking, bending, distorting and /or movement of light and objects in the foreground or background of the image frame. Blur can demonstrate the velocity of movement. It can convey the emotional dimensions of the subject photographed, presenting dream like qualities by invoking the surreal and transitory nature of time passing. Meteors streak across the sky, ghostly figures move through a room, the artist paints shapes with a light source. These are some examples of how blur represents motion in time-lapse photography. Praxis Gallery seeks the submission of photographic art that demonstrates the fundamental qualities that make motion & blur a compelling element of contemporary photography. All genres, capture types, black & white and color, traditional and non-traditional photographic and digital post-production processes are welcome for submission. Awards: Thirty images will be selected by the juror for exhibition at Praxis Gallery (Exhibition Dates: Aug 22 - Sept 12, 2026). A Juror’s Choice award, two Honorable Mentions and a Directors Choice award will be awarded and featured in the exhibition, the printed show catalog and the online show gallery. Juror: Praxis Directors Image requirements: JPG format; 72 dpi; 1024 pixels or less on longest side; 4MB or less in file size. Selected photographers will receive instructions on uploading hi-res files to our online submission site. Online submission of digital photographs via the website. OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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“Motion – Blur” Photo Competition