| Copyright | By entering this Contest and/or accepting a prize, you agree to allow Sponsor to use your name, city and state, voice and image in connection with publication of your winning entry and for promotional purposes (except where prohibited), without review, notification or approval. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | You must be 18 years or older as of September 12, 2008 to enter the contest and be a resident of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. The contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers. |
| Finish | 12 September 2008 |
| Entry fee | Single Entry: $25 | Series: $40 | Student Work: $10 |
Finished
The Annual American PHOTO Images of the Year event is an international competition that is a definitive showcase of the very best of contemporary photography. This juried photo contest offers unmatched exposure to both established and imerging photographers in a wide range of fields, from documentary/photojournalism to cutting-edge commercial work and will provide and unprecedented opportunity for peer review of your work of professional photographers, museum curators, art critics and influential editors. Winners will be selected on the basis of originality and overall quality of concept execution.Categories:
- PHOTOJOURNALISM/DOCUMENTARY
- COMMERCIAL WORK: ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL
- PERSONAL WORK
- STUDENT WORK
- PORTRAITURE
- NATURE
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SUBMISSIONS
The competition is open to work produced from September 1 2007 – September 17, 2008. Entries can be submitted by uploading the image and making a payment on the www.iotycontest.com website.
File specifications: submissions should be in JPEG format. This compresses the size of your file and should make for quick uploads. It’s important to set your JPEG compression to maximum image quality (minimum compression) in order to prevent deterioration of image quality.
In Photoshop, saving your file via Save As, select JPEG for your image type, and put the quality slider to 12 (all the way to the right).
Filename should not have spaces i.e. “blue car.JPG” instead “blue_car.JPG”
File must have the correct extension ().
Filename should not have slashes i.e. “women/child.jpg”
Filename should not have odd charachters i.e. “%$@#*()
Official web site: www.iotycontest.com/about.shtml
Register: www.iotycontest.com/bin/Register
Frequently asked questions — Amateur photography contests
Who can enter amateur photography contests?
Most amateur contests welcome non-professional photographers worldwide—hobbyists, students, and emerging creators. Many explicitly exclude those who earn primary income from photography to ensure a level playing field. Always verify age requirements and amateur-status definitions on the official contest page.
Are amateur photography contests free to enter?
Many are free or low-cost: entry fees typically range from $0–$25 per submission, with student discounts or early-bird rates often available. Fee status and discount tiers are confirmed in the Quick Facts section at the top of each contest page on PhotoCompete.
What prizes do amateur photography contests offer?
Prizes emphasize growth and exposure: cash awards range $100–$2,500, while non-monetary rewards include mentorship feedback, online feature spots, workshop scholarships, or entry credits to advanced contests. Even without large cash prizes, these contests offer valuable confidence-building opportunities.
How do I choose which amateur contest to enter?
Prioritize contests that match your current skill level and genre interests. Look for opportunities offering constructive feedback or educational components, confirm that professional photographers are excluded (if that matters to you), and review rights clauses—even amateur contests may request usage rights for promotional purposes.