The Open Call: HIDDEN BEAUTY, hosted by the Lucie Foundation, invites photographers worldwide to capture beauty in unconventional, overlooked, or unexpected spaces. This global contest challenges participants to redefine aesthetics through four distinct categories: Portrait, Still-life/Landscape, Candid/Community, and B/W. Submissions close on March 31, 2025, with winners announced in April 2025. Forty selected photographers will feature in an online exhibition, while the Grand Prize winner earns $1,000, a professional print, and a Lucie Foundation interview.
The theme “Hidden Beauty” encourages conceptual interpretations, making it ideal for photographers exploring abstract, emotional, or socially nuanced narratives. Categories are broad yet purposeful: portraits may reveal inner resilience, candid shots might spotlight overlooked communities, and monochrome entries could emphasize raw, unfiltered elegance. The contest’s $20 entry fee per image.
Key dates include the early-bird deadline (December 15, 2024), final submission deadline (March 31, 2025 Extended to April 15, 2025), and winner notifications (April 2025). The Grand Prize offers $1,000 and global exposure, while category winners receive $250 each. The Lucie Foundation’s reputation and juried exhibition provide significant credibility. For photographers seeking recognition in photo competitions online, this contest balances creative freedom with professional validation.
The Open Call: Hidden Beauty Prizes
The contest rewards both artistic vision and technical skill.
- The Grand Prize winner receives a $1,000 cash award, a 16×20″ professional print, a featured intervie won the Lucie Foundation website, and inclusion in the online exhibition.
- Category winners (three total) earn $250 each, a print, and exhibition placement.
- All 40 finalists gain digital exposure through the foundation’s platforms, including newsletters and social media.
While monetary rewards are secondary to exposure, the Lucie Foundation’s partnership with Paper and Ink Studio adds tangible value through high-quality prints. The emphasis on conceptual storytelling makes this contest a standout among conceptual photography contests, particularly for artists exploring themes of resilience, identity, or environmental subtleties.
Categories of Open Call: Hidden Beauty
The contest’s four categories allow diverse interpretations of the theme:
- Portrait: Explore inner beauty, vulnerability, or strength in human subjects.
- Still-life/Landscape: Highlight overlooked details in objects or environments.
- Candid/Community: Capture unposed moments or underrepresented groups.
- B/W: Use monochrome tones to emphasize texture, contrast, or emotional depth.
Photographers may submit the same image across multiple categories at a discounted rate, though AI-generated work is excluded.
Open Call: Hidden Beauty Dates and Entry Fees
- Early-Bird Deadline: December 15, 2024 (20% discount on submissions).
- Final Deadline: March 31, 2025.
- Extended Deadline: April 15, 2025.
- Entry Fees: $20 per image (20% discount for multi-category submissions).
Submissions are digital (JPG only), with no limits on the number of entries. Fees support administrative costs and prize funding.
About the Jury
Entries are evaluated by a panel of industry leaders:
- Ami Vitale (National Geographic photographer, conservationist).
- Sarah Leen (Former Director of Photography, National Geographic).
- Cat Jimenez (Founder, DALA Photo Festival).
- Lynn Johnson (Award-winning photojournalist).
Their expertise ensures a rigorous selection process focused on creativity, technical excellence, and thematic relevance.
Why Enter Open Call: HIDDEN BEAUTY?
This contest is ideal for photographers seeking to challenge traditional notions of beauty while gaining exposure through a respected platform. The Lucie Foundation’s global reach connects artists with curators, collectors, and peers, enhancing career opportunities. For those drawn to conceptual photography contests, the theme’s flexibility encourages innovation, whether through intimate portraits or abstract landscapes. The inclusion of a B/W category also appeals to photographers mastering tonal storytelling.
While the prizes are not the largest, the foundation’s credibility and the jury’s prestige offer intangible benefits. Photographers retain full rights to their work, and selected images are promoted across Lucie’s digital channels.
For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.
