Night Works by Decagon Gallery is calling for photographs made after dark, when light is scarce and every decision shows. The theme is simple but demanding: night is not just a backdrop, it is the collaborator. From urban streets lit by signage to quiet rural scenes under ambient glow, this online exhibition looks for images shaped by darkness, artificial light, long exposures, or near-total shadow. The deadline for entries is March 31, with selected entries announced April 15, and the exhibition scheduled to run from April 20 to June 20.
Awards are straightforward and strong for an online call: First Place receives $500 plus a solo exhibition on the gallery website, followed by $300 for Second Place and $200 for Third Place. Honorable Mentions may also be named. Beyond the top prizes, selected photographers are included in the online exhibition and receive a digital exhibition badge and printable certificate, plus promotion on Decagon Gallery’s social channels, inclusion in the exhibition catalog, and a YouTube video feature. For photographers browsing photography contests to join online, this call stands out for its clear theme and a timeline that moves quickly from submission to exhibition.
Entry fees are $10 for one photograph, $25 for up to four photographs, and $5 for each additional photograph after four. After eight paid entries, the next two are free. If the subject matter fits your practice, this is also a relevant option among night photography contests that focus on how darkness changes structure, mood, and meaning.
Prizes
Night Works by Decagon Gallery offers a mix of cash prizes and online exhibition opportunities, with additional visibility for selected entries.
- First Place receives $500 and a solo exhibition on the Decagon Gallery website.
- Second Place receives $300.
- Third Place receives $200.
- Honorable Mentions may be awarded.
In addition, selected photographers are presented in the online exhibition and receive a digital exhibition badge and printable certificate of participation, promotion on the gallery’s social media channels, and inclusion in the exhibition catalog and YouTube video.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
This call centers on a single theme: photographs made at night or images that clearly evoke nighttime conditions. Decagon Gallery highlights a wide range of approaches as welcome as long as the final image is shaped by night and deliberate use (or absence) of light. Submissions can be dramatic or understated, populated or solitary, urban or rural, with the emphasis placed on how night influences mood, structure, and meaning.
Dates and Entry Fees
Night Works by Decagon Gallery follows a clear schedule from deadline to exhibition, with tiered fees depending on how many images are entered.
Key dates:
- Deadline for Entry: March 31
- Announcement of Selected Entries: April 15
- Exhibition Dates: April 20 — June 20
Entry fees:
- $10 for one photograph
- $25 up to 4 photographs
- $5 for each additional photograph after 4
- After 8 paid entries the next two are free
How to Enter
Entries are submitted through Decagon Gallery’s online form. Applicants provide basic contact details, an artist statement, and an address, then upload images with titles and optional descriptions (up to 200 words per image). Files should be named using the required format (First Name-Last Name_title.jpg) and meet the minimum size requirement. The form includes an agreement confirming the work is original and consenting to accepted images being published in the online exhibition, exhibition catalog, and YouTube video, and used to promote the exhibition and gallery.
Why Enter Night Works by Decagon Gallery?
Night Works is a focused call with a theme that pushes photographers to show control over atmosphere, exposure, and intent when light is limited. The structure is appealing on practical grounds: a defined timeline, top-tier awards that include both money and a solo feature, and an online exhibition format that supports international participation. For photographers comparing this with other best photography competitions, the contest’s clarity helps entrants decide quickly whether their portfolio fits the brief.
It also offers multiple layers of visibility beyond the winners. Selected images are shown in the online exhibition, and the program includes promotion through Decagon Gallery’s social media, plus inclusion in an exhibition catalog and YouTube video. If your work leans into artificial light, ambient glow, or extended shutter techniques, it can sit naturally alongside long exposure photography competitions while still being judged here on how night itself shapes the final image.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Night Works by Decagon Gallery has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Theme requirement: Images must have been made at night or clearly evoke nighttime conditions.
File format: JPEG or JPG format is accepted on the contest page. The submission form also indicates JPG, JPEG, PNG, or GIF may be accepted, with a maximum file size of 4 MB.
Minimum size: Files must be at least 2100 pixels on the long side.
File naming: Files must be labeled using the format First Name-Last Name_title.jpg.
Watermarks and borders: No watermarks or borders, with borders allowed only if they are part of the total image (for example, when the border is integral to the composition).
Copyright and Image Usage
Rights ownership: By submitting, entrants confirm they hold full rights to the submitted images and that the work does not infringe the copyright of others.
Permission to publish: Entrants consent to accepted images being published in the online exhibition, the exhibition catalog, and a YouTube video.
Promotional use: Submitted images may be used by Decagon Gallery for exhibition-related promotion, with full artist credit.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
