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That One Photograph by Decagon Gallery begins with a precise and emotionally charged idea: the image a photographer never left behind. This online exhibition call asks for one photograph only, giving the submission a directness that may appeal to photographers browsing photography contests and challenges with a strong editorial theme.
The call is open to photographers worldwide and welcomes all photographic styles and processes. Its focus is not technical perfection or spectacle, but emotional weight: memory, attachment, intimacy, grief, distance, tenderness, longing, or time. The submission deadline is June 20, 2026, with notifications scheduled for June 28 and the online exhibition running from July 1 to September 1.
The entry fee is $15 for one photograph. Awards include $1,000 in total cash prizes, a solo online exhibition for the First Place winner, inclusion in the curated exhibition, a dedicated exhibition page, Instagram promotion, and catalog inclusion for selected photographers.
Prizes
The That One Photograph awards combine cash prizes, online exhibition opportunities, catalog inclusion, and gallery visibility through Decagon Gallery’s digital platform.
- First Place:
- $500.
- Solo exhibition on the Decagon Gallery website.
- Second Place:
- $250.
- Third Place:
- $150.
- Two Honorable Mentions:
- $50 each.
- Human Presence Nomination:
- Free entry to one future Decagon Gallery Open Call of the photographer’s choice.
- Selected photographers:
- Inclusion in the curated exhibition.
- Dedicated exhibition page on Decagon Gallery.
- Feature on Decagon’s Instagram.
- Inclusion in the exhibition catalog.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
That One Photograph by Decagon Gallery does not use separate categories. The entire call is shaped around a single theme: one image that continues to carry emotional meaning for the photographer.
The selected photograph may be quiet, unresolved, restrained, or difficult to explain. The gallery’s text places emphasis on images connected to memory, distance, intimacy, tenderness, longing, grief, attachment, and time. This makes the call especially relevant to photographers working with conceptual photography, personal storytelling, human presence, and emotionally driven image-making.
Dates and Entry Fees
The exhibition follows a clear schedule from submission to online presentation.
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| June 20, 2026 | Submission deadline |
| June 28, 2026 | Notification date |
| July 1 to September 1, 2026 | Online exhibition dates |
The fee structure is simple and tied to the one-image format of the call.
- Entry fee: $15.
- Number of photographs: one photograph only.
How to Enter
Submissions are made through the online entry form linked from the Decagon Gallery call page. Applicants must provide their name, email, location, optional social media handles, the title of the photograph, and one short written response about the image.
Files must be JPG or JPEG, at least 2100 pixels on the long side, under 4 MB, and named with the photographer’s name and title in the required format. Images should not include borders or watermarks.
About the Jury
The exhibition is curated and juried by the Decagon team.
Because the exhibition is curated directly by Decagon Gallery, the team may accompany selected photographs with a short curatorial phrase, word, or fragment of language written in response to the submitted image and statement, while preserving the original emotional meaning and intention.
Why Enter That One Photograph by Decagon Gallery?
The one-image structure gives the call a clear editorial identity. Instead of asking photographers to build a broad submission package, it places weight on a single photograph and the emotional charge that remains within it. That format may suit artists whose work is personal, restrained, narrative, or difficult to place within more conventional themes.
For photographers comparing trending photography challenges, That One Photograph by Decagon Gallery offers a focused exhibition format with cash awards, online gallery presentation, catalog inclusion, and Instagram visibility. It may also appeal to those working within people photography, personal documentary, memory-based projects, or emotionally driven visual storytelling.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the That One Photograph 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
Each photographer may submit one photograph only. All photographic styles and processes are welcome. Submitted files must be JPG or JPEG, at least 2100 pixels on the long side, under 4 MB, and must not include text, watermarks, borders, frames, or additional graphic elements.
Applicants must also submit one sentence about the photograph. This text should not describe what the image shows, when it was taken, or its technical context. Instead, it should express what continues to live inside the image for the photographer.
Copyright and Image Usage
Entrants must confirm that the submitted image is their own creation and does not infringe on the copyright of others. By applying, photographers consent to having an accepted image published in the online exhibition, included in the exhibit catalog, and used to promote the exhibition.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
