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Black/White by Solas / Shadow uses monochrome photography to examine contrast and harmony, both visually and conceptually. Removing color shifts attention toward mood, form, light, texture and narrative, while the theme remains broad enough to accommodate documentary, street, portrait, landscape, abstraction and fine art photography. Submissions close on September 7, 2026, with the exhibition scheduled to begin in November.
Photographers worldwide aged 18 or over may submit up to five images. There is no fee to enter, although photographers selected for the exhibition pay £16 if one image is chosen or £22 if two or more images are selected. Participating photographers receive an online exhibition feature, inclusion in both PDF and physical exhibition catalogues, a digital certificate, social media coverage and presentation through the gallery’s YouTube channel. For photographers following Deartline’s photo contest calendar, the call provides a focused monochrome opportunity without an initial submission cost.
The brief is intentionally open to interpretation. Photographers may explore either side of the Black and White theme or the relationship between them, from literal tonal contrast to broader ideas of opposition, balance and ambiguity.
Deartline Review
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Prizes
Selection leads instead to a package of exhibition, publication and promotional opportunities.
- Selected photographers: work will be displayed in the Black/White online exhibition on the SOLAS / SHADOW website.
- Exhibition catalogue: selected work will appear in both a PDF and physical catalogue.
- Digital certificate: participating photographers receive a certificate confirming their inclusion.
- Gallery promotion: selected work may be featured through the gallery’s social media and YouTube channel.
The main benefit is therefore exhibition and publication.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
There are no separate categories. The entire exhibition is built around Black/White and the relationship between contrast and harmony.
Monochrome may be approached through subjects including documentary, street, portrait, landscape, abstract and fine art photography. The strongest direct fit is with black and white photography competitions.
Dates and Entry Fees
The Black/White by Solas / Shadow submission period leads into a November 2026 online exhibition.
| Submission deadline | September 7, 2026 |
| Exhibition start | November 2026 |
Submission fee: Free.
- 1 image selected: £16 participation fee.
- 2 or more images selected: £22 participation fee.
The participation fee is payable only by photographers selected for the exhibition.
How to Enter
Photographers may submit up to five JPG images using Smash, SwissTransfer or WeTransfer and send the transfer to submissions@solas-shadowgallery.com. Files should be named using the photographer’s name, for example “Ann-Smith1”.
The accompanying message should include the photographer’s full name, location or nationality, website or social media links, a short biography of no more than a couple of sentences, and image titles where applicable.
Why Enter Black/White by Solas / Shadow?
The most useful distinction is the balance between a narrow visual theme and broad subject freedom. Black and white photography provides the common language, but photographers are not restricted to one genre or narrative approach. A documentary image and an abstract study can therefore sit within the same exhibition when both use monochrome meaningfully.
The cost structure is also unusual in separating submission from participation. Photographers can submit up to five images without paying anything and only incur a fee after selection. For those comparing Deartline’s list of photography competitions, that makes it possible to have work considered before deciding whether to pay for exhibition participation.
Selected photographers also receive more than a temporary online display: the project includes catalogue publication, a certificate and additional digital promotion. For photographers building an exhibition record around monochrome work, those outputs provide several tangible records of selection beyond the gallery page itself.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the Black/White by Solas / Shadow 2026 to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
Entries are open worldwide to photographers aged 18 or over. Submitted photographs must be original work, and entrants must own the copyright and ensure that their images do not infringe third-party copyright, trademark, privacy or intellectual property rights. The gallery’s curatorial team may select all, some or none of the submitted work, and selection decisions are final.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains exclusively with the photographer. Submission grants SOLAS / SHADOW a non-exclusive licence to display and promote the work through exhibition pages, online galleries, social media, newsletters, press announcements, digital publications and promotional material. Accepted work may also be used to promote the gallery and future activities. The gallery states that it will not sell or commercially exploit a photograph without the artist’s explicit permission.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
