What would you do with a million-dollar prize pool? That’s the staggering figure behind the Hamdan International Photography Award 2025 (HIPA 2025), one of the most prestigious photography contests to enter this year. With the theme “POWER”, the 2025 edition explores strength in all its forms: natural, emotional, technological, and beyond. Whether your lens captures raw human emotion or the quiet authority of a still landscape, this global competition invites photographers to reflect on power’s many dimensions through compelling imagery.
The contest includes several standout categories: Power (main theme), Sports Photography, Portfolio (Story-Telling), Drone (Video), and the always popular General category split into Black & White and Colour. Notably, this year’s additions include enhanced focus on drone creativity and a reinforced spotlight on sports photography. With category prizes reaching up to $50,000 and a jaw-dropping Grand Prize of $200,000, HIPA 2025 represents one of the best photo challenge prizes currently available. Submissions are open until 31 May 2025, and the contest is free to enter for all participants.
HIPA 2025 offers a rare opportunity to gain visibility on an international stage. Its careful curation of categories and robust recognition structure also positions it as a benchmark among portfolio photography competitions. For those serious about visual storytelling, this is a stage that matters—one where ideas, technique, and creativity converge in one of the photography world’s most prominent forums.
The HIPA 2025 Prizes
HIPA 2025 offers a total prize pool of $1,000,000, making it one of the most lucrative photography competitions in the world. Prizes are awarded across multiple categories, along with a prestigious Grand Prize and Special Awards. Here’s a breakdown of what’s at stake:
Grand Prize:
USD $200,000
Category Prizes:
- Power Category: 1st $40,000 | 2nd $30,000 | 3rd $20,000
- Drone (Video): 1st $40,000 | 2nd $30,000 | 3rd $20,000
- Sports Photography: 1st $40,000 | 2nd $30,000 | 3rd $20,000
- Portfolio (Story-Telling): 1st $50,000 | 2nd $40,000 | 3rd $30,000
- General – Colour and Black & White: Each subcategory: 1st $40,000 | 2nd $30,000 | 3rd $20,000
Special Awards:
- Photography Appreciation Award: $100,000
- Photography Content Creator Award: $50,000
- HIPA Photographer of the Year: $80,000
Other Free Contests
The Categories of the HIPA 2025
Hamdan International Photography Award 2025 features six main categories, all designed to challenge and celebrate different aspects of visual storytelling:
- Power: The central theme. Broad, philosophical, and open to interpretation, this category encourages submissions from all genres—from nature and conflict to technology and abstraction.
- Drone (Video): Showcases visual innovation through drone technology. Entries must be 30 seconds to 1 minute long, in high definition.
- Sports Photography: A dynamic, movement-rich category capturing the emotion and intensity of sports.
- Portfolio (Story-Telling): Submit 5–10 photos as a coherent series with narrative depth. This is ideal for photographers skilled in long-form storytelling.
- General – Black & White and Colour: A perennial favourite, this category allows complete creative freedom in either monochrome or full spectrum colour.
Hamdan International Photography Award 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
HIPA 2025 is free to enter photography contest, open globally to photographers aged 18 or older.
Below are the key dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submissions Open | 10 January 2025 |
| Submission Deadline | 31 May 2025 at 11:59 PM (UAE time) |
How to Enter:
Participants must register and upload their work via the official contest website. Each photographer may submit one entry per category, except in the Portfolio section (5–10 images) and Drone (Video) category (1 video). Submissions must meet technical requirements in format, size, and resolution, as outlined in the full rules.
Why Enter HIPA 2025?
HIPA 2025 stands out for its unparalleled prize pool, rich category selection, and international reach. The competition consistently attracts thousands of photographers from all over the globe and offers exceptional opportunities for exposure, especially for visual storytellers and those looking to establish their name in the photography world. With the new inclusion of drone video and a robust sports category, it’s also among the top options for creators exploring multimedia and action-driven work. It’s also worth noting the respect HIPA gives to original content.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Hamdan International Photography Award 2025 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
Participants must be 18 years or older. Each can submit one photo per category, except for Portfolio (5–10 photos) and Drone (Video) (1 video). Photos must be JPEG, at least 5MB, 2000px minimum longest edge, 300dpi. AI-generated content, heavily manipulated images, or previously awarded work are not permitted.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain the rights to their submissions. However, finalists and winners grant HIPA a worldwide, royalty-free license to use submitted materials for promotional purposes. Participants must secure all necessary model and property releases if applicable, and confirm their entries are original and free of third-party rights claims.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
