Contents
A memorable landscape photograph does more than describe a place. It can hold the quiet of a forest, the scale of a mountain ridge or the tension of changing light above an empty coastline. The Landscape Photography Competition by The Motif Collective is built around that wider idea, seeking images that combine scenery with atmosphere, composition and a clear photographic point of view.
This landscape photography competition remains open until September 7, 2026, with the winners scheduled to be announced on September 14. Photographers aged 18 or older may submit between one and six images, with entry packages beginning at $12. Cash awards for the three leading photographs are linked to the amount collected in entry fees and may reach a combined total of up to $10,000. Software prizes, inclusion in The Motif Collective Artists Showcase and focused social media promotion add to the awards package.
Mountain ranges, deserts, forests, coastlines, farmland and less familiar natural settings can all fit the brief. The emphasis is not simply on recording a view, but on using light, color, timing and visual structure to create a meaningful connection between the viewer and the landscape. For photographers comparing current photography competitions, the August call provides a tightly defined theme, an international field and several levels of recognition.
Prizes
Three photographs will receive the principal awards. The cash amounts are not fixed in advance: they grow according to the number of paid entries received for the theme, with the total payout advertised as reaching up to $10,000.
- First place: 25% of all entry fees collected for the theme. The winner also receives a copy of ON1 Photo RAW and three paid Retouch4me photo-retouching plugins.
- Second place: 15% of all entry fees collected for the theme, plus three paid Retouch4me plugins.
- Third place: 10% of all entry fees collected for the theme, plus three paid Retouch4me plugins.
The first, second and third-place images will be presented in The Motif Collective Artists Showcase Winners Gallery. The winners will also receive focused publicity through the organizer’s social media channels. Shortlisted photographs are published in the Motif Gallery, providing a further level of online presentation beyond the three cash awards.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
There are no separate categories within this edition. The entire call is centered on landscape imagery and the visual character of the natural world.
The brief includes towering peaks, long coastlines, quiet woodland, rolling farmland, deserts and hidden natural places. Images may have been made during a major expedition or close to the photographer’s home. There is no general restriction on when the photograph was taken unless a specific competition page states otherwise.
Judging looks beyond the beauty of the location itself. The organizer is seeking photographs with emotional presence, considered composition, effective use of light and color, originality and a distinct interpretation of the theme. Both broad vistas and more intimate views may therefore fit the call when the scene is treated as more than a simple record of a place.
Dates and Entry Fees
The contest follows a short monthly schedule, with the results due one week after submissions close.
| Open for submissions | Open now |
| Submission deadline | September 7, 2026 |
| Winners announced | September 14, 2026 |
Entry fees depend on the number of photographs submitted:
- 1 image: $12
- 2 images: $18
- 3 images: $24
- 4 images: $28
- 5 images: $32
- 6 images: $36
Once payment has been completed and the files have been uploaded, an entry cannot be modified or removed. Refunds may be issued before the competition ends or when a contest is cancelled under the organizer’s terms.
How to Enter
Photographs must be submitted through the online entry form on the official competition page. Files should be supplied in JPG format, measure approximately 1200 × 900 pixels and remain below 1 MB. Watermarks are not accepted.
The recommended naming format combines the entrant’s name and the image title, such as “Jim Smith: Sunburst Sunrise”. Photographers should retain the original digital file because the organizer may request it to confirm the authenticity of an entry.
About the Jury
Entries are evaluated anonymously by a panel of experienced photographers. During the blind review, the judges do not see the photographer’s identity or the title of the image.
The published criteria include creativity, composition, technical ability, originality and interpretation of the theme. The competition page also refers to artistic impact, lighting, color and the photographer’s ability to form a connection between the landscape and the viewer. Three entries are selected as the winners, and the judges’ decision is final. Individual feedback is not normally provided.
Why Enter the Landscape Photography Competition by The Motif Collective?
The August edition combines a specific visual brief with a prize structure that grows according to participation. Its three leading photographers receive cash awards, editing software and a place in the organizer’s winners gallery, while shortlisted entries can also appear in the online showcase.
The international eligibility and broad interpretation of the theme allow photographers to work with images made in distant locations or within familiar surroundings. What matters is how the photograph translates the qualities of the place through light, atmosphere, composition and timing.
For readers exploring the best photo challenges online, this call offers a concise monthly timetable and accepts up to six individual images rather than requiring a connected portfolio. Its focus on natural settings also makes it relevant to photographers interested in current landscape photography contests.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Landscape Photography Competition by The Motif Collective 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
The call is international and accepts entries from photographers aged 18 or older. Employees of The Motif Collective and their immediate family members cannot participate. Each photograph must follow the stated theme and must have been created from a photograph taken by the entrant.
Submissions must be JPG files of approximately 1200 × 900 pixels and no more than 1 MB. Watermarks are prohibited. Photographers may use post-processing techniques, but wholly or partly AI-generated images are not permitted. An image that has previously received a Motif Collective cash award cannot win another cash award.
Entrants must own the submitted work and hold the necessary permissions relating to identifiable people, intellectual property and any other protected material shown in the image. Entries containing illegal, abusive, defamatory, obscene or otherwise prohibited content may be disqualified.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain full copyright and moral rights in their entries. When an image is published by The Motif Collective, the photographer should be credited, although an accidental omission of the credit is not treated as a breach of the terms.
By entering, photographers grant The Motif Collective a non-exclusive, revocable and worldwide licence to use winning or shortlisted images for judging and for marketing or promoting the current contest and future Motif Collective competitions. Permitted uses include display on the competition website and inclusion in promotional materials.
The organizer does not claim the right to use submitted images for unrelated commercial purposes. Should another use arise, the photographer is to be contacted and given the opportunity to negotiate it independently. Entrants remain responsible for protecting their work against misuse by third parties.
—
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
