Contents
The Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA focuses on photographs shaped through gradations of light and dark, whether the finished image is black and white, sepia, or composed in shades of a single color. The international juried call opens on July 5, 2026, and closes on October 18, 2026, at midnight Pacific Time.
Organized by the New York Center for Photographic Arts, the contest carries $4,000 in total cash awards. Ten photographers will receive cash prizes, while a further 20 images will be named Juror Selections and 20 will receive Honorable Mentions. Prize-winning work will appear in the NYC4PA online gallery and Prize Winners catalog, and the Grand Prize image will also be displayed on the organization’s home page. For photographers reviewing online photo competitions, this call combines cash recognition with digital exhibition and publication opportunities.
Entries may originate from film, digital cameras, smartphones, image transfer, encaustic, mixed techniques, or other photographic processes, provided the final work is monochrome and presented as two-dimensional art. The fee is $40 for the first three images and $10 for each additional image, with no submission limit. A blind jury process applies, so files must not contain signatures or watermarks, and image titles must not include the artist’s name. Entrants retain copyright while granting NYC4PA limited permission to use selected images for its promotion, catalog, and online gallery.
Contest Prizes
The Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA awards are divided among ten cash recipients.
- One Grand Prize winner will receive $1,100, and the selected photograph will be featured on the NYC4PA home page.
- Three First Prize winners will receive $400 each.
- Three Second Prize winners will receive $325 each.
- Three Third Prize winners will receive $250 each.
All prize winners will also be included in the online gallery and Prize Winners catalog and will receive an award certificate. Alongside the cash recipients, the juror will designate 20 Juror Selections and 20 Honorable Mentions. These forms of recognition place the call among contests offering both cash prizes and an exhibition opportunity through an online gallery.
Categories
There are no separate subject categories for this Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA. The defining requirement is the monochrome treatment of the finished image. Black and white photographs are eligible, as are sepia images and photographs built from variations of one color.
The subject itself may vary widely, and experimental or mixed photographic techniques are accepted. This broad interpretation gives the call relevance within black and white photo contests while also allowing approaches that move beyond conventional grayscale photography.
Dates and Entry Fees
- Submissions open on July 5, 2026.
- The deadline is October 18, 2026.
The entry fee is $40 for the first three images.
Each additional image costs $10, and there is no limit to the number of photographs that may be entered.
How to Enter
Entry and payment are completed through NYC4PA’s online submission platform. JPEG files of approximately 1 MB are recommended, although uploaded files should remain below the platform’s 8 MB limit. Larger files do not provide an advantage because the submission system reduces image size for jury review.
Each photograph should have a unique, concise title. Special characters in filenames should be avoided because they may interfere with uploading. After a successful upload, entrants can review the displayed preview to confirm that the image is clear.
About the Jury
The Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA 2026 juror is Ann M. Jastrab, MFA, Executive Director of the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California. Her professional background includes ten years as gallery director at RayKo Photo Center in San Francisco and previous work as gallery manager at Scott Nichols Gallery.
At the Center for Photographic Art, she has developed artist grant and scholarship programs and helped expand the organization’s membership across six continents. She also launched PhotoCarmel, a photography festival on California’s central coast, and has worked as a juror, portfolio reviewer, and educator for numerous photographic institutions.
Why Enter Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA?
The Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA offers several distinct forms of recognition within a single open call: cash awards, online presentation, catalog publication, certificates, juror selections, and honorable mentions. The worldwide eligibility and acceptance of film, digital, smartphone, experimental, and mixed processes also create room for varied interpretations of monochrome image-making.
Photographers comparing current photography contests may also note that this is an international call with no stated restriction on subject matter. The emphasis remains on the final monochrome result rather than on the camera, process, or genre used to produce it. It therefore sits comfortably alongside broader monochrome photography awards and related single-color photography opportunities.
Rules and Copyright
The Monochrome Awards by NYC4PA is open worldwide, and both established and emerging photographers may enter. All photographic mediums, styles, and schools of thought are accepted, including experimental and mixed techniques, but only two-dimensional work is eligible.
Images that received an NYC4PA prize during the previous two years cannot be entered again. Photographs previously submitted but not selected for a prize may be resubmitted. Because judging is blind, submitted files must contain no signatures or watermarks, and the artist’s name must not appear in an image title.
Entrants must confirm that submitted photographs are their own work and do not infringe another party’s copyright. The photographer retains all rights to the image. By entering, however, the photographer gives NYC4PA permission to use submitted work for the organization’s promotion and advertising. Images named as prize winners, Juror Selections, or Honorable Mentions may also be reproduced in the NYC4PA catalog and online gallery.
Entrants should provide accurate contact information. An award notice or prize returned as undeliverable will not be resent, and the related submission may be considered ineligible. Winners outside the United States are responsible for wire-transfer costs when PayPal is unavailable, and prize recipients remain responsible for applicable taxes.
—
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
