Overcoming by Decagon Gallery

The human spirit’s capacity to endure is at the heart of Overcoming by Decagon Gallery, a poignant open call seeking visual stories of survival, resilience, and the aftermath of hardship. Whether exploring personal loss, illness, displacement, or the quiet passage of difficult times, this competition invites photographers worldwide to share what remains standing when life becomes challenging. For artists browsing a list of photography competitions for meaningful thematic prompts, this contest offers a profound opportunity to showcase honest, emotionally resonant imagery.

Running until August 3, 2026, the call welcomes all photographic processes and experience levels. Rather than dividing submissions into strict genres, the gallery focuses entirely on the central theme, accepting everything from raw documentary work to staged conceptual pieces. Selected artists will not only be featured in a curated online exhibition and a printed catalog but will also compete for a share of $1,000 in cash awards, with the top winner earning a solo exhibition feature. With an entry fee starting at $25 for up to four images, the contest provides a supportive platform for photographers to translate their most challenging experiences into powerful visual narratives.

Prizes

Overcoming by Decagon Gallery provides a comprehensive recognition package that blends financial support with valuable exhibition and publication opportunities. The jury will distribute a total of $1,000 in cash prizes among the top entrants.

• The First Place winner receives a $500 cash award along with a dedicated solo exhibition feature on the Decagon Gallery website.
• The Second Place photographer is awarded $250, while Third Place receives $150. Additionally, the jury will select two Honorable
• Mentions, each receiving $50. A special Human Presence Nomination will also be awarded, granting the recipient free entry to a future Decagon open call.

Beyond the top placements, all selected photographers will be included in the curated group exhibition running from August 20 to October 20, 2026. These artists will receive a dedicated exhibition page, features on the gallery’s Instagram, and inclusion in the official printed catalog, ensuring lasting documentation of their work.

Categories or Themes

The entire competition is united by a single, powerful theme: “Overcoming — What Remains Standing”. The curatorial focus is on resilience, survival, and what endures after hardship.

The gallery encourages a wide range of interpretations. Submissions can be deeply personal or broadly observational, capturing grief, illness, displacement, or recovery. Because the prompt is so open to stylistic interpretation, it naturally appeals to creators who focus on documentary projects, intimate portrait work, or even abstract and staged imagery. The primary requirement is emotional honesty, making it a highly inclusive call for all photographic processes.

Dates and Entry Fees

The submission window is currently open, with a straightforward timeline leading up to the late summer exhibition.

• Submission Deadline: August 3, 2026
• Notification of Results: August 15, 2026
• Exhibition Dates: August 20 to October 20, 2026

The entry fee is $25, which covers the submission of up to four photographs. Artists wishing to share a broader portfolio can submit additional images for $5 each, up to a maximum of ten entries per form.

How to Enter

Submissions are processed through an online form where participants upload their files and pay the entry fee. Images must be sized to at least 2100 pixels on the longest edge, kept under 4 MB, and saved as JPG, JPEG, or GIF formats. Files must be named using the specific format: “First Name-Last Name_Title.jpg” and should not contain any watermarks, text, or borders.

About the Jury

The Overcoming by Decagon Gallery 2026 edition is juried by Douglas Beasley, a highly respected photographer and educator whose work explores the spiritual and emotional dimensions of people and places. With a BFA from the University of Michigan, Beasley has built an extensive career spanning commercial, international, and fine art photography. His work is widely exhibited and collected, including a permanent installation at the Castillo D’Albertis Cultural Museum in Italy. He is also the founder of Vision Quest Photo Workshops and the publisher of Shots Magazine, bringing a deep understanding of visual storytelling and creative vision to the selection process.

Why Enter Overcoming by Decagon Gallery?

For photographers seeking platforms that value emotional depth over technical perfection alone, this Overcoming by Decagon Gallery offers a rare and supportive environment. The theme of resilience provides a profound prompt for artists to explore difficult subjects with dignity and creativity. Earning a spot in the curated showcase means your work will be thoughtfully presented alongside other powerful narratives, both digitally and in a printed catalog.

Furthermore, the involvement of a seasoned juror like Douglas Beasley ensures that submissions are reviewed with a keen eye for spiritual and emotional resonance. When evaluating the best photo contests to enter, the combination of cash awards, a solo feature for the top winner, and a tangible publication makes this a highly rewarding opportunity for dedicated visual storytellers.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the Overcoming 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

The competition is open to photographers worldwide, welcoming all experience levels and photographic processes. Submitted images must be the original creation of the entrant and must not infringe upon the copyrights of any third party.

Copyright and Image Usage

Photographers retain full rights, including copyright, to their submitted photographs. By entering, participants grant Decagon Gallery consent to publish accepted images in the online exhibition, the printed exhibit catalog, and across promotional channels to market the exhibition. The gallery explicitly states that it will never distribute a photographer’s work to anyone else without prior permission.

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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.