Sedimentations Photo Contest by PEP Photography is an international open call that leads to a curated group exhibition at the BPM (Biennale de la Photographie de Mulhouse) in France, scheduled for June–July 2026. Working under the theme “Sedimentations,” the call asks photographers to explore layers of time, memory, matter, and transformation, from geological strata to personal archives. The application deadline is November 30, 2025. Entry fees range from €5 to €15 depending on the submission option. If you are planning a season of entries and comparing online photography contests, this call offers a clear brief and a prominent festival venue.
Submissions can be a single image, a set of three, or a series of up to ten images. Selected works will be produced by PEP, with printing and framing covered, and presented during the biennial. A catalog featuring the exhibited images will launch at the opening. The brief welcomes varied approaches so long as they engage the idea of sedimentation in a meaningful way. With an international setting and a concise process, the Sedimentations Photo Contest is suited to photographers working across documentary practice as well as projects rooted in place, memory, and change.
Contents
Prizes
The Sedimentations Photo Contest awards center on professional exhibition outcomes and visibility in print, with production covered by the organizer.
- Selected artists exhibit in the PEP × BPM group show during the Biennale de la Photographie de Mulhouse (June–July 2026). Printing, framing, and general exhibition production are handled by the organizer.
- A catalog featuring the selected artworks is released at the opening. One copy is provided to participating artists, with shipping available at the artist’s cost if they cannot attend.
- Optional sales: exhibited works may be offered as a special edition (3 copies + 1 artist’s proof) coordinated with PEP during the show.
Related Photo Contests
Categories or Themes
The central theme is “Sedimentations,” which can be addressed through many approaches across conceptual, documentary, and experimental practices. Projects that touch on place and terrain may also sit within broader landscape photography, while the open brief makes it relevant to open theme entries as well.
Dates and Entry Fees
Applications close: November 30, 2025.
The PEP × BPM group exhibition: June–July 2026 in Mulhouse, France.
Entry fees:
- €5 for 1 image
- €10 for 3 images
- €15 for a series (up to ten images).
There is no limit to the number of entries per artist.
How to Enter:
Submit via the official platform by choosing one of three options (1 image, 3 images, or series up to ten). Upload JPG or TIFF files up to 1 MB each, name files “Yourlastname_01.jpg,” complete the form, and finalize payment. A confirmation email follows (if it does not arrive, contact the Sedimentations Photo Contest organizer). If selected, you will provide higher-resolution files for production.
About the Jury
The international jury includes Bénédicte Blondeau (PEP founder and curator) and Anne Immelé from the Biennale de la Photographie de Mulhouse, with additional members to be confirmed for this edition.
Why Enter Sedimentations Photo Contest?
The Sedimentations Photo Contest offer is concrete and practical: exhibition in a European biennial context, production handled by the organizer, and presence in a printed catalog. The theme supports layered storytelling and archive-driven work while remaining open to documentary and conceptual trajectories. Those mapping out submissions can browse our roundups of best online photography competition and other opportunities to plan a balanced entry calendar.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Sedimentations Photo Contest by PEP Photography 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
- Open to photographers aged 18 or older from any country. Submissions at entry are JPG or TIFF, maximum 1 MB per file; higher-resolution files are requested if selected.
- No signatures, stamps, or identifying marks on images. File names must follow “Yourlastname_01.jpg.”
- Digital manipulation is permitted. The use of artificial intelligence is allowed if clearly stated in the artwork description on the submission form.
- There is no limit to the number of entries; multiple projects may be submitted for the same call.
- Printing, framing, and general exhibition production are covered by PEP; shipping of the catalog is at the artist’s cost if they cannot attend the opening.
- Entry fees are nonrefundable, and selection is competitive.
Copyright and Image Usage
- Copyright remains with the authors. By entering, artists allow the organizer to use submitted images and related texts in online and printed materials to promote the artists’ work, exhibitions, and open calls, with credit.
- Works may be offered for sale during the exhibition as a special edition (3 prints + 1 artist’s proof), coordinated with the organizer.
- A printed catalog featuring the selected works is released at the opening; one copy is provided to each participating artist.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
