Pictures of the Year Asia Competition 2024

POY Asia is committed to seeing the world from an Asian perspective and celebrating excellence in journalistic and documentary photography throughout the continent.

Categories

• Spot News
  • This is a category for single photographs of breaking news or events in which no planning was possible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• Portraits
  • A single photograph of a person or group of people that increases the understanding and appreciation of the subject(s). Selfies or self-portraits are acceptable. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• Nature & Environment
  • Are encouraged to explore the relationship between human and nature/environment. Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• Recreational & Traditional Sports
  • A single photograph that celebrates the role sports play in the community. Images may show the emotional highlights of players on the field or the reactions of fans. Local, traditional, and obscure games which are often neglected in mainstream media are welcome in this category. The pictures must be from non-professional settings. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• Sports Action
  • A single photograph that captures peak action of an individual or team sport. While Recreational & Traditional Sports is mostly for amateur settings, entries in this category should be from professional, semi-professional and school competitions. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• General News
  • A single photograph of a news event or social issue for which planning was possible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• Daily Life
  • A single photograph, candid and un-posed, that reflects the human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.
• Daily Life Picture Story
  • A narrative picture story that reflects the everyday human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. Each submission consists of 5 to 10 images. All images must be taken in 2023. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions.
• Portrait Series
  • A series of photographs that reflects a strong sense of identity or narrative. Respect for the dignity of the person is important. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 10 images. All images must be taken in 2023. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions.
• Issue Reporting Picture Story
  • A long-term project on a single topic. It could focus on science, news, politics or any number of topics, ranging from coverage of a single person to an entire community. The project must convey a deep understanding of the subject. Each submission consists of 10 to 40 images. All images must be taken in 2023. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions.
• Cultural Practices
  • A set of photographs that increases the understanding and appreciation of a cultural practice. It can be about festivals, religion, traditions, or contemporary cultural trends. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 20 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions. All images must be taken in 2023.
• Photographer Of The Year, Asia
  • This premier category is open to all photographers — independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. Please submit 10 to 50 images per portfolio consisting of at least two stories. Single images are optional. All images must be taken in 2023. Each participant is allowed to enter only one portfolio.
  • Please create a blank, black slide (.jpg). Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the story title and story summary for the blank slide. Place the slide at the beginning of each story. Title the slide with the name of the project.
  • Single images may be included but are not required. Place them at the beginning of your portfolio. A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images). 50 images maximum (not including black slides).

Award Information

• Digitally sent certificates.
• Possible inclusion in POY programs and exhibits.
• Free entry waiver for Pictures of the Year International in 2025.

Who can apply?

• POY Asia is open to holders of passports from the following countries/territories: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.
• They also welcome submissions from photographers who aren’t holding any of the above-mentioned passports but can prove that they have been working out of Asia for the past three years.
• The photographs must be made by a person and must bear only the name of the photographer in the credit.
• Each photographer must fill out an entry form.

For more information, visit Picter.