2024 World Photo Annual by the reFocus Awards

Contest Closed

View the 2024 Winner’s Gallery or subscribe to be the first to hear when the World Photo Annual relaunches, as well as to receive news and updates about other contests.

Winner's Gallery

World Photo Annual

Honoring the most extraordinary photographers of our time

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A celebration of the enduring power of photography, this prestigious annual contest awards the Photographer of the Year honor

Welcoming both series and individual entries that remind viewers of the indisputable power of photography

Awarding the most exceptional creators with our highest possible global honor

Professional

Photographer of the Year

Awarded to the Winner in Each of the 22 Categories

INTERNATIONAL

Photographer of the Year

WINNERS OF EACH CATEGORY ADVANCE TO COMPETE FOR THE OVERALL TITLES

Non-Professional

Discovery of the Year

Awarded to the Winner in Each of the 22 Categories

INTERNATIONAL

Discovery of the Year

Awards & Benefits

Winners of the reFocus Awards enjoy more than prizes; honorees will be actively promoted and celebrated throughout the year and beyond.

Prizes are designed to meet your needs as a photographer, wherever they are in their careers.

Our Most Prestigious Title

Crowning the International Photographer and Discovery of the Year winners, as well as Photographers of the Year

Global Exposure

Receive international press exposure as well as have your work judged by industry professionals, gallery directors, museum curators, and influential tastemakers

Cash Prizes

$5,000+ in cash prizes

Exhibition

An artist-forward space dedicated to exhibiting your works online

Winner's Assets

Custom badges and certificates to seamlessly share your wins with the world and get your work the attention it deserves

Artist Directory

Receive your own personalized page with links to your website and social profiles as a year-round point of discovery for your work

Press Release

Customized press assets to help you share your win using a professionally written and formatted press release

Winner’s Interview

A publicly-shared and promoted interview with links to your work and social profile will help you get the global recognition you deserve

The reFocus Trophy

Reserved for contest and category winners at the reFocus Awards, our custom engraved crystal and metal trophy signifies that the honoree is one of the most distinctive photographers of our time.

Contest Winners

Category Winners

* Winner's title and award distribution may vary depending on the contest.

View:

Professional

Non Professional

International Photographer of the Year

Photographer of the Year (Per Category)

Category Winners (Silver & Bronze)

People's Vote Award

Honorable Mention

Nominee

Every Entrant

$3,500 Cash Prizes

Published Winner's Interview

Printed & Embossed Winner’s Achievement Certificate

Credit For Free Entry to Another reFocus Contest

Receive Feature in Dedicated Email to Global Audience

Premier Artist Placements Throughout reFocus Website

Prominent Feature in Winner's Gallery

Custom Press Release Tailored to Your Achievement

Public Profile in reFocus's Artist Directory

International Press Exposure to our Global Community

Digital Winner's Certificate & Badge

Free Entry & Placement In the People's Vote Award Gallery

Showcase in Winner's Gallery

Chance to be Featured on reFocus's Social Media & Newsletter

Winner Coverage:

We're thrilled to have helped the winners of our contests receive the attention their work deserves in global media placements.

Testimonials

“Receiving this honor further bolstered my credibility and boosted my confidence. It has had a hugely positive impact on both a personal and professional level and is a great calling card. This award led to two print publications as well as many digital ones. It’s also opened and continues to open doors and unlock new opportunities within the industry - including not so long ago being able to get my work featured on a website I really wanted to partner with.”

Mario Tarantino

Spain

“reFocus is a great portal to the world, helping me to make a career with my photos.”

Antonio Flores

México

“Winning the reFocus Awards helped lend immense credibility to my work. This win shared the story of my photography way outside of my current network. This award has helped to validate my work as fine art, which is incredibly important as I prepare for a museum show.”

Bill Pack

United States

“Through the awards I've received at reFocus, I've had print sales and met collectors; being able to say I won an international award with you is a huge boost. Every aspect of the reFocus Awards is elevated.”

Jatenipat Ketpradit

Thailand

“The reFocus wins, particularly being awarded International Discovery of the Year, undeniably triggered great interest in my work. This was evident in the number of visits to my website, of which I reached several hundred, and the number of invitations to interviews and participation in leading publications. I owe a lot to reFocus and how it presented my work to get it noticed by a wider audience.”

João Coelho

Angola

“Winning gave me something that I think is more valuable in the long run than a job or press coverage. And that was appreciating my work and giving me self-confidence in my work while motivating me to create and experiment.”

Laura Zalenga

Netherlands

“I have received awards in many international competitions, but winning the reFocus Awards was my greatest success. This award, especially the cash prize, had a meaningful impact on my life and those I love. I have received awards in many international competitions, but winning the reFocus Awards was my greatest success.”

Serkan Doğuş

Turkey

Mario Tarantino

Spain

“reFocus is a great portal to the world, helping me to make a career with my photos.”

Antonio Flores

México

Bill Pack

United States

Jatenipat Ketpradit

Thailand

João Coelho

Angola

Laura Zalenga

Netherlands

Serkan Doğuş

Turkey

Mario Tarantino

Spain

“reFocus is a great portal to the world, helping me to make a career with my photos.”

Antonio Flores

México

Bill Pack

United States

Jatenipat Ketpradit

Thailand

João Coelho

Angola

Laura Zalenga

Netherlands

Serkan Doğuş

Turkey

People's Vote Award

Worldwide Exposure for All Nominated Images

One of our primary missions as an artist-first community is to ensure that your photography gets the exposure it deserves. That’s why all nominated entries are automatically entered into the People’s Vote Awards in addition to our juried awards.

During the People’s Vote Awards, the public is invited to be inspired by your work while supporting it by voting for their favorite images within each contest category.

This unique honor is one of the many ways we aim to increase the chances of our artists like you being discovered and receiving well-deserved recognition.

Judges

Our international panel of judges represents today’s topmost tier of influence and distinction within our photography community.

Judges include world-renowned photographers, curators, directors, and industry professionals who were chosen based on their respected positions within the global photography world.

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Gary Hershorn

ABC News

Deputy Director of Photography

Aaron St. Clair

Shutterstock

Director of Editorial Content

Tara Wolters-Smythe

Whistler Contemporary Gallery

COO

Oscar van der Voorn

GO Gallery

Owner

Zan Zeller

Koslov Larsen (formerly Foto Relevance)

Assistant Director

Sara Morosi

Photo Editor

Kevin Linde

Daniel Melamud

Rizzoli

Editor / Author

Contest Categories

Images can be entered into multiple categories and will be judged independently of one another based on the selected category.

We highly encourage you to be expansive in your interpretation and selection of categories for your work.

Abstract

Advertising & Commercial

Aerial

Architecture

Conceptual

Domestic Animals

Event

Fashion & Beauty

Film/Analog

Fine Art

Landscapes

Minimalism

Nature

People

Photojournalism

Portrait

Sports

Still Life

Street

Travel

Underwater

Wildlife

Entry Info & Pricing

2024 World Photo Annual

Contest Closed

View the 2024 Winner’s Gallery or subscribe to be the first to hear when the World Photo Annual relaunches, as well as to receive news and updates about other contests.

Winner's Gallery

Award Sponsor