World Youth and Teenage Photography Contest
The online World Youth and Teenage Photography Contest consists of three core components: Basic Photography Skills, covering composition, exposure control, basic shooting formats (such as portrait framing and landscape composition), and knowledge of photographic subject matter; Photography Culture and Creative Principles, encompassing the historical origins of photographic forms (such as portraiture and short films), the cultural symbolism in folk photography, and the influence of social trends on the development and evolution of photography; and Practical Photography Applications, encompassing image interpretation, impromptu photography, and using photography to convey ideas in real-life situations. The competition features multiple photography categories, with difficulty levels customized based on age and experience. The Children's Division emphasizes fundamental skill development, while the Youth Division emphasizes creative expression, thematic interpretation, and problem-solving through imagery.
Registration Fee: Free
Competition Categories:
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Kindergarten Group
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Lower Primary Group
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Higher Primary Group
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Junior Secondary Group
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Senior Secondary Group
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Publice Group
Important dates:
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Application Deadline: October 31, 2025
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Result Announcement Date: November 7, 2025
Award Categories
Individual Awards:
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Special Gold Award (Top 12% of participants in the group)
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Gold Award (Top 12%-25% of participants in the group)
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Silver Award (Top 26%-45% of participants in the group)
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Bronze Award (Top 46%-60% of participants in the group)
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Excellence Award (Top 61%-100% of participants in the group)
Group Awards:
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Outstanding Group Award
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Outstanding Mentor Award
Award winners can request customized awards featuring the participant's name in Chinese or English.
Award Options:
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Electronic Certificate: HKD 200
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate: HKD 290
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal: HKD 325
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal + Trophy: HKD 365
The deadline for award applications is two weeks after the announcement of the results.
All awards will be mailed within eight weeks after the application deadline.
Awards and certificates will be sent via SF Express, cash on delivery.
Once the awards are signed for, no replacements will be issued in case of damage or loss.
The organizers are not responsible for failed deliveries due to incorrect information or communication difficulties.
Competition Guidelines:
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Competition Categories
Participants can self-select their competition tier based on age and skill level (e.g., Children’s Group: 6–12 years; Youth Group: 13–18 years).
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Registration & Timing
Registration Deadline: Complete registration and submit your written work before [specific deadline, e.g., "11:59 PM UTC on October 31, 2025"].
Confirmation: A registration confirmation email will be sent to your provided address.
Submission Window: Access the competition portal anytime before the deadline to upload your written entry.
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Submission Format & Requirements
Platform: Upload your photographs through the official competition platform (link provided after registration).
Photography Requirements:
Submit original photographs (no plagiarism, and no excessive use of AI tools for editing, except for basic color correction).
Specifications: Minimum resolution of 300dpi, ensuring clarity, composition, and content that fully demonstrates the entrant's conception and creativity.
Style: Appropriate style for the subject matter (e.g., landscape photography should demonstrate spatial depth, portraits should capture the subject's emotions, and documentary photography should preserve the authenticity of the scene).
Document: Use standard image formats (e.g., JPG, PNG, RAW). Files must be clear and include the title of the work and the entrant's pseudonym (if required). Maintain a consistent file naming convention for easier identification.
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Jury Evaluation & Integrity Rules
Judging Panel: Composed of international photographers, image editors, and photography educators.
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical Ability (50%): Control of shooting parameters, compositional integrity, color palette, image clarity, and application of photographic techniques (e.g., depth of field in landscape photography, capturing light and shadow in portraiture).
Artistic Expression (30%): Degree of subject interpretation, emotional impact, creative conception, and the ability to convey a narrative or concept through imagery.
Impact (20%): Clarity of message, audience appeal, unique perspective, and the overall impression the work creates.
Integrity Policy:
No copying of published written works, no use of AI-generated content as the primary material.
Submissions found plagiarized or fraudulent will be disqualified.
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Competition Rules
Submission Limit: One entry per participant.
Entry Guidelines:
Children's Category: Photographic works (single or series of 3-5 images) with themes such as documenting children's lives, simple landscapes, and cute creatures.
Adolescent Group : Photographic works (single or series of 5-8 images) with themes such as narrative, thematic, documentary, and conceptual.
Tools Used: Only standard photography aids appropriate to the subject matter (e.g., tripods, filters) may be used. External elements that distort the actual photography (e.g., overly compositing effects that obscure the original image content) are not permitted.
Entry Requirements for the World Youth and Teenage Photography Contest(Online Submission & Jury Evaluation)
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Fundamental Photography Skills
Focus on technical foundations and the integrity of your work:
echnical skills: Accurate exposure parameters, effective composition, color control, smooth image flow, and subject-specific techniques (such as capturing light and shadow in portraits, controlling depth of field in landscapes, and capturing the moment in documentary photography).
Subject Knowledge: Familiarity with photography genres (portrait, landscape, documentary, creative, and ecological) and classic photographers and their works (such as Ansel Adams, Steve McCurry, and Henri Cartier-Bresson).
Photographic Literacy: Understanding photographic techniques (such as perspective, contrast, and white space), image formats (such as single-image narratives, series, and short dynamic images), and stylistic elements (such as lighting, atmosphere, tonal rhythm, and visual language).
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Artistic Expression & Cultural Context
Exploring thematic interpretation and historical depth:
Category Analysis: The origins and stylistic characteristics of photographic forms (e.g., the classic quality of black-and-white photography, the immediacy of street photography, the cultural documentary nature of folk photography, and the creative possibilities of digital photography).
Interpretation: The works convey emotional narratives through imagery (e.g., warmth in family photography, strength in disaster documentary), while connecting to cultural/historical contexts (e.g., documenting traditional festivals, addressing social issues).
Modern Transformation: The fusion of traditional and contemporary elements (e.g., integrating technological elements into classical portraiture, presenting folk themes with abstract creativity).
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Practical Photography Applications
Emphasize originality and adaptability:
Document Submission:
Original photography (no plagiarized content or AI-generated images) must be formatted to ensure clarity and visual expression.
Style: The color and structure should be consistent with the subject matter (e.g., the authentic texture of documentary photography, the visual tension of creative photography, the lively atmosphere of children's photography). Submissions should be in JPG, PNG, or RAW format, with a resolution of at least 300dpi, and using standard file naming conventions.
Submission Guidelines:
Children's Group (ages 8–12): Short works (single or series of 3–5 images) should include life documentaries, natural landscapes, cute creatures, family moments, etc.
Adolescent Group (13–18 yrs): Complex works (single or series of 5–8 images) should include narrative photography, thematic creations, in-depth documentary work, and conceptual photography (e.g., exploring environmental issues or expressing cultural identity).
Improvisation Tasks: Adolescent Group are required to complete 3–5 impromptu photography assignments, focusing on a designated theme (e.g., "Hope" or "Tradition") or photography style (e.g., "Black and White Humanities" or "Slow-Motion Landscape").
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Judging Criteria & Format
Evaluation Areas:
Technical Ability (50%): Accuracy of shooting parameters, integrity of image composition, and mastery of subject-specific techniques.
Artistic Expression (30%): Emotional communication, originality of conception, and in-depth interpretation of the subject.
Impact of the work (20%): Clarity of message, audience appeal (e.g., visual appeal, emotional resonance), and overall memorable quality.
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Difficulty & Age Groups
Children’s Group: Emphasizes foundational skills (such as complete narrative and basic composition) and imaginative expression.
Adolescent Group: Advanced requirements include thematic complexity (such as exploring social issues through imagery), cross-disciplinary exploration, and in-depth analysis of non-documentary works.
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Submission & Results
Deadline: Upload documents via the portal by [e.g., "May 31, 2026"].
Results: Results will be announced via email or social media within two weeks, ranked by judging scores. Prizes include a certificate, a gift certificate, and inclusion in a youth photography collection.
Exhibition: Outstanding works will be published on the competition's official platform, showcasing diverse cultural and artistic expressions within the field of photography.
This framework takes into account both technical excellence and creative expression, recognizing the diversity of photography by young people and children around the world while also promoting technological advancement and cross-cultural exchange.