MONOCHROME REMOVES THE NOISE
01 - WHAT IS MONO ORBIT AWARDS?
MONO ORBIT AWARDS is an independent international photography award dedicated to monochrome photography exploring the built environment. The first edition is titled EMISSION.
02 - WHO CAN ENTER?
Professional and amateur photographers aged 18 or over may enter from anywhere in the world. All submitted work must be original and created by the participant.
03 - WHAT IS THE THEME?
The theme of the first edition is EMISSION. Photographs must meaningfully relate to this theme and the built environment. Documentary and conceptual interpretations are welcome.
04 - ARE THERE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES?
No. All photographs are considered through one shared selection process. There are no separate categories.
05 - HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The entry fee is €20 for one to four photographs. The fee is the same whether you submit one, two, three or four photographs.
06 - CAN I SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE PHOTOGRAPH?
Yes. You may submit up to four photographs within one paid entry. Each photograph is assessed individually.
07 - WHAT ARE THE FILE REQUIREMENTS?
Photographs must be monochrome JPG files, no larger than 3000 pixels on the longest side and 4 MB per photograph. Files must use sRGB and must not contain watermarks, logos, borders or identifying text.
08 - ARE ANALOGUE PHOTOGRAPHS ACCEPTED?
Yes. Both analogue and digital photography are accepted, provided the submitted files meet the technical requirements.
09 - ARE AI-GENERATED IMAGES ACCEPTED?
No. Images generated entirely by artificial intelligence are not permitted. AI must not be used to generate or substantially replace photographic content. Conventional photographic editing is permitted.
10 - HOW DO I COMPLETE MY ENTRY?
Create or access your account, complete payment and upload your photographs.
Select Save to store your entry as a draft.
To submit your photographs officially, select Enter the competition and confirm your entry.
A saved draft is not a final submission.
11 - CAN I CHANGE MY PHOTOGRAPHS AFTER SUBMISSION?
You may add, remove or replace photographs while your entry remains a draft. Once finally submitted, photographs cannot normally be modified through the submission system.
12 - WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?
The closing date for the first edition is 6 January 2027. Entries must be finally submitted before the deadline displayed on the Current Open Call page.
13 - WHO JUDGES THE COMPETITION?
POSTRH, founder of MONO ORBIT AWARDS, is the sole juror for the first edition. There is no external jury or public voting.
14 - HOW ARE PHOTOGRAPHS SELECTED?
Photographs are assessed for their relationship to the theme, originality, visual strength, intention and meaningful use of monochrome.
Selection is independent of a photographer’s reputation, audience size or professional status.
15 - WHAT IS THE ORBIT 12?
THE ORBIT 12 is the final selection of twelve photographers.
Three photographers receive cash awards. The remaining nine are recognised as Selected.
Additional Honourable Mentions may be awarded.
16 - IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS?
Yes. The first edition requires at least 12 eligible photographers to proceed to the final selection.
This means 12 different photographers, not 12 photographs or payments.
There is no minimum revenue requirement.
17 - WHAT HAPPENS IF FEWER THAN 12 PHOTOGRAPHERS ENTER?
If fewer than 12 eligible photographers participate by the closing date, the edition will not proceed to the final selection.
All entry fees paid for the edition will be refunded in full.
The Organiser will publish an announcement explaining the outcome.
The rights of participants who entered under earlier Terms and Conditions remain protected.
18 - WHAT ARE THE CASH PRIZES?
Where the minimum participation requirement is met, the guaranteed cash prize fund is €2,100:
First Prize - €900
Second Prize - €700
Third Prize - €500
The prize fund does not depend on the amount of entry fee revenue collected.
19 - CAN ONE PHOTOGRAPHER WIN MORE THAN ONE PRIZE?
No. Each photographer may receive only one cash award and occupy only one position within THE ORBIT 12.
20 - WHEN ARE PRIZES PAID?
Cash prizes are paid within 30 calendar days of the official announcement of results, provided the recipients have supplied the information reasonably required for payment.
21 - CAN I WITHDRAW AND RECEIVE A REFUND?
Yes. You may withdraw from your paid entry within 14 calendar days of payment and receive a full refund.
This applies even if you have already uploaded or finally submitted your photographs.
Email mono@monoorbitawards.com with your registered email address and payment information.
Refunds will be issued within 14 calendar days of receiving your withdrawal request.
Your statutory consumer rights remain unaffected.
22 - CAN I RECEIVE A REFUND AFTER 14 DAYS?
Entry fees are generally non-refundable after the 14-day withdrawal period, except where required by law or expressly provided in the Terms and Conditions.
If the minimum participation requirement is not met, all entry fees will be refunded regardless of when they were paid.
Not receiving an award does not itself entitle a participant to a refund.
23 - DO I KEEP COPYRIGHT?
Yes. You retain full copyright and ownership of your photographs.
By entering, you grant the Organiser a limited non-exclusive licence for competition administration, selection, presentation and related editorial promotion, as described in the Terms and Conditions.
24 - CAN I PUBLISH OR SELL MY PHOTOGRAPHS ELSEWHERE?
Yes. The licence granted to MONO ORBIT AWARDS is non-exclusive. You remain free to publish, exhibit, license or sell your photographs elsewhere.
25 - HOW WILL SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS BE USED?
Selected photographs may appear on MONO ORBIT AWARDS, MONO ORBIT, social media, newsletters, editorial features, exhibitions, catalogues and competition-related archives.
Photographers will be credited wherever reasonably practicable.
Unrelated commercial use requires separate permission.
26 - WILL MY PHOTOGRAPHS BE USED TO TRAIN AI?
MONO ORBIT AWARDS does not intentionally use submitted photographs to train artificial intelligence models.
This statement does not describe or guarantee the independent practices of every third-party service provider.
27 - WILL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION BE SHARED?
Personal data is processed for competition administration and related purposes described in the Privacy Policy.
Selected photographers’ names and relevant credits may be published.
Personal information is not sold to third parties.
28 - CAN I CONTACT THE ORGANISER?
Yes. For questions about entries, payments, refunds, technical problems or competition rules, contact:
mono@monoorbitawards.com
