MONOCHROME REMOVES THE NOISE
MONO ORBIT AWARDS is an independent international photography award dedicated to monochrome photography exploring the built environment. The first edition is titled EMISSION.
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.
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.
No. All photographs are considered through one shared selection process. There are no separate categories.
The entry fee is €20 for one to four photographs. The fee is the same whether you submit one, two, three or four photographs.
Yes. You may submit up to four photographs within one paid entry. Each photograph is assessed individually.
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.
Yes. Both analogue and digital photography are accepted, provided the submitted files meet the technical requirements.
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.
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.
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.
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.
POSTRH, founder of MONO ORBIT AWARDS, is the sole juror for the first edition. There is no external jury or public voting.
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.
THE ORBIT 12 is the final selection of twelve different photographers. Three receive cash awards and the remaining nine are recognised as Selected.
The selection is presented in a digital catalogue and the continuing archive, with editorial coverage through MONO ORBIT. A print-on-demand photobook is planned through Blurb, subject to the separate permissions needed for a publication offered for sale. Complimentary printed copies are not guaranteed.
The three award recipients are offered individual editorial interviews and a voluntary invitation to join the jury of a future edition. Additional Honourable Mentions may be awarded outside THE ORBIT 12.
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.
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 within 14 calendar days of confirmation that the minimum has not been met.
The Organiser will publish an announcement explaining the outcome. The rights of participants who entered under earlier Terms and Conditions remain protected.
Where the minimum participation requirement is met, the guaranteed cash prize fund is €2,100:
The prize fund does not depend on the amount of entry fee revenue collected.
No. Each photographer may receive only one cash award and occupy only one position within THE ORBIT 12.
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.
Yes. You may withdraw from your paid entry within 14 calendar days of payment and receive a full refund, even if you have already uploaded or finally submitted your photographs.
You can withdraw through the cancellation function in your MONO ORBIT AWARDS account or email mono@monoorbitawards.com with your registered email address and sufficient payment information to identify your entry.
Refunds will be issued within 14 calendar days of receiving your withdrawal request. Your statutory consumer rights remain unaffected.
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.
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.
Yes. The licence granted to MONO ORBIT AWARDS is non-exclusive. You remain free to publish, exhibit, license or sell your photographs elsewhere.
Selected photographs may appear on MONO ORBIT AWARDS, MONO ORBIT, social media, newsletters, editorial features, exhibitions, digital catalogues and competition-related archives. Photographers will be credited wherever reasonably practicable.
A separate written agreement will be sought before a photograph is included in a photobook offered for sale through Blurb. Declining that additional permission does not remove an award or selection. Unrelated commercial use also requires separate permission.
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.
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.
Yes. For questions about entries, payments, refunds, technical problems or competition rules, contact:
