MONOCHROME REMOVES THE NOISE
Last updated: 29 October 2026
MONO ORBIT AWARDS is an independent international photography award dedicated to monochrome photography exploring the built environment. It operates as part of MONO ORBIT, an independent editorial platform focused on photography, design and the built environment.
The award was established to discover and recognise distinctive photographic perspectives on architecture, infrastructure, industry and spaces shaped by human activity.
The first edition, EMISSION, follows a single-juror selection model. POSTRH is the founder and sole juror.
These Terms and Conditions govern participation in MONO ORBIT AWARDS. By entering, participants agree to these terms, without prejudice to their applicable statutory rights.
The competition is open worldwide to professional and amateur photographers aged 18 or over.
Participants must submit their own original photographic work.
Individuals directly involved in administering or judging the edition, and their immediate family members, are not eligible.
The Organiser may request reasonable evidence of eligibility.
The first edition is titled EMISSION.
All submitted photographs must meaningfully relate to the theme and the built environment.
Documentary, conceptual and other photographic interpretations are welcome.
There are no separate competition categories.
The entry fee is €20, inclusive of any applicable taxes.
One payment allows a participant to submit between one and four photographs.
The fee remains €20 regardless of the number of photographs submitted within that entry.
Payments are processed through PayPal.
The total payable amount is displayed before payment confirmation.
Participants must create or access their MONO ORBIT AWARDS account and complete the required payment.
Photographs may then be uploaded through the participant's account.
Selecting Save stores the entry as a draft. A draft is not a final submission.
Photographs may be added, removed or replaced while the entry remains a draft.
To complete the submission, participants must select Enter the competition and confirm their entry.
Once finally submitted, photographs cannot normally be modified through the submission system.
Participants are responsible for completing their entries before the published deadline.
Submitted photographs must meet the following requirements:
Digital and analogue photography are accepted.
Black-and-white, greyscale and consistently toned monochrome photographs are eligible.
Selective-colour images or photographs containing several distinct colours may be rejected.
Images generated entirely by artificial intelligence are not permitted.
Every photograph must originate from the participant's own photographic work.
AI must not be used to generate or substantially replace photographic content.
Conventional photographic editing is permitted, including tonal adjustment, contrast, cropping, sharpening, retouching and monochrome conversion.
The Organiser may request reasonable evidence of photographic origin, including RAW files, source files, film scans or metadata.
Participants confirm that they are the authors of their submitted photographs and hold the necessary rights to enter them.
Participants are responsible for obtaining permissions required by applicable law concerning identifiable people, property, artworks or other protected material.
Submitted photographs must not knowingly infringe third-party rights.
Copyright remains with the photographer.
All eligible submissions are reviewed by POSTRH, founder and sole juror.
There is no external jury or public voting for the first edition.
Each photograph is assessed on its individual merit, regardless of how many photographs a participant submits.
The selection considers:
Selection is independent of a participant's reputation, audience size or professional status.
Decisions concerning artistic merit are final, subject to applicable law and the Organiser's obligation to administer the competition fairly.
The first edition requires at least 12 eligible photographers to proceed to the final selection.
The minimum refers to 12 different eligible photographers, not 12 photographs, payments or submissions.
This requirement supports the structure of THE ORBIT 12 and is not linked to revenue or financial performance.
If fewer than 12 eligible photographers participate by the closing date, the edition will not proceed to the final selection.
In that event, all entry fees paid for the edition will be refunded in full within 14 calendar days of the Organiser confirming that the minimum has not been met.
Refunds will be issued through the original payment method unless otherwise expressly agreed.
The Organiser will publish an announcement explaining the outcome.
Where the minimum is met, the edition will proceed and the guaranteed cash awards will be allocated in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
Existing paid participants who entered under earlier terms retain applicable contractual and statutory protections. The new minimum participation requirement will not be applied retrospectively to remove an existing participant's enforceable rights.
Where the minimum participation requirement is met, twelve photographers will be selected to form THE ORBIT 12.
Three photographers will receive the MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
The remaining nine photographers will be recognised as Selected.
Additional Honourable Mentions may be awarded at the sole juror's discretion.
Each photographer may occupy only one position within THE ORBIT 12.
THE ORBIT 12 forms part of the continuing editorial archive of MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
Where the minimum participation requirement in Section 10 is met, the first edition guarantees a cash prize fund of €2,100.
The prize fund is not conditional on the amount of revenue received or the total number of paid entries beyond the minimum participation requirement.
Each cash award will be allocated to a different eligible photographer.
Cash prizes will be paid within 30 calendar days of the official announcement of results, provided that the recipient has supplied the information reasonably required to process payment.
The Organiser is responsible for arranging prize payments and will make reasonable efforts to contact recipients and obtain the information necessary for payment.
Any applicable tax obligations will be handled in accordance with relevant law.
A participant may submit up to four photographs within one paid entry.
Each photograph is assessed individually.
Submitting additional photographs does not guarantee preferential treatment.
A participant may receive only one cash award and occupy only one position within THE ORBIT 12.
If multiple photographs by the same participant are considered suitable for different award positions, the highest applicable award will be allocated to that participant. The remaining award position will be allocated to another eligible photographer.
Results will be published on the MONO ORBIT AWARDS website.
Where the minimum participation requirement in Section 10 is met, THE ORBIT 12 will comprise three cash award recipients and nine photographers recognised as Selected. Each of the twelve will be included in the official digital catalogue and competition-related editorial and archival presentation, subject to the rights and withdrawal provisions of these Terms and Conditions.
The Organiser intends to publish a print-on-demand photobook documenting THE ORBIT 12 through Blurb. As copies may be offered for sale, reproduction of a selected photographer's work in the paid photobook requires that photographer's separate written permission under Section 15. The photobook is not a cash award, and complimentary printed copies are not included unless expressly announced.
If a selected photographer does not grant permission for the paid photobook, their photographs will not be reproduced in that publication. Refusing that permission will not affect their selection, recognition or eligibility for any cash award.
The three cash award recipients will be offered individual editorial interviews. Publication of an interview depends on the photographer's participation and agreement on the material to be published. Each will also be invited to join the jury for the next edition; accepting that invitation is voluntary and subject to the selection arrangements and conflict-of-interest requirements of that edition.
THE ORBIT 12, award recipients and any Honourable Mentions may also be presented through MONO ORBIT, social media, newsletters and editorial features connected with the award.
The Organiser determines the editorial format of selected work, subject to the permissions described in Section 15.
Participation in an editorial feature does not imply award status or influence selection.
Photographers retain full copyright and ownership of their submitted photographs.
Participation does not transfer copyright to the Organiser.
By submitting photographs, participants grant the Organiser a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to store, reproduce, resize, technically adapt, display and communicate their submitted work where reasonably necessary for competition administration, assessment, verification and presentation.
The licence also permits publication and promotion of selected photographs in connection with MONO ORBIT AWARDS and related editorial activities of MONO ORBIT, including:
Selected photographs and accompanying credits may remain available in the continuing editorial archive of MONO ORBIT AWARDS and MONO ORBIT, subject to applicable withdrawal rights and law.
The Organiser will credit photographers wherever reasonably practicable.
Photographs may be cropped, resized or reformatted where reasonably necessary for presentation, without intentionally misrepresenting their essential artistic character.
The Organiser does not acquire the right to sell individual photographs, grant independent commercial licences to third parties or permit unrelated commercial advertising uses without separate permission.
The planned print-on-demand THE ORBIT 12 photobook through Blurb may be offered for sale. Before reproducing any selected photograph in that paid publication, the Organiser will obtain a separate written agreement from its photographer covering the specific work, publication and distribution rights, attribution and any applicable financial arrangements. No such commercial photobook rights are granted automatically by entering the competition or accepting an award.
Photographers may decline or withhold agreement for the paid photobook without losing their award, Selected status or eligibility for the other competition recognition described in these Terms and Conditions. Their photographs must not be included in that paid publication without the required permission.
Other paid photobooks, merchandise, independent commercial publications and uses outside the scope described above also require an appropriate separate agreement.
The licence does not prevent photographers from publishing, exhibiting, licensing or selling their photographs elsewhere.
Where an entry is validly withdrawn, the Organiser will cease using it for selection and future promotional publication, except where retention or processing is required by law or necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
Personal data associated with photographs is processed in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
The Organiser offers participants a contractual right to withdraw from a paid entry within 14 calendar days of payment, without providing a reason.
This right is offered in addition to any mandatory statutory consumer rights.
A participant withdrawing within this period will receive a full refund of the €20 entry fee.
This also applies where photographs have already been uploaded or finally submitted.
Participants may withdraw directly through the cancellation function available in their MONO ORBIT AWARDS account.
Alternatively, participants may email mono@monoorbitawards.com with their registered email address and sufficient information to identify the payment.
Participants may use the following statement:
"I hereby give notice that I withdraw from my MONO ORBIT AWARDS entry."
The Organiser will acknowledge the withdrawal request and issue the refund without undue delay and no later than 14 calendar days after receiving the withdrawal notice.
Refunds will be issued through the original payment method unless otherwise expressly agreed.
Following withdrawal, the entry will be removed from the competition and will no longer be eligible for selection or awards.
After the 14-day period, entry fees are generally non-refundable, except where required by applicable law or expressly provided under these Terms and Conditions.
If the minimum participation requirement in Section 10 is not met, all entry fees for the edition will be refunded in full, regardless of when they were paid.
No refund is due solely because a photograph is not selected or does not receive an award.
Nothing in this section limits statutory consumer rights.
The closing date for the first edition is 6 January 2027.
Entries must be finally submitted before the deadline published on the Current Open Call page.
Saving an entry as a draft does not constitute final submission.
The Organiser may extend a submission deadline where reasonably necessary, provided that the extension is clearly communicated and existing participants' rights are respected.
The Organiser may reject or disqualify an entry where:
Where reasonably appropriate, the Organiser may request clarification or supporting information before making a final decision.
Disqualification does not normally entitle a participant to a refund, subject to applicable law.
Selection is conducted independently by POSTRH, founder and sole juror.
No sponsor, partner, advertiser or payment provider has influence over THE ORBIT 12 or the cash award recipients.
Individuals directly involved in administration or selection are not eligible to participate.
Any actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest will be addressed through appropriate measures to protect the fairness of the award.
MONO ORBIT AWARDS may develop additional opportunities for selected photographers, including editorial projects, exhibitions, publications or commissioned work.
Such opportunities are not guaranteed unless separately announced and confirmed.
They are not part of the €2,100 cash prize fund.
Commissioned work requires a separate agreement covering scope, fees, schedule and rights.
The Organiser may postpone or make reasonably necessary administrative changes where exceptional circumstances outside its reasonable control make continuation impossible, unlawful or materially impracticable.
Insufficient revenue or failure to reach a financial target is not grounds for cancelling the edition.
The minimum participation requirement in Section 10 applies independently of financial performance.
If continuation becomes legally or practically impossible, affected participants will be informed promptly and their rights to refunds or other remedies will be handled in accordance with applicable law.
Payments are processed through PayPal.
The Organiser does not directly collect or store complete payment card details.
Participants should contact the Organiser if payment has been completed but competition access has not been activated.
Verified technical errors affecting accounts, payments or submissions may be corrected.
Technical problems will be assessed reasonably using available records.
Personal data is processed in accordance with the MONO ORBIT AWARDS Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.
Participant information may be used for account administration, payments, entries, eligibility checks, communications, selection and publication of results.
Personal information will not be sold to third parties.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Organiser is not responsible for losses arising from circumstances outside its reasonable control.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability where prohibited by law.
Nothing affects participants' mandatory statutory rights.
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Ireland.
Where a participant acts as a consumer, this choice of law does not deprive them of mandatory protections afforded by the laws of their country of habitual residence where applicable under relevant conflict-of-law rules.
The Organiser may update these Terms and Conditions where reasonably necessary for legal, technical or administrative reasons.
Material changes affecting participants who have already paid will be communicated where required.
Participants who entered under earlier terms retain their applicable contractual and statutory protections.
The introduction of a minimum participation requirement does not automatically amend the contractual rights of participants who paid under earlier terms.
Existing participants will not be required to pay an additional entry fee because these Terms and Conditions have been updated.
MONO ORBIT AWARDS operates as part of MONO ORBIT, a registered Irish business name operated by Artur Postrzech.
Registered Business Name: MONO ORBIT
Operated by: Artur Postrzech
CRO Registration Number: 786337
VAT Registration Number: IE 2398143O
Business Type: Sole Trader
Business Address: 34 Onyx, The Grange, Brewery Road, Stillorgan, Dublin, Ireland
Country of Establishment: Ireland
Email: mono@monoorbitawards.com
Phone: +353 86 215 7527
Questions regarding participation, eligibility, payments, refunds, copyright or these Terms and Conditions should be directed to the email above.
