MONOCHROME REMOVES THE NOISE
Last updated: 11 September 2026
1. ABOUT MONO ORBIT AWARDS
MONO ORBIT AWARDS is an international annual photography award dedicated to monochrome photography exploring the built environment.
These Terms and Conditions govern participation in MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
By submitting an entry, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
2. ELIGIBILITY
+ Open worldwide to photographers aged 18 or over.
+ Professional and amateur photographers may enter.
+ Employees, contractors or individuals directly involved in the administration or final selection of the relevant edition may not enter that edition.
+ The Organiser reserves the right to verify eligibility and reject an entry that does not meet these Terms and Conditions.
3. CURRENT EDITION AND THEME
+ Each edition is organised around a specific theme published on the Current Open Call page.
+ The first edition is EMISSION.
+ Submitted photographs must meaningfully relate to both the published theme and the built environment.
+ Interpretations may be documentary, conceptual or otherwise photographic in approach.
+ Payment of the entry fee does not guarantee eligibility, selection or an award.
+ The Organiser may reject photographs that fall outside the theme, eligibility requirements or submission requirements.
4. ENTRY FEE AND NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS
+ The entry fee for the current edition is €20.
+ One €20 payment allows one participant to submit between 1 and 4 photographs.
+ The fee remains €20 whether one, two, three or four photographs are submitted.
+ There is no additional fee for photographs within the same Paid Entry.
+ A Paid Entry means one paid participation in an edition by one participant and may contain up to four photographs.
+ The number of photographs within a Paid Entry does not increase the number of Paid Entries for the minimum entry threshold described in Section 17.
+ Payment is processed securely through PayPal.
+ Entrants may pay using a PayPal account or, where available through PayPal Checkout, by debit or credit card without creating a PayPal account.
+ PayPal may request an email address as part of guest checkout for payment confirmation.
5. SUBMISSION PROCESS
+ Participants must create or use a MONO ORBIT AWARDS account, join the relevant competition and complete the required payment.
+ After payment, photographs may be uploaded through the participant’s account.
+ Selecting Save stores the entry as a draft.
+ A draft is not considered a final competition submission.
+ Photographs may be added, removed or replaced while the entry remains a draft.
+ To complete the submission, the participant must select Enter the competition and confirm the entry.
+ Once finally submitted, the photographs are locked and can no longer be changed.
+ A confirmation email is sent after successful final submission.
+ Participants are responsible for ensuring that their entry has been finally submitted before the published deadline.
6. PHOTOGRAPH REQUIREMENTS
All submitted photographs must:
+ be monochrome;
+ be submitted as JPG files;
+ have a longest side of no more than 3000 px;
+ have a maximum file size of 4 MB;
+ use the sRGB colour space;
+ contain no watermark, logo, border or identifying text;
+ be the entrant’s own original photographic work.
Both digital and analogue photography are accepted.
7. AI-GENERATED IMAGERY AND EDITING
+ Images generated entirely by artificial intelligence are not permitted.
+ Each photograph must originate from the entrant’s own photographic work.
+ AI must not be used to generate or substantially replace photographic content.
+ Standard photographic post-production, including tonal adjustment, contrast, cropping, retouching and other conventional editing techniques, is permitted.
+ The Organiser may request reasonable evidence of photographic origin, including a RAW file, original source file, film scan or metadata.
+ Failure to provide reasonable evidence when requested may result in disqualification.
8. ORIGINALITY AND RIGHTS
+ The entrant confirms that they are the author of every photograph submitted and have the right to enter the work into MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
+ The entrant is responsible for obtaining any permissions, releases or other rights required by applicable law in relation to people, property, artworks or other protected material appearing in the photograph.
+ Entries must not knowingly infringe copyright, privacy, publicity or other third-party rights.
9. SELECTION PROCESS
+ All eligible photographs are considered through one shared selection process.
+ There are no competition categories.
+ Each submitted photograph is considered individually on its own merit, regardless of whether the participant submits one, two, three or four photographs.
+ The work comes first.
+ Selection is made without regard to reputation, audience size or professional status.
+ The selection considers the relationship to the theme, individual perspective, originality, visual clarity, strength of the image and meaningful use of monochrome.
+ A title or description may provide context but should not be required to establish the fundamental relevance or strength of the photograph.
+ Initial review is conducted by MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
+ Shortlisted works may be considered with the involvement of invited photographers, editors, curators or other visual professionals.
+ From all eligible submissions, twelve photographers are selected to form THE ORBIT 12.
+ From THE ORBIT 12, three photographers receive the MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
+ Selection decisions are final.
10. THE ORBIT 12 AND AWARDS
THE ORBIT 12 forms the final selection of each edition.
+ Twelve photographers are selected for THE ORBIT 12.
+ Three photographers receive the MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
+ First Award — €900.
+ Second Award — €700.
+ Third Award — €500.
+ Total cash awards — €2,100.
+ The remaining members of THE ORBIT 12 are recognised as Selected.
+ Honourable Mentions may additionally be awarded at the Organiser’s discretion for the current edition.
+ Cash awards are subject to the minimum entry threshold and other provisions in Section 17.
+ An award is attached to the selected photograph and its photographer.
11. MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ONE PARTICIPANT
+ A participant may submit up to four photographs within one Paid Entry.
+ Each photograph is assessed individually.
+ Submitting more photographs does not provide preferential treatment or guarantee selection.
+ The Organiser may select more than one photograph by the same participant for editorial presentation or other recognition.
+ THE ORBIT 12 represents twelve photographers. A participant may therefore occupy only one position within THE ORBIT 12 in the same edition.
+ A participant may receive only one of the three cash awards in the same edition.
+ If more than one photograph by the same participant reaches award-winning level, only the highest applicable cash award will be awarded to that participant and the remaining award position will be awarded to another eligible photographer.
12. RESULTS AND RECOGNITION
+ The Organiser may publish THE ORBIT 12, award recipients, Honourable Mentions and other selected photographs through the MONO ORBIT AWARDS website, MONO ORBIT platforms, social media, newsletters, editorial features, exhibitions, publications and other communications directly related to the award.
+ Inclusion in In Focus or any other editorial feature does not indicate THE ORBIT 12 status, award status or influence the final selection.
+ The Organiser may determine the format, timing and extent of editorial presentation.
13. COPYRIGHT AND LICENCE
Copyright remains with the photographer.
By submitting photographs, the entrant grants MONO ORBIT AWARDS a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to reproduce, display and communicate the submitted photographs where reasonably necessary for:
+ administration and selection of the competition;
+ presentation of THE ORBIT 12, Honourable Mentions and award recipients;
+ promotion of the current or future editions of MONO ORBIT AWARDS;
+ editorial coverage connected with MONO ORBIT AWARDS or MONO ORBIT;
+ MONO ORBIT AWARDS websites, newsletters and social media;
+ exhibitions, catalogues and publications directly related to MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
The licence does not transfer copyright to MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
MONO ORBIT AWARDS will not sell or license an entrant’s photograph for unrelated commercial use without the photographer’s permission.
Where reasonably practicable, the photographer will be credited.
14. ENTRY FEES AND REFUNDS
+ Entry fees are generally non-refundable once payment has been completed.
+ No refund is due solely because a photograph is not selected, does not receive an award or is found to be ineligible because it does not comply with the theme, eligibility requirements or submission requirements.
+ Refunds remain available where expressly provided elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions or where required by applicable law.
+ The cancellation and minimum threshold provisions in Section 17 apply regardless of this general non-refund rule.
15. DEADLINE
+ Entries must be finally submitted before the deadline displayed on the Current Open Call page.
+ Saving an entry as a draft does not constitute final submission.
+ Participants are responsible for allowing sufficient time to complete payment, upload their photographs and select Enter the competition before the deadline.
+ The Organiser is not responsible for incomplete submissions caused by circumstances outside its reasonable control.
16. DISQUALIFICATION
The Organiser may reject or disqualify an entry where:
+ eligibility requirements are not met;
+ the work does not meaningfully relate to the published theme or built environment;
+ technical requirements are not met;
+ prohibited AI-generated imagery is used;
+ authorship or rights information is false or misleading;
+ there is evidence of fraud, manipulation of the entry process or another serious breach of these Terms and Conditions.
Disqualification for these reasons does not normally entitle the participant to a refund.
17. MINIMUM PAID ENTRY THRESHOLD, EXTENSION AND CANCELLATION
+ The €2,100 cash award fund for the current edition is activated when the edition reaches at least 150 Eligible Paid Entries.
+ One Eligible Paid Entry means one participant’s paid participation in the current edition, regardless of whether that participant submits one, two, three or four photographs.
+ Four photographs submitted under one €20 payment count as one Eligible Paid Entry, not four.
+ The threshold is based on paid entries, not on the total number of photographs submitted.
+ An Eligible Paid Entry must have been validly paid, finally submitted, satisfy the basic eligibility requirements and not be subject to a refund, chargeback, fraudulent payment or cancellation.
+ The Organiser will determine whether the minimum threshold has been reached no later than seven days after the final submission deadline.
+ The Organiser may extend the submission deadline.
+ Any extension will have a clearly published new closing date.
+ Participants who paid before an extension was announced may request withdrawal and a refund within 14 days of being notified of the extension.
+ If the minimum threshold is not reached, the Organiser will cancel the competitive award process before selection for cash awards and refund all applicable entry fees within 14 days of confirmation of cancellation.
+ No First, Second or Third Award will be declared for that cancelled edition.
+ Following cancellation, the Organiser may still present or editorially feature selected eligible submitted photographs through MONO ORBIT AWARDS, MONO ORBIT, social media or other non-commercial editorial communications connected with the platform.
+ Such presentation will not constitute competition results, THE ORBIT 12, rankings or awards and will not affect the participant’s entitlement to the applicable refund.
+ Once the minimum threshold has been confirmed, the stated €2,100 cash award fund is guaranteed, subject only to exceptional circumstances addressed elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions.
18. PATRON COMMISSION
MONO ORBIT AWARDS may develop a PATRON COMMISSION as an additional opportunity connected with an edition.
+ A PATRON COMMISSION is not part of the guaranteed €2,100 cash award fund.
+ Its availability is not guaranteed unless separately announced and confirmed by MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
+ If activated, its scope, commission fee, schedule, rights and other conditions will be communicated separately to the photographer concerned.
+ Participation in a PATRON COMMISSION may require a separate agreement.
+ An Annual Patron has no influence over the independent selection of THE ORBIT 12 or the recipients of the three MONO ORBIT AWARDS.
+ Unless expressly stated otherwise, selection for THE ORBIT 12 does not guarantee an offer of a PATRON COMMISSION.
19. CANCELLATION AND FORCE MAJEURE
+ The Organiser may postpone, modify or cancel an edition where circumstances outside its reasonable control make continuation impossible, unlawful or materially impracticable.
+ Such circumstances may include serious technical failure, legal or regulatory requirements, natural disasters, war, civil disturbance or other events beyond reasonable control.
+ Where an edition is cancelled without completion, participants will be informed and refunds will be handled in accordance with applicable law and these Terms and Conditions.
20. PAYMENT AND TECHNICAL ISSUES
+ Payments are processed through the payment services made available on the MONO ORBIT AWARDS website.
+ The Organiser does not control the independent operation of third-party payment providers.
+ Participants should contact MONO ORBIT AWARDS promptly if payment has been completed but access to the competition has not been correctly activated.
+ The Organiser may correct technical errors affecting an account, payment record or submission where payment and eligibility can be reasonably verified.
21. PERSONAL DATA
+ Personal data is processed in accordance with the MONO ORBIT AWARDS Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.
+ Information supplied through participant accounts, entries and payments is used only for purposes reasonably connected with operating MONO ORBIT AWARDS and related communications as described in the Privacy Policy.
22. LIABILITY
+ To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Organiser is not responsible for loss or damage resulting from circumstances outside its reasonable control, including internet outages, third-party platform failures or technical problems not caused by the Organiser.
+ Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation would be prohibited by law.
23. GOVERNING LAW AND CONSUMER RIGHTS
+ These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Ireland.
+ Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits any mandatory consumer rights that apply to a participant under Irish law, European Union law or other applicable consumer protection legislation.
24. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
+ The Organiser may update these Terms and Conditions where reasonably necessary for legal, technical or administrative reasons or to clarify the operation of the award.
+ Material changes affecting participants who have already paid will be communicated directly where required.
+ Where a material change substantially alters the conditions under which an existing participant entered, the Organiser may provide an appropriate withdrawal and refund period.
25. TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
+ Participants who paid an entry fee before the introduction of the current multi-photograph submission model will not lose any rights associated with their existing paid entry.
+ Where technically available, an existing eligible paid participant may be permitted to submit up to the same maximum of four photographs applicable to the current edition without an additional entry fee.
+ The introduction of THE ORBIT 12 does not reduce the three advertised cash awards or the total €2,100 cash award fund.
+ Honourable Mentions remain available for the current edition at the Organiser’s discretion.
+ Any material change affecting an existing participant’s rights will be handled consistently with these Terms and applicable consumer law.
26. CONTACT
Questions concerning entries, payments, eligibility or these Terms and Conditions should be submitted through the contact details provided on the MONO ORBIT AWARDS website.
