HCB Foundation - Photobook Awards Call for Entries

• HCB Foundation

• Deadline: October 31st, 2025

• Category: Photo Book

• Prize: €8,000 + Publication

• Entry Fees: Free

• REGISTRATION: CLOSED. Click HERE for more Opportunities

In 1952, Henri Cartier-Bresson forever changed the way the world looked at photography with the publication of The Decisive Moment. More than a book, it was a revelation. The carefully sequenced photographs, published with the support of a major art publisher, crystallized Cartier-Bresson’s belief that photography could be more than documentation—it could be poetry, narrative, and art in its purest form. This groundbreaking work became a declaration: photography had earned its place in the pantheon of the arts.

Cartier-Bresson continued to explore the photobook as a medium, publishing several others that demonstrated his view of the book as an extension of the photographic act. For him, the act of placing images on a page, with intention and rhythm, was as meaningful as pressing the shutter itself. His vision continues to inspire artists who see the photobook as both a personal statement and a universal form of communication.

In keeping with this spirit, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson has long nurtured a special relationship with photobooks, celebrating them through its exhibitions and its bookshop, which has become a place of discovery for collectors, artists, and the public. In 2025, the Fondation deepens this commitment with the creation of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Self-Published PhotoBook Award. This annual award will recognize the best self-published photobook of the year, giving visibility to artists who publish outside traditional networks. By doing so, the Fondation affirms its support of bold, independent voices in photography and ensures that the photobook remains a vital space for artistic expression.