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

When The Decisive Moment was published in 1952, Henri Cartier-Bresson not only presented a masterful body of work but also transformed the status of photography itself. Produced with a major art publisher, the book was groundbreaking in both design and vision. It signaled a new era in which photography was recognized as a legitimate and independent art form, valued for its aesthetic and expressive possibilities as much as for its documentary function.

Cartier-Bresson’s passion for the photobook did not stop there. Over the course of his career, he published other volumes that underscored his belief that the book could be an essential artistic medium in its own right. For him, the sequencing of images, the interplay of page and photograph, and the tactile experience of the book were all extensions of the photographic act.

Reflecting this legacy, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson places great emphasis on the photobook in its activities today. From programming and exhibitions to the diversity of its bookshop, the Fondation ensures that this medium remains central to its mission. Beginning in 2025, the Fondation will further this commitment through the launch of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Self-Published PhotoBook Award. This new annual prize will highlight a self-published book produced within the year, honoring artists who take creative control of both production and distribution. By supporting self-publishing, the Fondation strengthens its dedication to promoting contemporary photography and providing a platform for original voices to be seen, shared, and celebrated.