New York Center for Photographic Arts - International Juried Photography Competition

• New York Center for Photographic Arts

• Deadline: February 8th, 2026

• Theme: Water

• Prize: $4,000 Prize Pool + Online Exhibition

• Entry Fees: Yes

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

H₂O — the simplest of scientific notations, yet one that defines life on Earth. We encounter water daily, often without pause to appreciate its mystery and versatility. It flows through our landscapes as rivers, lakes, and oceans, and through our daily lives in countless subtle ways — from the morning rain nurturing our gardens to the ice cubes that clink gently in our glasses.

This exhibition invites photographers to look at water not just as a subject, but as a force — ever-changing, essential, and deeply expressive. What does water mean to you? Is it the turbulent energy of a wave crashing against rock, or the ephemeral wisp of steam rising from a cup of coffee? Perhaps it is the glint of sunlight reflected on a puddle, or the frozen geometry of ice crystals forming overnight.

From the delicate sparkle of dew on grass to the fog that blurs the horizon, water reveals itself in endless variations. It can be soft and serene, or powerful and untamed. It reflects emotion as much as it reflects light — found in tears of sorrow or joy, in the laughter of a child beneath a sprinkler, or in the misty calm of a mountain lake at dawn.

Photographers are invited to interpret this elemental subject through any lens, any vision, any medium — whether rendered in color or monochrome, realistic or abstract. Together, these images will explore how one of the world’s simplest compounds remains one of its most profound inspirations.