NYC4PA - "Luminosity - The Impact of Light" International Juried Photography Call for Entry

• NYC4PA

• Deadline: April 19th, 2026

• Theme: Luminosity (The Impact of Light)

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

• Entry Fees: Yes

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

Light meters, backlighting, shadow, and glare all point to a fundamental truth of photography: images are shaped as much by light as by what it reveals—or conceals. Photography depends on the presence of light, but also on its absence, its direction, and its intensity. An iconic photograph of Grand Central Station captures this perfectly, with shafts of sunlight cutting through the air and illuminating suspended dust, transforming an everyday space into something timeless and atmospheric.

The time of day an image is made—morning or evening, sunrise or sunset—can be as influential as the subject itself. A scene that feels ordinary at one hour can become visually powerful at another, simply through a change in light. What might read as a casual snapshot under one condition may become a compelling photograph when light reshapes form, depth, and mood.

This call centers on images in which the placement, quality, or absence of light fundamentally alters the photograph. Glare, flare, shadow, fill light, interior lamps, city lights at night, and streaming rays of sunlight all play a role in shaping visual meaning. These moments exist everywhere, waiting to be noticed. Submissions should demonstrate how light functions as a key element within the image. All two-dimensional photographic mediums are welcome.