Professional Photographer of the Year 2014

Professional Photographer of the Year is a prestigious award recognised by the big players in the photography industry. There are 14 single image categories and one triple image category, plus there will be an overall winner chosen from the category winners, and that person will win the coveted title of PPOTY 2014.

How to enter

The Professional Photographer of the Year awards are only open to digital submissions but to all photographers, worldwide. Please ensure you understand the terms and conditions before entering.

To enter use the form at the bottom of the page. If you are not a member of the site please register and ensure you give us complete and up-to-date contact details. If you are already registered with the site, login and the details we have in your profile will be pre-filled in the form but please make sure your full contact details are correct and up-to-date. You can then upload your images via the form and select the category using the dropdown menu.

What can you win?

Each winner will receive a professionally produced print of their winning image, a specially designed and created logo they can use for the marketing purposes on their stationary, social media or website, and will be invited to the exclusive awards night with magazine staff, judges, the other category winners, the competition sponsors and specially selected VIP guests. We will also be printing a PPOTY Special supplement in the January 2015 issue celebrating the winner’s images, including an interactive multimedia version that will be emailed to magazines purchasers, subscribers and winners.

Categories and deadlines

There are 15 categories, 14 of which require a single image to enter and ONLY the Portfolio category allows three images to be entered. We will shortlist after the deadline and inform winners accordingly. We will celebrate with the winners at an awards ceremony in November 2014, at a location yet to be finalised. The closing date for the competition is: 31 August 2014.

The 15 categories of the PPOTY 2014 competition are:

 

Black & White

For some, this is the only form of serious photography. We want to see the medium used to its fullest with deep dark blacks, bright whites and every shade of grey in between. The subject matter of the shot should be perfect for mono.

 

In the Studio

We want to see your mastery of lighting, modifiers, reflectors and styling, from high-end fashion to commercial still life. The judges will be looking for creativity and flair.

Medium Format

Medium format is about optimum quality. To enter this category, entries must be shot using a medium format camera, whether on film then scanned or the latest Hasselblad HD5.

 

Street Photography

Images can be shot on anything from CSC to a DSLR, or even a top-end compact. Entries can be candid street shots of protests and news events to grabs of couples embracing or evocative and funny narratives.

 

Family Portraits

From a stylised couples shoot to the Brady Bunch on camera, we want to see your creative interpretation of this lifestyle subject. And family can include those four-legged and feathered friends too – but there must be a person in the image.

 

Portfolio of 3

This is the ONLY category in the competition where entrants are invited to submit more than one image, in this case, a total of three. It should be treated as a triptych; a story made up of three connected elements from one single shoot.

 

Prime lens

No zooms allowed – but the subject matter can be anything. So from your 8mm fisheye to a 600mm monster, show the judges can use your feet as much as your camera.

News

From dodgy politicians to ‘papped’ celebs, this category allows entrants to show off their technique. Entries can include anything from images taken in the bun fight of a press call to feature-based images that create a narrative.

 

Wedding

The modern wedding photographer is a creative artist. Judges will be looking for everything from candid captures to good narrative and emotions caught.

 

Action and extreme sports

For those whose skill lies in freezing moving subjects, this category will allow entrants in the action arena to demonstrate their skills – from surfing to rugger and from a Nikon D4 to the GoPro Hero 3. The moment is king.

 

Location Flash

From a brace of new wireless speedlights to a top end Bron Scoro S and Pulso G monoblocks, your submitted image should show your skill at lighting a subject, from an outdoor fashion shoot or environmental portrait to a car showcase or epic interior shoot, your main light should be artificial.

 

Travel

Travel photography is about capturing the ambience and character of a destination. The judges will look to learn about a location from the image, whether that’s with the use of a landmark, local inhabitants or its wildlife.

  

Fashion

This category is all about style. From the clothes and make-up to the hair and lighting, combined with precision lensmanship – take the judge’s breath away.

 

The Turning Pro award

In association with PP’s sister title, Turning Pro, this category is for all of those starting out in the industry, whether it’s a as a university student or those training for a second or third career, turning their passion into their job.

Wild Card

We have teamed up with good friend Stewart Randall at Folio Albums to bring you this brief - it will be fun and require creativity to complete. Shoes; we tend to take them for granted but they are extensions of our personalities. So, with this in mind, and the title of 'Pumps', we would like you take an enviromental portrait - showing something about the character of a person (of any age) in question, from the perspective of their shoes. The only restriction being that you are NOT allowed to show their face. 

The Photographer of the Year Award 2014

Chosen from the winners of the above categories, the judges will choose one photographer who will be crowned the Professional Photographer of the Year 2014