We are honored to announce the 78th annual Pictures of the Year International competition.

Cliff Edom founded POY in 1943 at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri, to honor photojournalists working stateside during World War II. Since then it has grown to one of the largest, most prestigious photojournalism competitions in the world. At its heart, POY is an educational program that connects students to the profession and teaches the value of photojournalism to the public through open competition, exhibitions and events.

Adapting to the new reality of the pandemic, we are hosting virtual, remote judging for this year’s competition. The judges will each make their pre-selections on their own. We will then meet virtually for the final rounds of voting and discussion, which will be broadcast live.

We understand that virtual judging is significantly different from our practice of livestreaming the entire contest. We remain committed to the maintaining the integrity of POY and recognizing the incredible dedication of photojournalists this past year. Each judge will review their assigned categories in their entirety. There are no pre-screening panels.

The POY entry fee is US$50. It pays for 15 submissions, and a lot more. Each year we invest your entry fee back into the program. It pays for travel, awards and the students’ efforts. For decades, POY and CPOY have employed graduate student coordinators. In return, they receive a stipend and college tuition. Your entry fee paves the way for their career in journalism. Thank you for paying it forward.

What winners receive

$1,000 cash & Tiffany crystal trophy:

Photographer of the Year, International
Photographer of the Year, Local
World Understanding Award
Community Awareness Award
Environmental Vision Award

Tiffany crystal trophy:

Sports Photographer of the Year
Documentary Storyteller of the Year
Online Storytelling Project of the Year
Photography Book of the Year
Visual Editor of the Year
Local Team Picture Story of the Year

Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award:

Winner receives a sterling silver trophy for one year and tuition to the Missouri Photo Workshop

Individual category winners:

1st— Engraved plaque
2nd, 3rd, Finalist & Award of Excellence — Certificate award

History

Pictures of the Year International began as a photographic contest in 1944 by Cliff Edom at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri. It was called the “First Annual Fifty-Print Exhibition.” Its purpose was, “to pay tribute to those press photographers and newspapers which, despite tremendous war-time difficulties, are doing a splendid job; to provide an opportunity for photographers of the nation to meet in open competition; and to compile and preserve... a collection of the best in current, home-front press pictures.”

Over time it became a premiere press content in America. Guided by directors Angus McDougall and Bill Kuykendall, the scope of POY changed dramatically through the 1990s. The number of entered images increased to tens of thousands, and Pictures of the Year became an international program. In 2001 it became Pictures of the Year International.

Through the competition, exhibits, workshops, POY has evolved and inspired new efforts.

Founded by Cliff Edom to celebrate photojournalism at the college level, College Photographer of the Year turns 75 this year. Adapting to the pandemic, CPOY was held virtually with great success. More than 600 students entered, representing 29 countries and about 130 universities. Winning entries are posted at https://www.cpoy.org.

In 2011, POY partnered with Loup Langton and Pablo Corral Vega, who founded POY Latam as a competition in Latin America. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, POY Latam has become the largest and one of the most important programs of its kind in Ibero-America. To honor the work photographers, writers and artists are creating during COVID, POY Latam has created an online magazine. You can see the work here: https://poylatam.org/revista/

New this year, we are proud to announce the formation of POY Asia. Headed by Tay Kay Chin of Singapore, Tanya Habjouqa of Jordan, Prashant Panjiar of India, and Maye-E Wong of Singapore/New York, POY Asia is committed to seeing the world from an Asian perspective and celebrating excellence in documentary and artistic photography throughout the continent. You can visit the site at https://poyasia.org/

To meet this moment in history, the POY programs are collaborating to gather, share and preserve these stories and memories of how we are collectively living through this age of Covid. In all of our efforts we hold to the guiding principle set forth by POY founder Cliff Edom, “Show truth with a camera.”

How to enter

1. Pay the entry fee of US$50 at https://poy.org.
2. Receive a reference code in your receipt.
3. Enter the code at Picter and enter POY.

Your submission can include up to 15 projects, which are images, stories, and portfolios

• A single project is defined as:
• One picture in a single-picture category
• One picture story (5-10 photographs, or 5-20 photographs for categories 14 and 18)
• One project (up to 40 photographs) in any of the following premier categories: Environmental Vision Award, Community Awareness Award, World Understanding Award
• A single portfolio in the Photographer or Visual Editor of the Year categories.

Entry specifications

• File type: .JPG
• Image Size: 3,000 pixels minimum on the longer side.
• Resolution: 300 dpi, minimum.

Print editing entries

WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT PDF FILES. PLEASE CONVERT TO JPG FILES Please submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

Photographer of the Year Submissions

The order or sequence of images you create upon entering will be preserved. You may change the sequence after you upload the images. POY will not change the order of the pictures after you submit the entry.

New this year for Photographer of the Year, Local and International as well as Sports Photographer of the Year

• You must create a .jpg blank, black slide as the first image for each story. It is important to include the story title and story description in the IPTC document title and caption fields of the slide. Place the slide at the beginning of each story. Do not title the slide.

• Single images are not required but may be included. If including single images, begin the portfolio with them.

• Picture stories are not limited to 10 images.

• Single images within the portfolio should not be repeated in a picture story in the portfolio.

Video and URL entries

• Submit a single URL via an active link.
• Do not upload video files.
• Include needed passwords to access the URL content.
• Please do not send password-protected Vimeo links.

POY Entry Standards and Ethics

Photographs entered must have been taken or published for the first time, either in print or online, between Jan. 1, and Dec. 31, 2020.

Documentary entries should be true representations of a news scene or candid moment. Photographs cannot be posed, set up or staged.  Portraits may be posed.

POY follows the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics. All captions and story summaries should meet journalistic standards for accuracy and ready-for-publication requirements. Link to code of ethics: https://nppa.org/code-ethics

ENTRY TIP! Heavily edited images turn off judges. Color images should replicate what the human eye experiences.  Flagrant pre- or post-production effects that use excessive tonal aberrations, textures, vignettes, color saturation or other manipulations may be disqualified.

The content of the submitted work must not be digitally manipulated or altered through post-production processing. Routine post-production processing of images for exposure correction, white balance and color toning is acceptable. Adding, altering, or removing elements is not permitted. Excessive saturation or desaturation is also not allowed. (Category 14 -- COVID-19 Personal Expression is the exception)

POY accepts two photographic modes: color and black & white. Black & white images should be bi-tonal and display a full grayscale range of 256 intensities from deep-shadow blacks to highlight whites.  Black & white image files that artificially impose a color shift, such as sepia or cyan tones, will be disqualified. (Category 14 -- COVID-19 Personal Expression is the exception)

Photos from smartphone cameras are eligible.  However, the use of software capture filters that changes the image through excessive tonal aberrations, textures, vignettes, or other artistic manipulations will be disqualified. (Category 14 -- COVID-19 Personal Expression is the exception)

Diptychs and triptychs are not eligible. Digitally manufactured photo illustrations, double exposures, in-camera multiple exposures, added masks, borders, backgrounds, text, handwritten notes, or other artistic effects are all prohibited. (Category 14 -- COVID-19 Personal Expression is the exception)

Film edges will be allowed if the original photograph was shot on film (negative or transparency) or Polaroid and the border is the true nature of the medium.

POY staff reviews every still photograph entry in advance of judging.  We will contact photographers whose images seem to conflict with these standards and provide them with the opportunity to resubmit the photograph before judging begins. Once judging begins, judges have the discretion to disqualify entries that they think over manipulate the image.

ENTRY TIP! Judges often review the category rules when looking at images. Consider your category decisions carefully. Judges cannot move entries.

Photographs with content specific to a themed year-specific category must enter the submissions into that category. 

Images submitted into single-photo categories cannot be copies, scans, or a photograph of other photographs or documents.  A photograph of a photograph can serve as a detail image as part of a larger picture story or project, but they may not comprise a majority of the story.

All photographs entered in the still photography categories must be the taken and credited to a single photographer. Team still photography entries are only allowed in Category 18, the Home Team category.

POY will request the original RAW or JPG image files from a random selection of photographs voted to final places by the jury, plus any images that the jury members or POY staff request.  POY will examine and verify each of these selected files for authenticity.  Any photographs that do not meet these standards will be disqualified.

Image Captions, Dates and Information

Captions can be critical during judging --- write and enter your image captions carefully. Please do not put your name in the caption. You will also be required to submit Story Descriptions for the Picture Story and Portfolio Categories.

IPTC data may be embedded into images using Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, Aperture, Lightroom, Adobe Bridge and other image editing solutions. Please verify that capture dates are correct so you remain eligible. Once you have uploaded your files, any IPTC data will be automatically extracted and displayed.

ENTRY TIP! Captions are read in the final rounds of each category. Well-written captions with relevant details strengthen your entry and stand apart from entries with weak captions.

Each photograph must include a caption embedded in the .jpg file's IPTC metadata description field that meets journalistic standards for accuracy and ready-for-publication requirements. 

Each caption should include a date, or an approximation of the date. For example, "The photo was taken on Feb. 4, 2020," or "The photo was taken in February 2020."

Captions that are inaccurate or falsely represent the picture content may be disqualified. 

The following IPTC fields are required:

• DOCUMENT TITLE is the image title

• AUTHOR is the photographer's name

• DESCRIPTION is the caption

• CAPTURE DATE verify that this field is correct.If any images are outside eligible entry dates your entry may be rejected. IMPORTANT: If your IPTC date is incorrect, you are able to edit the date during entry.

• LOCATION INFORMATION include city (or nearest city), state/province, country

1 - Science & Natural History

A single photograph that increases the understanding and appreciation of science or the natural world.  Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible.

2 - Science & Natural History Picture Story

A narrative picture story, essay, sequence, or series that increases understanding and appreciation for science or the natural world.  Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible.  10 photographs maximum per entry.

3 - General News

Single photographs from a news event or social issue for which planning was possible.

4 - Impact 2020: Election Season

A single photograph from coverage of news or an issue related to any one of the dozens of elections being held this year around the world. Photographs must be taken during 2020.

5 - Spot News

Single photographs of breaking news or events in which no planning was possible.

6 - Daily Life

Single photographs, candid and un-posed, that reflect the human experience, celebrate life, or chronicle a cultural trend.  Respect for the dignity of the subject is important.

7 - Impact 2020: Protests and Movements

A narrative picture story from the coverage of the news, people or issues related to social or political movements. 10 photographs maximum per entry.

From the Black Lives Matter movement and protests against police brutality; to political rallies for candidates and rallies against government actions around the globe; to demonstrations over Covid-19 policies and restrictions, people have taken their passions to the streets. We invite photographers to go beyond the single news image of the day and share stories that reflect the nuances and emotional depth of those taking action on behalf of their beliefs in 2020. The dignity of the subject must be respected.

8 - Portrait Series

A series of photographs that reflects a strong sense of identity or narrative. 10 photographs maximum per entry.

9 -- National/International News Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on daily coverage of general or breaking news that is of primary interest to an entire nation or the world. It is usually created with the intent to share nationally or internationally. 10 photographs maximum per story.

10 - Issue Reporting Picture Story

A narrative picture story that explores an important social, economic, or political issue. 10 photographs maximum per story.

11 - Daily Life Picture Story

A narrative picture story that reflects the everyday human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend.  Respect for the dignity of the subject is important.  10 photographs maximum per story.

12 - Local News Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on daily coverage of general or breaking news that is of primary interest to the local audience from a media organization or the photographer's primary geographic market. In other words, a hometown story. 10 photographs maximum per story.

13 - COVID-19 News Picture Story

A narrative picture story based on daily coverage of general or breaking news related to the coronavirus. 10 photographs maximum per story.

14 - COVID-19 Personal Expression

An interpretive project that reflects the personal experiences, feelings and thoughts related to COVID-19. It may be conceptual or artistic. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. 20 images maximum per story, only one entry allowed per entrant.

15 - Sports Action

A single photograph that captures peak action of an individual or team sport.  Jubilation, dejection, or reaction images should be entered in the Sports Life and Recreational Sports category. Photographs must be taken during 2020.

16 - Sports Picture Story

A narrative picture story that increases the understanding of the role that athletics play in the lives of athletes and their community. The story may focus on sports as a catalyst of change in gender, race, politics, and cultural issues. It may feature professional or amateur athletes, fans, families, or any aspect of a community that is changed by its connection to sports. 10 photographs maximum per story.

17 - Sports Life and Recreational Sports

A single photograph that celebrates the role sports play in the community. Image may show the emotional highlights of players on the field or the reactions of fans. The sport may be a professional, amateur or intramural competition.  Photographs must be taken during 2020.

18 - Local Team Picture Story of the Year   *NEW PREMIERE CATEGORY**

This premiere category recognizes the collaborative effort of a photo staff covering a single topic that is important to its local audience. It is a narrative picture story or series that is composed of pictures taken as part of a team or staff effort to cover a local issue or news story. Entries are limited to one entry per news organization. 20 images maximum per story.

19 - Documentary Daily Life

A single story that reflects the human experience, celebrates life, or chronicles a cultural trend.  Respect for the dignity of the subject is important (flexible length -- up to about 15 minutes).  Longer stories should be entered in the "Documentary Journalism."

20 - Documentary News Reporting

A single story based on coverage of general or breaking news, or an essay that explores a social, economic, or political issue (flexible length -- up to about 15 minutes).  Longer stories should be entered in the "Documentary Journalism."

21 - Documentary Journalism

This premiere category recognizes excellence longform Documentary Journalism. Based in a video format, this is a single story the focuses on news, events, social issue or a cultural trend. Do not enter shorter versions of the same story in other categories. This may be a team entry. (flexible length -- approximately 16 minutes or longer).

22 - Online Storytelling: Daily Life and News Reporting

A single news story or issue on any single online platform. It may be based on coverage of an issue, daily news, everyday human experience or a cultural trend. Web page entries should consist of a single story.

23 - Online Storytelling Project of the Year

This Premier category is open to teams or individuals. It is intended to appraise in-depth visual online journalism that explores a social, economic, or political issue through a special report, series, or presentation with multiple chapters. There is no length limitation.

24 - Newspaper Picture Editing

A news, issue or daily life story based on daily coverage that is printed in a general circulation newspaper.  A single story may include one or more pages from up to 5 consecutive issues. Magazines published by a newspaper or other media organization should be entered in the category "Magazine Picture Editing."

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files.

Submit each page as a separate .jpg file.  A doubletruck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

25 - Magazine Picture Editing

A news, issue or feature story based on coverage that is printed in a magazine or specialty publication. A single story may include one or more pages from up to 5 consecutive issues.

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files.

Submit each page as a separate .jpg file.  A doubletruck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

26 - Visual Editor of the Year

This premiere category awards excellence in individual editing portfolios.  Newspaper, Magazine and Online visual editors may enter this category. The portfolio should only represent work of an individual in which they served as the lead editor on a story or package.

An editing portfolio may consist of content published on multiple platforms, from apps to online stories and print publication stories.  A portfolio entry should present no more than 10 individual stories, either in print or online.  A converged print-and-online version of a specific story will count as one story.  The print version of stories may include one or more pages (.jpg files).

Team entries should be submitted in the "Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award."

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files.

Submit each page as a separate .jpg file.  A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

Single Image & Picture Story Submissions

ENTRY TIP! Picture Story entries should have a clearly defined structure with each image contributing unique information. In the final rounds, the judges often focus on the quality of the edit. Eliminate weak and redundant images.

A single photograph may be submitted only once among the single-picture categories.

A single photograph entered as a single photograph and included as part of one picture story.

A picture story consists of 5–10 photos and counts as one entry. Do not re-edit photos from the same story and then submit it as a different story.

Photographers may enter a maximum of 15 submissions in any combination of categories.

The order or sequence of images you create upon entering will be preserved. You may change the sequence after you upload the images. POY will not change the order of the pictures after you submit the entry.

27 -- Photographer of the Year, International

This premier category is open to all photographers -- independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. The work should be of primary interest to a nation or the world, usually created with the intent to share nationally or internationally. Newspaper photographers who cover national or international stories should enter portfolios in this category.

Please create a blank, black slide (.jpg). Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the story title and description. Place the slide it at the beginning of each story. Do not title the slide.

Single images may be included but are not required. A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images).  50 images maximum (not including black slides).

Photographers may submit a portfolio into either portfolio category, #27 or #28, but not both.

28 -- Photographer of the Year, Local

This premier category is open to all photographers -- independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. The spirit of this category is to honor photographers documenting their own community. Therefore, it is required that a majority of their portfolio must consist of local or regional coverage from their home or organization's primary geographic market.

If the portfolio consists mostly of national or international stories from outside the organization's primary geographic market, then enter in the category: Photographer of the Year, International.

Please create a blank, black slide (.jpg). Fill out the IPTC title and caption fields with the story title and description. Place the slide it at the beginning of each story. Do not title the slide.

Only one national or international story is allowed. Single images may be included but are not required. A portfolio must include at least two narrative picture stories (5 or more images).  50 photographs maximum (not including the black slides).

Photographers may submit a portfolio into either portfolio category, #27 or #28, but not both.

29 - Sports Photographer of the Year

This premier category is open to all photographers -- independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. A portfolio should include single pictures and at least one narrative picture story. Stories are not limited to 10 images.

All photographs included in the Sports portfolio must be taken during 2020. Submit a maximum of 30 photographs. At least three different sports should be represented.

Please create a blank, black slide (.jpg). Fill out IPTC title and captions with story title and description. Place the slide it at the beginning of each story. Do not title the slide.

Entrants may also enter Photographer of the Year category #27 or #28, with images and/or stories from their Sports portfolio.

30 -- Documentary Storyteller of the Year

The portfolio must be the work of one person who shot the principal visual content (video and/or still photographs), but the stories in the portfolio may be produced and edited by different members. Stories must have been either shot, produced, or first published during 2020.

A portfolio should consist of a minimum of three stories and a maximum of five documentaries (as URL links). It may be a mix of linear (video) stories and non-linear (user experience) online stories. It may include entries from the Online Storytelling categories. Each story in the portfolio may have a run time up to about 15 minutes.

All members of the production and editing team will be credited in the winners list and gallery.

31 - Environmental Vision Award

This premier category recognizes a photographer's long-term story, project, or essay that explores issues related to the environment, natural history, or science.  This could include a facet of human impact on the natural world, scientific discovery, coverage of plant or animal habitat, climate concerns, or similar topics. 

This is not a category for coverage of human medical issues or natural disasters, unless they are a proven result of environmental impact.  The project may include a few studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer.  However, studio scenes should not comprise a majority of the images within the project.

Submit a maximum of 40 images (a minimum of 12 images). Entries need not have been published. Winning entries from previous years are not allowed. A majority of the photos must have been taken during 2020.

Winning entries from previous years may not be resubmitted.

Single images and picture stories from this category are encouraged to be entered in Science/Natural History categories #1 and #2. Portions of the essay may be part of a Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or published in 2020.

32 - Community Awareness Award

This Premier category recognizes a photographer’s extended story or essay about the everyday life of the people who make up a community. The purpose is to encourage attention to the small events in life that are often overshadowed by the news of the day and to celebrate those images that reflect the work and dreams of humankind.

A “community” may be defined as a neighborhood, a town, a small commune, a rural agricultural area, a city subdivision, or socioeconomic region.

Submit a maximum of 40 images (a minimum of 12 images). Entries need not have been published. Winning entries from previous years are not allowed. A majority of the photos must have been taken during 2020.

Portions of the essay may be part of a Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or first published in 2020.

33 - World Understanding Award

This Premier category recognizes a photographer’s long-term story, project, or essay that focuses on the human condition and portrays a sense of justice or insight into difficult problems. This may include a facet of human relations, a mutual concern for world conflict, social injustice, or any number of other topics. The project may include a few portraits; however, the portraits should not comprise a majority of the images within the project.

Submit a maximum of 40 images (a minimum of 12 images).

Entries need not have been published. There are no subject requirements.

There are no time restrictions. Photos need not have been taken during 2020.

Winning entries from previous years may not be resubmitted. Previous World Understanding entries may not be resubmitted for five years.

Portions of the essay may not be entered in single or picture story categories. Portions of the essay may be included in a Photographer of the Year portfolio entry if the photos were taken or first published in 2020.

34 - Photography Book of the Year

This category recognizes the best documentary visual storytelling in a book.

Book entries must rely on documentary photography and have been published within the last three years (2018, 2019, or 2020). Previous entries are not eligible.

Photographs may be the work of one or more photographers. The photographer and the publishing house should coordinate to avoid duplicate entries.

Submit 1-10 images of the book (include the cover) and mail a physical copy by courier (FedEx, DSL, UPS, or postal mail). Include a note with your name and the publishing house.

Ship the book to:
Lynden Steele
Pictures of the Year International
Missouri School of Journalism
109 Lee Hills Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
573-884-7351

NOTE: It is not necessary that the book entry arrive by the contest deadline, Jan. 18, 2021, as long as the shipment is post marked on or before Jan. 18, 2021.

The trophy will honor the photographer(s). The publishing group will be recognized with a plaque, listing the editors and photographers involved.

35 - Angus McDougall Excellence in Editing Award *All files must be .jpg format

The spirit of this category is to recognize the very best in visual editing by a media organization across all platforms. Judges will recognize excellence in use of photojournalism, video, interactive design, user experience, and multimedia storytelling.

This category is open to all news organizations, media groups, newspapers, magazines, or specialty advocacy organizations. Personal portfolios, publications or websites are not allowed. Business promotions, catalogs, branded content or stories in which the funding organization is also the primary subject are not allowed.

A portfolio may consist of online and print publication stories. Editing should demonstrate sensitivity for the selection and organization of documentary photography. Design should reflect consideration for the reader and respect for the vision of the photographer.

The print version of a story may be composed of one or more (.jpg) pages, from no more than five consecutive issues on the coverage of a single topic. The online version of a story may include web pages, apps, mobile-optimized websites, or other platforms.

We cannot accept .pdf files. Please convert all .pdf files to .jpg files. Submit each page as a separate .jpg file. A double truck (two facing pages) should be submitted as a single .jpg file.

Only one portfolio entry per organization is allowed. Include up to 10 individual stories. The stories may be a print or online version or a converged print-and-online version of a single topic. All stories must be published in 2020.

Submit a URL single primary link for each story. Make sure the online links are active and the needed passwords are included.