Introduction

Pictures of the Year Asia (POY Asia) is pleased to announce our inaugural competition.

Modelled after the prestigious Pictures of the Year International (POYi), POY Asia was created in 2020 by and for photographers from Asia. POY Asia is an official program of POYi.

Inspired by POYi's guiding principle of "Show truth with a camera," POY Asia is committed to seeing the world from an Asian perspective.

Kay-Chin Tay of Singapore is the Co-Director of POY Asia. Prashant Panjiar of India, Tanya Habjouqa of Jordan and Maye-E Wong, a Singaporean based in USA, are the Founding Advisors. POYi Director Lynden Steele is also POY Asia Co-Director and serves in a supporting role.

Since the beginning of 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has grown exponentially with no end in sight. No one has been spared the impact of COVID-19. The aggressive spread of this pandemic means we are required to spend more time in isolation and maintain a wider distance from others, even at times of great need. Occasionally, it can feel as if we are all alone in this, even though we are told that we are in this together. Three categories in POY Asia's first competition are related to COVID-19.

The premier category in this competition is the Photographer of the Year, Asia award.

Who can enter?

POY Asia is open to holders of passports from the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

In addition, we also welcome submissions from photographers who aren't holding any of the above-mentioned passports but can prove that they have been working out of Asia for the past three years.

Judges

The judges will be nominated by Prashant Panjiar, Maye-E Wong, Tanya Habjouqa and Kay-Chin Tay, all advisors of POY ASIA.

Please join us for live discussions through @poyasia Facebook page as we review the entries.

Judging process

The judges will meet virtually, and each will make a pre-selection on his or her own. These final projects and images will be selected by the judges which will be broadcast live.

Submissions

Submissions to the inaugural POY Asia is free. Submissions will be eligible for inclusion in exhibits, related programs and become part of the POYi archives, a growing comprehensive library of images that spans nearly 80 years.

Single image categories:

1. COVID-19: A single photograph, candid and un-posed, that reflects the news or human experience of the impact of COVID-19. The image must be documentary and may be related to news, sports, daily life or lifestyle. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.
2. SPOT NEWS: This is a category for non-COVID-19 single photographs of breaking news or events in which no planning was possible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.
3. PORTRAITS: A single photograph of a person or group of people that increases the understanding and appreciation of the subject(s). Selfies or self-portraits are acceptable. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.
4. NATURE & ENVIRONMENT: A single photograph that increases the understanding and appreciation of nature and our environment. Photographers are encouraged to explore the relationship between human and nature/environment. Studio scenes that are arranged by the photographer are not eligible. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 10 images. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.

Multiple images categories:

5. COVID PICTURE STORY: A multiple-picture story, essay, sequence or series based on daily coverage of general news or breaking news related to COVID-19. Each submission consists of 5 to10 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 submissions. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.
6. COVID EXPRESSIONS: An interpretive project that reflects the personal experiences, feelings and thoughts related to COVID-19 and its impact. It may be conceptual or artistic in the approach. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 20 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.
7. ISSUE REPORTING PICTURE STORY: A long-term project on a single topic. It could focus on science, news, politics or any number of topics, ranging from coverage of a single person to an entire community. The project must convey a deep understanding of the subject. Each submission consists of 10 to 40 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 submissions. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020. Stories on COVID-19 can be entered in this category but if you have already entered something in the COVID PICTURE STORY category, you should avoid submitting the same story to this category.
8. CULTURAL PRACTICES: A set of photographs that increases the understanding and appreciation of a cultural practice. It can be about festivals, religion, traditions, or contemporary cultural trends. Each submission consists of 5 to 20 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020.

9. PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, ASIA: This premier category is open to all photographers — independent, agency, wire service, or newspaper photographers. Please submit 10 to 50 images per portfolio consisting of at least two stories. Single images are optional. The images must be taken in 2019 or 2020. Each participant is allowed to enter only one portfolio.

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

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

FAQs

FAQ answers:

• Photographers are requested not to put their names and credits in the byline.
• You do not need to name your files in any specific way.
• A single image may be entered as an individual entry and part of a story and part of a portfolio.
• A picture story may be entered as a picture story and as part of a larger project and as part of a portfolio.
• Portraits may be included as part of a picture story, project or portfolio.
• Team entries are not allowed.
• All images must be taken in Asia.
• Unless otherwise stated, all photographs must be documentary in nature and adhere to journalistic principles.
• The photos do not need to be published.
• Anyone can participate, however most participants are professional photographers.
• The photographs must have been taken between January 2019 — December 2020.
• Photographs must include caption information. You will be able to verify that the information is correct after uploading your images.
• Retrospectives, collections, branded content, personal websites or portfolios are not eligible in any category.
• Each photographer must fill out an individual registration form.
• The deadline for uploading your work is March 15, 2021.
• You do not need to name your files in any specific way.
• A single image may be entered as an individual entry and part of a story and part of a portfolio.
• A picture story may be entered as a picture story and as part of a larger project and as part of a portfolio.
• Portraits may be included as part of a picture story, project or portfolio.
• Team entries are not allowed.
• All images must be taken in Asia.
• Unless otherwise stated, all photographs must be documentary in nature and adhere to journalistic principles.
• The photos do not need to be published.
• Anyone can participate, however most participants are professional photographers.
• The photographs must have been taken between 1 January 2019 — 31 December 2020.
• Photographs must include caption information. You will be able to verify that the information is correct after uploading your images.
• Retrospectives, collections, branded content, personal websites or portfolios are not eligible in any category.
• Each photographer must fill out an individual registration form.
• The deadline for uploading your work is 15 March 2021 at noon/Singapore time (GMT +08:00).
• The judges will be nominated by Prashant Panjiar, Maye-E Wong, Tanya Habjouqa, Lynden Steele and Kay-Chin Tay, all Founding Advisors of POY ASIA.
• Please join us for live discussions through @poyasia Facebook page as we review the entries.
• The judges will meet virtually, and each will make a pre-selection on his or her own. These final projects and images will be selected by the judges which will be broadcast live.
• Submissions to POY Asia is via Picter.com.
• Submissions to the inaugural POY Asia is free.
• Submissions will be eligible for inclusion in exhibits, related programs and become part of the POYi archives, a growing comprehensive library of images that spans nearly 80 years.