Who can enter?

Renaissance is an international photography competition open to photographers worldwide. You may be a professional, a serious amateur or a keen enthusiast – this competition is for you.

Who are the judges?

  • Monica Allende, picture editor at The Sunday Times Magazine
  • Mary McCartney, fine-art photographer
  • Brett Rogers, Director of The Photographers Gallery
  • Michael Hoppen, photographer and owner of the Michael Hoppen Gallery in Chelsea, London
  • Brigitte Lardinois, senior lecturer at LCC and editor of Magnum Magnum

How many images can I enter and what is the cost?

You can enter as many images into the Competition as you like in any combination of the 5 categories. The cost of entering is:

  • £15 for a single entry (approx. $30)
  • £25 for up to 3 entries (approx. $40)
  • £40 for up to 6 entries (approx. $60)
If you enter more than 6 images the fees will be determined using the lowest combination of the above.

Where does my entry fee go?

All your entry fee will be donated to the Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care, a UK charity that supports younger women with breast cancer. The organizers of the competition are volunteers who do not make any money from Renaissance.

What can I win?

The Renaissance Prize 2012 winner will receive:

  • £3,000 (approx. $4,800) for the overall winner of the competition
  • A double ticket to the celebrity private view on 13 June 2012 and the chance to sell their work.

Each of the 5 Category winners will receive:

  • £500 (approx $800)
  • A double ticket to the celebrity private view on 13 June 2012 and the chance to sell their work

The judges will also award the Calumet Prize of a Nikon F6 film camera worth £2,000 to the best finalist image taken on film.

And 100 finalist images selected by the judges will be exhibited at a week-long exhibition from 11 - 16 March 2012 in one of London’s most prestigious galleries, the Mall Galleries in the heart of London.

Are prizes available in different currencies?

All cash prizes are also available in US Dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate.

What are the categories?

There are 5 categories:

  • Expression
  • Environment
  • Memory
  • Perspective
  • Disorientation

How long does the competition run for?

The competition opens at 10.00 on 05 December 2011 and closes at 22.00 on 4 March 2012.

Can I enter digital images or images taken on film?

Either or both. Your images can be taken digitally or on film, and you can enter a combination of both digital and film images; for example if you pay £25 to enter 3 images, you could enter 2 digital images and 1 image taken on film.

The judges will not take account of the way an image was taken in when judging the categories or the overall Renaissance Prize. There is however a special prize for the best image taken on film.

Does my entry need to be in a particular format?

Yes. All entries must be submitted online as JPEG files of no more than 1024 pixels on the longest side, and not more than 1 Mb in file size.

This means that all digital entries must be taken at high resolution and resized (saved for web use). And if your entry is shot on film, you will need to scan the negative or transparency and submit the digital file.

What if my image is selected?

You will need to provide a high resolution 300dpi file of between 2MB - 10 MB (the High Res File) within 10 days of notification. If you took your image on film you may also be required to produce the negative or transparency.

If I am selected to exhibit, will I benefit from any sales?

Yes, you may do. The aim of Renaissance is to raise money for breast cancer and so the first sale of your image will be donated to the charity. However if you sell more than one copy of your image you will receive half the net proceeds of subsequent sales.

What if my image is part of a limited edition?

If your image is part of a limited edition, no problem. You can either donate one of the limited edition to be sold for breast cancer, or allow us to print a special Renaissance size for the exhibition and sale.

Do I keep the copyright of my images?

Yes, you retain the copyright. The Renaissance rules meet all the standards set out in the Bill of Rights For Photography Competitions and the competition is therefore a recommended contest that respects photographers' rights.

I am having difficulty uploading my image

Please refer to the required image format and size. Images that do not fit all the requirements will not be accepted. Contact info@renaissancephotography.org if you have any questions about the competition or problems uploading your images.