James Balog Earth Vision Awards

The James Balog Earth Vision Awards (JBEVA) are biennial juried prizes that are intended to support photographers who are responding to today’s complex environmental issues through photography.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

Photography is a uniquely powerful medium that bears witness to the relationship between humans and the environment. It shapes our environmental attitudes, perceptions and values and challenges people to create healthier, more sustainable relationships with nature. 

The James Balog Earth Vision Awards (JBEVA) are juried prizes that are intended to support photographers who are responding to today’s complex environmental issues through photography. The awards will be given every two years.

The Awards are organized and produced by the Denver Art Museum (DAM) in Denver, Colorado, with funds endowed by James Balog and other donors.

Learn more about James Balog and the awards here: https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/james-balog-earth-vision-awards

First prize: $40,000

($30,000 at the time of the award and $10,000 twelve to eighteen months later—see “Terms and Conditions”)

Finalist: $25,000

($19,000 at the time of the award and $6,000 twelve to eighteen months later—see “Terms and Conditions”)

DEADLINES AND IMPORTANT DATES

September 1, 2026: Call for proposals opens

October 1, 2026: Call for proposals closes

January, 2027: Award winners announced

March, 2027: Award presentations at Denver Art Museum

JUDGING CRITERIA

A three-member jury of expert photo professionals will review all entries. In advance of final decisions, the jury may contact entrants for clarification about their applications.

The Awards are intended to recognize the winning artists’ direct engagement with the world around us. Images may be literal and documentary or symbolic and interpretive. They may address impacts that are positive and inspiring, or negative and distressing, or both.  The jury will not consider fabricated photographs and photographs that involve cloning, excessive color manipulation or AI-generated content.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Awards will be presented at a celebratory event at the Denver Art Museum six to ten weeks after the winners are announced. In accepting their awards, the Winner and Finalist must agree to attend that event and give a public presentation about their work. A travel stipend will be provided to defray travel costs. The DAM and JBEVA will need winners’ permission to use their images to promote the awards. 

The Winner and Finalist will be asked to submit three prints of their work as gifts to the Denver Art Museum. Those will be selected in collaboration with the Museum’s Curator of Photography and should be delivered no later than eighteen months after the awards are announced. Winners will receive the unpaid balances of their awards after those prints are received and added to the Museum’s photography collection.

Applicants must be 21 years of age or older on the day that they submit their proposals.

Work that is AI generated in whole or in part will be disqualified.

• A portfolio of 10 – 20 photographs that represent your commitment to environmental photography and reflect your accomplishments to date.
• A concise (around 500 words) statement that describes your first-hand experience with the locations/subjects of the photographs you are submitting and explains their environmental significance.
• A concise (around 500 words) explanation of the work you hope to do with the support of the JBEVA, and the impact you hope that work will have over time.
• A resume or list of exhibitions, publications, public lectures and/or articles and reviews about your photographic work.

The Award competition is open to photographers worldwide. The awards are intended to recognize and encourage photographers whose applications demonstrate sustained commitment and significant accomplishment. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older on the day that they submit their proposals.

FAQ

I live outside the United States.  May I still apply?

Yes. The JBEVA competition is open to all applicants who meet the age requirement and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the awards.

Can we apply as a team or collective, or must each of us apply separately?

Yes, if you agree to the terms and conditions of the JBEVA, you may apply using the name of your team or collective if you meet the requirements and agree to the terms and conditions of the Awards. You may apply as individuals or as a collective but not both.

Can I apply more than once in the same year?

No, you may only apply once in each round.  Multiple submissions from the same person will all be disqualified.

May I submit work that is AI generated in whole or in part?

               No.

May I apply in a future round if I don’t win an award this year?

Yes. However, the JBEVA Award Winner and Finalist may not apply again in future rounds.