Competitions
THE SHAPE OF A LIFE
Brooklyn, New York
Entry Fee: $25
Additional Entries: $5
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Location Eligibility Type: International
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Submission Limit: 1
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 4, Max: 10
- Audio | Min: 0, Max: 0
- Video | Min: 0, Max: 0
- Total | Min: 4, Max: 10
Opportunity Summary
THE SHAPE OF A LIFE
A life is not defined by its milestones alone. It is shaped by quieter things: the places we return to, the objects we keep, the moments that pass almost unnoticed until memory gives them meaning.
What we're looking for: what remains when a person is no longer in the frame. A door handle worn smooth by years of the same hand. A chair still holding the shape of whoever sat there last. A path worn into grass by footsteps that repeated for years. The trace, not the person.
$1,000 Cash Awards
General Information
THE SHAPE OF A LIFE
Call Type: Photography
Eligibility: International
Exhibition Type: Online
Entry Fee: $25 up to 4 entries, $5 each additional entry
Deadline: October 10
Notification Date: October 20
Exhibition Dates: November 1, 2026 — January 1, 2027
Juror: TBD
A life is not defined by its milestones alone. It is shaped by quieter things: the places we return to, the objects we keep, the moments that pass almost unnoticed until memory gives them meaning.
What we're looking for: what remains when a person is no longer in the frame. A door handle worn smooth by years of the same hand. A chair still holding the shape of whoever sat there last. A path worn into grass by footsteps that repeated for years. The trace, not the person.
We welcome documentary, fine art, conceptual, and personal work. What matters is the honesty and depth of the photograph — not the approach.
We are not looking for portraits, or images that simply describe a person in front of the camera. We're looking for photographs that suggest presence without showing it directly — carrying the weight of memory, habit, or time.
Awards
First Place: $500 + Solo Exhibition on the Decagon Gallery website
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150
Two Honorable Mentions: $50 each
Human Presence Nomination: Free entry to a future Decagon open call
All selected photographers receive inclusion in the curated exhibition on a dedicated exhibition page, Instagram feature, and inclusion in the printed catalog. The exhibition will be promoted through Press Releases in appropriate channels.
How to Submit
$25 entry fee for 4 photographs. $5 each additional photograph. Open to photographers worldwide. All photographic processes and styles welcome.
Submission Details:
Submit jpg files at 2100 pixels on the long side without any text, watermarks, borders, or frames. We want the work to be seen as it is, without any added elements that might distract from the image itself.
What Selected Photographers Receive
- Inclusion in the curated online exhibition
- Permanent exhibition page on Decagon Gallery
- Feature on Decagon’s Instagram
- Inclusion in the exhibition catalog
Photographers retain all rights, including copyright, to their photographs.
Application Requirements
- Work: Submit up to images that you believe capture the essence of the "THE SHAPE OF A LIFE" theme.
- Format: JPEG or JPG, size 2100 px on the longest side.
- Entry Fee: $25 for 4 images, $5 for each additional image.
- Deadline: All entries must be received by October 10
- Online Exhibition Dates: November 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027 then archived on our gallery
About the Gallery
Decagon Gallery is an online photography gallery dedicated to thoughtful, contemporary photographic work by artists worldwide. The gallery emphasizes strong curatorial vision, professional presentation, and meaningful engagement with photographers at all stages of their careers.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to photographers worldwide, 18 years and older.