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Here you will find answers to the most common questions about the III Humanitarian Photography Contest.
If you don’t find what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you.


About the contest

The contest is an opportunity for creatives from around the world to present photographs that highlight humanitarian messages and showcase the reality of various communities. The goal is to inspire awareness and action through impactful visual content.

The contest is open to participants of all ages and nationalities. You do not need to be a professional to enter; anyone with a passion for photography can participate.

You can register by completing the registration form on our website. You need to create an account or log in if you already have one, and then follow the instructions to upload your photographs.

To ensure the quality and usability of submitted images, all entries must meet the following minimum standards: a resolution of at least 4,000 pixels on the longest side (approximately 12 megapixels); file format must be JPG or JPEG (high quality), and over-compressed or low-quality files will not be accepted; the recommended file size is between 1 MB and 10 MB, with extremely heavy files or those under 500 KB discouraged; basic editing such as light, contrast, color adjustments, and cropping are allowed, but photomontages, text overlays, or heavy filters that alter the original scene are not; images must be well-focused and properly composed, with good use of light and framing considered positively; and watermarks or logos are not permitted under any circumstances.

Yes, you can submit multiple entries.

Can’t find an answer?

If you do not find the answer you are looking for, please send us your question by completing the following form. We are here to help you and answer all your questions about the Humanitarian Photography Contest.

Registration and selection

  • Open from: July 21st to September 5th, 2025 (23:59 Madrid time)

The winners will be chosen through a three-step voting process:

  • Public voting
  • Jury evaluation
  • Final decision round

Prizes

  • 1st Prize: 2,000€
  • 2nd Prize: 1,000€
  • 3rd Prize: 1,000€

Important: 50% of each prize will be donated to a local humanitarian NGO chosen by the participant. The remaining 50% will go directly to the participant.

Minors may only appear if they are not recognizable, either because they are distant or their identity is obscured.

Entries that do not meet the specifications will be disqualified. Please ensure you review all guidelines before submitting your work.

Photos that denigrate people will not be accepted. In any case, the organizer reserves the right to reject any photo.

If you have any questions, you can contact us through the contact form on our website or by email: photocontest@kaluinstitute.org.

If you experience technical problems, please contact our technical support team via the contact form or by emailing photocontest@kaluinstitute.org. We will do our best to assist you promptly.

KALU will upload a selection of photos on Facebook and Instagram under the hashtags #kaluphoto2025. Share your photos on your social networks and invite your friends to vote.

Winners will be contacted within a month. They must indicate which organization the prize should be transferred to. If they do not, KALU will choose one. The beneficiary organization must explain what activities will be supported by the prize, comply with humanitarian principles, and be from a country not listed as a high-income economy. In any case, KALU reserves the right to reject a particular organization.

By submitting their photos, participants authorize Kalu Institute to use the submitted images for communication, outreach, educational, and promotional purposes — including commercial uses directly aligned with the organization’s educational and humanitarian mission.

This authorization includes, but is not limited to, use on:

  • Websites and social media platforms, printed and digital publications, online advertisements and campaigns, educational materials and training content, public presentations, reports, and exhibitions

Participants grant Kalu Institute a free, worldwide, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, publish, adapt, and distribute the photos in any format or medium. Minor edits (e.g. resizing, cropping, translation of captions) may be made to suit layout and communication needs, always in a respectful and ethical manner, with proper credit given to the author.
By participating, the entrant confirms that:

  • They are the original creator of the submitted photo(s)
  • They hold all necessary rights to authorize its use as described
  • No third-party rights are being infringed

This license is granted without expectation of compensation beyond participation in the contest and potential awards.

Consent Checkbox for Online Registration Form

I have read and accept the Photo Usage Terms. I confirm that I am the original creator of the submitted photo(s) and grant Kalu Institute permission to use them as described above.
(This box must be checked to submit your entry).

If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us through our contact form or by email: photocontest@kaluinstitute.org.