LensCulture Portrait Awards 2014 Competition

Photographic portraits are part of everyday life in almost all parts of the world. From fine art to spontaneous selfies, from hyper-perfect photoshopped portraits to seductive (and often fictitious) social media profile pics, to mobile phone snaps altered with digital nostalgia filters. Some are candid, some are staged, some are outrageous and silly, others are just plain beautiful.

The aim of

is to discover a full range of great 21st century photo portraits. The competition is open to everything. All points of view. All levels of expertise. All corners of the world. All ideas of portraiture.

There are two categories:

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Submit up to 5 or more photographic portraits that work well together as a series — variations of a single person, or members of a group, changes over time, etc. This category is open to all interpretations of what can be called a "portrait" - thematically, conceptually, sociologically, as a story, or simply as a range of your photographic talent. Edit your selections carefully, since this category will be judged on the strength of the group of portraits as a whole, and not as individual photographs.

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Often, a single powerful portrait captures our attention as honest, genuine, striking, meaningful, and memorable. A great portrait can stand on its own, demonstrating a remarkable level of intimacy, psychological perception, sensitivity, and creativity. All techniques of photography are welcome, and all interpretations of what defines a "portrait" are invited, as well.

All entrants must be able to supply high resolution images suitable for printing in media, and for public exhibition. All photographers

for their own work.

Entry fee:

• Portfolio category: $55 for a related series of 5 images, $5 for each additional image, no limit.

• Single Image category: $35 for first image, $5 for each additional image, no limit.