TANGIBLE Photo Contest

presented by The Angry Whale

Documentary Photography / Street Photography / Photojournalism

(4x6 inch prints only)

Introducing the inaugural Tangible Photo Contest — a celebration of photography and physical media.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by Jan 1, 2025.

Angry Whale Photo Contest

P.O. Box 2267

West Columbia, SC 29171

Eligibility:

  • Limited to documentary photography, street photography and photojournalism

  • Photos can be made with a digital or film cameras

  • Photos can be printed using home digital printer, at a drug store or big box, by a professional lab or in your darkroom. We’re not judging on print quality, unless it negatively affects the image.

  • International entries welcome

  • No generative AI

  • Post-processing should be limited. No cloning. No removing objects. Colors should reflect reality.

  • First entry per person is free. Each additional entry is $5.

Awards

First place: Lowepro Camera Bag + Portfolio Review + three 60 minute mentoring sessions + Trophy or plaque

($500+ value)

Second place: Portfolio Review + one 60 minute mentoring session + award certificate

Third place: Portfolio Review + award certificate

Judging Criteria:
Entries will be reviewed by Sean Rayford and at least two other documentary photographers/photojournalists. Entries will be judged using a numerical scale in the following categories.

Photography

  • Impact

  • Content/Storytelling

  • Composition

  • Use of Light

  • Timing

Photographers retain copyright but grant limited usage rights of photos to the Angry Whale Photo Print contest to announce winners and promote the contest.

Winners will be announced by February 15, 2025.

About: The Angry Whale Photo Print Contest is spearheaded by South Carolina photojournalist Sean Rayford, in an effort to encourage documentary photographers to print their work. Rayford has been a photojournalist in South Carolina for more than 25 years and has been freelancing with The New York Times, Getty Images, The Associated Press and others for more than a decade.

Rayford also publishes photo zines and books. Before going full-time with photography, he tended bar at a live music venue for more a dozen years.

This contest was started to promote and highlight the creative process in photography beyond the photo dump, disappearing social media posts — and during the rise of artificial intelligence. It was created to highlight physical media while encouraging photographers to explore the tangible.