Documentary Photographer of the Year 2021
Our popular competition opens for entries on 6 May and is now open to our international audience with Open, Student and Member categories
The Documentary Photographer of the Year (DPOTY) competition is organised by the Royal Photographic Society's Documentary Group. It runs every two years. The competition has been running since 2012 and provides an opportunity to showcase documentary work and storytelling.
Anyone of any age can submit their images to DPOTY - this includes student, amateur and professional photographers and story-telling image-makers worldwide. There is no theme or topic, so the choice of subject matter is yours. There is also no limit on when the images were taken. Just show us your best work, that has not been submitted to DPOTY before.
Entry is made online using our submission platform. After the closing date, the online selection is made and final judging will take place in September and October. Entrants remain anonymous throughout the selection process.
Entry Overview
CATEGORIES
The Competition has three categories:
Open - open to anyone anywhere
Student - for anyone on a recognised full-time or part-time photography degree course (and those completing in 2020-21 academic year)
Member - for members of the RPS
ENTRY COST
Open - £10 per series
Student -£5 per series
RPS Member - free
Concessions available upon request at: dpoty@rps.org
Key dates
SUBMISSIONS
Opening Date for Entries:
Thursday 6 May 2021
Closing Date for Entries:
Thursday 5 August 2021 23:59
Shortlisting and Judging: will take place during September and October
Awards Event: will take place in November (TBC) at FujiFilm House of Photography, London.
Exhibition: from November 2021 and a UK touring Exhibition in 2022.
Awards and Prizes
All winners will be part of an Exhibition
Open winner - a bursary, professional development support from Martin Parr Foundation and one-years free RPS membership
Student winner - a bursary, professional development support from leading photographer, Simon Roberts HonFRPS and one-years free RPS membership
RPS Member winner - a Fujifilm X100V camera (donated by Fujifilm) and one-years free RPS membership
Commended entries - one-years free RPS Membership and inclusion in Exhibition (as digital projection). Selected photographers will also have opportunities via our Engagement Talks and published in Decisive Moment magazine.
Entry Guide and FAQs
Our Judges
Our international panel of experts and judges includes:
Lekgetho Makola, CEO Javett Arts Centre, Pretoria
Roy Mehta, Photographer and Lecturer
Tanvi Mishra, Photo Editor, Writer and Creative Director, The Caravan, New Delhi
Mimi Mollica, Photographer and Director, Offspring PhotoMeet
Rosy Santella, picture editor, Internazionale, Rome
Marie Sumalla, international picture editor, Le Monde, Paris
Bindi Vora, Curatorial Projects Manager at Autograph, London
Our Awards
The category winners will feature in a London and UK touring exhibition.
Open winner - a bursary, professional development support from the Martin Parr Foundation and one-years free RPS membership
Student winner - a bursary, professional development support from leading photographer, Simon Roberts HonFRPS and one-years free RPS membership
RPS Member winner - a Fujifilm X100V camera and one-years free RPS membership
All commended will receive one-years free RPS membership and an opportunity to take part in a UK touring exhibition (digital projection).
Winners and commended photographers will also have opportunities for publication in the Decisive Moment and The RPS Journal and selected photographers will be invited to present at our Engagement Talk series.
DPOTY Related Events
Engagement Talk - Alys Tomlinson and opening of DPOTY2021
DATE AND TIME
6 May 2021 18:00 - 19:30 (BST / UK time)
Meeting will be held via Zoom.
Tickets are FREE, but please consider a small donation (thank you). Bookings close midday on 4 May. Zoom Links will be sent out a day or so before.
The following week on 13 May we have a Talk by Daniel Meadows
DPOTY Related Events
Along with the competition there are Engagement Talks which are free and bookable via our Events page. Following our Awards Event there will be an Exhibition which will then tour the UK.
RPS Documentary Photographer of the Year 2021 - Awards
DATE AND TIME
TBC - November 2021
Dates subject to confirmation.
Our RPS Documentary Photographer of the Year 2021 Awards will be held at Fujifilm House of Photography, London
Sponsors and Friends
We are grateful for the support of Fujifilm and its commitment to the photo community.
