YOUTH U15, U18, U21 CONTES is international contest of art photography, organized by Mala Lehota Biele More from Mala Lehota, Slovakia.

The contest is divided into the following sections:
• U15 Open (Color & Monochrome)
• U18 Open (Color & Monochrome)
• U21 Open (Color & Monochrome)

Closing date: January 10 2027
Judging date: January 24 2027
Notification date: January 29 2027
Delivery date: January 31 2027
Gallery publish date: January 31 2027

The entry fee depends on the number of sections the participant enters. The fees are as follows:
• 1-3 sections = 0 EUR

The entry fee can be paid in the following ways:
• through our website: https://theiaap.com//contests/join/xxx
• PAYPAL ACCOUNT: [email protected]
• BANK PAYMENTS: SK3311000000002947138300

Images from participants who have not paid the entry fee will not be considered.

The contest is open to anyone (amateur and professional photographers from all over the world); however, an entry may be rejected when the sponsoring organization or its agent, in its reasonable discretion, believes the entry does not conform to the contest rules and conditions.
Entries must originate as photographs (image-captures of objects via light sensitivity) made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally. By virtue of submitting an entry, the entrant certifies the image as his own (aliases are not permitted). The entrant permits the sponsors to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication and/or display in media related to the exhibition. This may include low resolution posting on a website. Note: Entrants who indicate that their images may not be reproduced or used 'will not be eligible for awards' or inclusion in audio-visuals of the exhibition 'and could be subject to disqualification' by the exhibition sponsors.
By submitting an entry, the entrant certifies legal Age, and own all rights to these images, including copyright or parents or guardians gives permission on his/her behalf if he/she is not of Legal Age. The exhibition assumes no liability of any misuse of copyright. Images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker. All final image must be on photographic film, or on electronic file, or on photographic or electronic print material, mounting excepted.
No title or identification of the maker shall be visible anywhere on the face of an image, print mat or mount.

Photographs must be in JPEG format, with dimensions 1920x1080 pixels at 300, JPEG compression (if Photoshop used for export): 7-12, file size maximum 4 Mb. Each image must have a unique title. Titles must not include file extensions such as .jpg or .jpeg (or any other camera capture filenames). No title or identification of the maker shall be written anywhere on the face of an image.
The photographs of participants with the application are submitted in these ways:
- uploading thought our website: https://theiaap.com//contests/join/xxx
- by e-mail: [email protected]

The judging will be done by remote online judging. All judges will be using equipment capable of displaying images at 100% of the image resolution. Judges will be using color calibrated equipment. Target Range will be max 30%.

By entering this contest, you are explicitly consenting to the personal details you have supplied, including physical addresses, email addresses, being held, processed and used by the contest organizers for purposes associated with this contest. You also explicitly consent to such information being sent to organizations that have accorded official recognition, patronage or accreditation to this contest. You acknowledge, agree and accept that by entering this contest, your participation status which includes your first and last name, name of the country used during registration at the contest, number of sections entered and number of photos entered in those sections will be made public in a published status list and that the results of your entry shall be made public in exhibition gallery, exhibition catalog.

RULES OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
1. Organizer
The competition is organized by an approved organizer under the patronage of IAAP – International Association of Art Photographers.

2. Participation
Participation is free of charge.
The competition is open to young photographers from all countries.
Each participant may enter only one age category.
3. Age Categories

Youth U15 – Under 15 years

Youth U18 – Under 18 years

Youth U21 – Under 21 years

Eligibility is determined by the participant’s age on the official closing date of the competition.

4. Registration and Parental Consent
Participants under the age of 18 may enter the competition only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
By registering, the parent or legal guardian confirms that they:
agree to the child’s participation in the competition,
have read and accepted these rules,
consent to the processing of personal data necessary for the administration of the competition,
consent to the publication of the participant’s name, country and competition results,
confirm that all submitted photographs are the original work of the participant.

5. Photographs
Each participant may submit a maximum of 8 photographs.
The theme is Open.
Both color and monochrome photographs are accepted.
Photographs may have been taken at any time.
Each photograph may be entered only once.

6. Image Editing
Standard photographic editing is permitted, provided that the final image remains a photograph created by the author and complies with these competition rules.

7. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The competition is intended exclusively for photographs created by the photographer.
A photograph must originate from a real scene captured by a camera or another photographic device through the action of light on a photosensitive sensor or photographic film.
Images created entirely or predominantly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.
AI may only be used as an auxiliary tool for technical image processing, provided that it does not alter the fundamental nature of the photograph.
8. Copyright
Each participant declares that:
they are the sole author of all submitted photographs,
they own all copyright to the submitted images,
the photographs do not infringe the copyright or other rights of any third party.

9. Image Content
Photographs must not contain illegal, offensive, hateful, violent or pornographic content.
Nude or explicit nude photographs are not permitted in any age category.
The organizer reserves the right to reject any image that is inconsistent with the spirit of the competition or may damage the reputation of the organizer or IAAP.

10. Photographs of People

If a submitted photograph contains an identifiable person, the author is responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions required under the laws of their country.

11. Age Verification

If necessary, the organizer reserves the right to request proof of the participant’s age from the participant or their parent/legal guardian. Failure to provide such proof may result in disqualification.

12. Disqualification

The organizer reserves the right to disqualify photographs that:
do not comply with these rules,
infringe copyright,
contain false information,
violate applicable laws or accepted standards of public decency.
The organizer’s decision is final.

13. Judging
All photographs will be evaluated by an international jury appointed by the organizer.



The jury’s decisions are final.

14. Personal Data and Use of Photographs
By entering the competition, the participant (and, where applicable, their parent or legal guardian) consents to the processing of personal data necessary for the administration of the competition, judging, publication of results and communication with participants.



The participant also grants the organizer a free, non-exclusive licence to use the submitted photographs exclusively for non-commercial purposes, including:

promotion of IAAP,

promotion of this competition,

promotion of future youth photography competitions,

exhibitions,

catalogues,

websites,

social media,

posters,

banners,

billboards,

printed and electronic promotional materials.



Submitted photographs will not be sold or provided to third parties for commercial purposes.



The organizer will make every reasonable effort to credit the photographer whenever practical and technically possible. However, author credits may be omitted in posters, banners, billboards, collages or other graphic designs where individual attribution is not feasible.

15. Personal Data Protection
Personal data will be used solely for the administration of the competition, communication with participants and publication of the competition results, in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

16. Final Provisions
The organizer reserves the right to amend or supplement these rules if required for organizational, technical or legal reasons.
Any changes will be published on the official competition website.

17. Acceptance of the Rules
By submitting photographs, the participant (and, where applicable, their parent or legal guardian) confirms that they have read, understood and fully accepted these competition rules.

• Vladimir,M IAAP M NPUM; MPSA; RISF5; GPU CR3 Hermes Jovanovski; M NPUM; MPSA; RISF5; GPU CR3 Hermes (North Macedonia)
• Neda Arsenievska; MP NPU (North Macedonia)
• Elina Garipova; EFIAP/b (Russia)
• Anna Alimpieva; (Finland)
• Bojan Petrovic; KMF,EFIAP, HonFtGM (Serbia)
• ANITA ŽIVALJIĆ; (Croatia)

The judges of the event will present the following awards:
6 x IAAP Gold E-Certificate, 6 x IAAP Silver E-Certificate, 6 x IAAP Bronze E-Certificate, 36 x IAAP Honorable Mention E-Certificate,
3 x NATIONAL Gold E-Certificate, 3 x NATIONAL Silver E-Certificate, 3 x NATIONAL Bronze E-Certificate, 9 x NATIONAL Honorable Mention E-Certificate,
6 x SALON Gold E-Certificate, 6 x SALON Silver E-Certificate, 6 x SALON Bronze E-Certificate, 18 x SALON Honorable Mention E-Certificate,
Total 108 awards. The organizer reserves the right to adjust the number of awards based on the total number of entrants.

All entries shall conform to the stricter of these definitions for acceptances to be validated by all the international organizations granting recognition or patronage.

[IAAP Definition of Monochrome]
Black and white photography is an image that displays a range of shades from black to white, encompassing various tones of gray. Such an image focuses on the nuances of light, shadow, and contrast without incorporating any colors. If the entire image is toned in a single hue, it remains within the black and white category. However, if it is modified by partial toning or the addition of any color, it becomes a color work and no longer qualifies as a black and white photograph.

Notification cards will be sent by email.

Jan Sranko, M IAAP, EFIAP/s, MZSF,
Mala Lehota, Slovakia

email: [email protected]
website: https://theiaap.com//contests/join/xxx