WOW PHOTO is international contest of art photography, organized by OZ MLBM from Mala Lehota, Slovensko.

The contest is divided into the following sections:
• WOW – OPEN THEME ( BW, color )
• LANDSCAPE
• PORTRAIT
• LINES
• OPEN COLOR
• OPEN MONOCHROME
• BIRDS - ANIMALS
• TREES
• NUDE ART
• ARCHITECTURE
• TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
• SYMETRY

Closing date: November 15 2026
Judging date: November 22 2026
Notification date: November 25 2026
Delivery date: November 26 2026
Gallery publish date: November 26 2026

The entry fee depends on the number of sections the participant enters. The fees are as follows:
• 1-2 sections = 6 EUR
• 3-4 sections = 8 EUR
• 5 sections = 12 EUR
• 6-7 sections = 16 EUR
• 8-10 sections = 20 EUR
• 11-12 sections = 24 EUR

The entry fee can be paid in the following ways:
• through our website: https://theiaap.com/e/wow
• 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.

Breach of Rules
Entries that do not comply with the contest rules, image definitions, or ethical standards will be disqualified without refund.
Any form of plagiarism, AI-generated elements, excessive manipulation in restricted sections, or misrepresentation of authorship will lead to removal of all entries from judging.
Decision of the judges and the organizer is final and cannot be appealed.

• Vladimir Jovanovski; M NPUM; MPSA; RISF5; GPU CR3 Hermes (North Macedonia)
• Anastasia Barmina; EFIAP (Russia)
• Zuzana Rahn; NFIAP (United Kingdom)
• Tinneke Layadi; (Indonesia)

BEST AUTHOR wins 3 FREE ENTRIES to photo contests organized by OZ MLBM (Malá Lehota Biele More) in 2026–2027.

The judges of the event will present the following awards:
24 x IAAP Gold E-Certificate, 24 x IAAP Silver E-Certificate, 24 x IAAP Bronze E-Certificate, 84 x IAAP Honorable Mention E-Certificate
36 x NATIONAL Honorable Mention E-Certificate, 12 x NATIONAL Gold E-Certificate, 12 x NATIONAL Silver E-Certificate, 12 x NATIONAL Bronze E-Certificate
12 x CLUB Gold E-Certificate, 12 x CLUB Silver E-Certificate, 12 x CLUB Bronze E-Certificate
36 x SALON Honorable Mention E-Certificate
Total 300 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 organizations granting recognition or patronage.

[IAAP Definition of Monochrome]
Black and white photography is an image displaying a range of shades from black to white, including all tones of gray. Any image modified by the addition of color becomes a color work and no longer qualifies as monochrome.

WOW – OPEN THEME
The WOW section is an open photographic theme without restrictions on genre, subject or photographic technique.
Both colour and black-and-white photographs are accepted. Photographs may come from various areas of photographic art, including nature, wildlife, landscape, portrait, people, architecture, street photography, macro, abstract, conceptual or creative photography, as well as other photographic genres.
The main criterion is the strong visual, emotional, artistic, creative or impressive impact of the photograph on the viewer.
The photograph should create a strong and immediate impression through its subject, moment, composition, originality, processing or overall visual impact.
All photographs must comply with the general rules of the competition, IAAP regulations, authorship and copyright requirements, and principles of ethical conduct.
Any colour or black-and-white photograph may be entered into the WOW section if its overall impact meets the character and purpose of this open theme.

Notification cards will be sent by email.

Jan Sranko, M IAAP, EFIAP/s, MZSF, E PIPC,
Mala Lehota, Slovensko

email: [email protected]
website: https://theiaap.com/e/wow