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International Photography Competition

Body as Nature
Nudity, Waste, and Rebirth

Exploring the human body as nature's mirror — fragility, resilience, and the global environmental crisis through artistic nude photography.

Submit Your Entry Competition Rules
Abstract silhouette of human body blended with recycled materials texture.

About the Competition

Where Art Meets Environmental Consciousness

Founded in Los Angeles in 1987, Jan Kesner Gallery has long supported contemporary and conceptual photography. The 2025 competition focuses on environmental urgency — waste, recycling, and pollution — inviting artists to consider the naked body as a metaphor for nature's vulnerability and resilience.

  • Explore the dialogue between the human body and discarded materials.
  • Visualize recycling and rebirth through healing, scarring, and transformation.
  • Confront environmental decay with respectful, ethical artistic nude work.
Close-up shoulder with projected ocean plastic texture.

2025 Theme

"Body as Nature: Nudity, Waste, and Rebirth"

Guiding questions to inspire your work:

🌿 Resilience & Fragility

How can a body surrounded by waste embody both resilience and fragility?

♻️ Recycling & Rebirth

Can scars and healing arcs serve as metaphors for recycling and rebirth?

🌍 Ecological Truth

How does nudity reflect the raw truth of our ecological crisis?

✨ New Aesthetics

What new aesthetic emerges when body, nature, and waste converge?

Close-up shoulder with projected ocean plastic texture. Minimal silhouette juxtaposed with tree bark macro. Concept collage of body contour lines and recycling symbols.

Awards

Prizes & Recognition

Winners will receive cash prizes, exhibition opportunities, and international recognition in the photography community.

$250,000

Grand Prize Winner

Solo exhibition at Jan Kesner Gallery + International museum tour

$100,000

Second Prize

Digital catalogue publication + Group exhibition in Los Angeles

$50,000

Third Prize

Curated group exhibition + Catalogue feature

$25,000

Fourth Prize

Online international exhibition and catalogue feature

$10,000

Fifth Prize

Digital catalogue publication

Honorable Mentions

10 Winners — $2,500 each + Online exhibition feature

Important Dates

Competition Timeline

February 1, 2025

Submissions Open

Begin uploading your entries through our secure submission portal.

February 15, 2025

Submission Deadline

All entries must be received by 11:59 PM PST.

January 15, 2026

Jury Deliberation

Our expert panel reviews all qualifying submissions.

February 1, 2026

Results Announcement

Winners notified via email and announced on our website.

March 2026

Exhibition Opening

Grand opening at Jan Kesner Gallery, Los Angeles.

Who Can Enter

Eligibility Requirements

✓ Photographers

Open to all photographers aged 18+, both professional and amateur, from anywhere in the world.

✓ Original Work

Works must be previously unpublished and have not won awards in other competitions.

✓ Submissions

Up to 5 artistic nude photographs per entrant. Online submissions only via this page.

✗ Not Accepted

Pornographic content will not be accepted. Artistic nude photography only.

Submission Guidelines

Technical Requirements

  • File formats: JPEG or TIFF, minimum 300 dpi
  • Minimum dimension: 3000 px on the long side
  • Maximum file size: 20MB per image
  • File naming: Lastname_Firstname_Title.jpg
  • RAW files may be requested for verification
  • Post-processing allowed if it preserves conceptual and documentary integrity
  • Series accepted — count each image within the 5-work limit

Competition Guidelines

Full Competition Rules

General Rules

  • Open to photographers worldwide, aged 18 and above
  • Maximum 5 submissions per participant
  • Entry fee: $35 per single work, $100 for 5-work bundle
  • 50% student discount available with valid student ID
  • Submissions must be original, unpublished works
  • Works cannot have won awards in other competitions

Submission Process

  • Online submissions only through this website
  • Include: artist statement (max 300 words per work)
  • Provide: title, year created, location of shoot
  • Upload signed model release forms (mandatory)
  • Payment required to complete submission
  • Confirmation email upon successful submission

Content Requirements

  • Artistic nude photography only — no pornographic content
  • Must relate to the theme: "Body as Nature: Nudity, Waste, and Rebirth"
  • All subjects must be 18+ with signed model releases
  • Works must demonstrate respect, consent, and dignity
  • Environmental responsibility required in production

Technical Specifications

  • File formats: JPEG or TIFF only
  • Minimum resolution: 300 DPI
  • Minimum size: 3000px on longest side
  • Maximum file size: 20MB per image
  • File naming: Lastname_Firstname_Title.jpg

Standards & Ethics

Ethical Guidelines

  • Model Consent: All models must be 18+ with signed model release forms
  • Respectful Practice: Works must be created with full consent; exploitative imagery will be disqualified
  • Environmental Responsibility: Production must not cause environmental harm; leave no trace on location
  • Legal Compliance: For public locations, entrants are responsible for local permits and legal requirements

Our Panel

2025 Jury

The jury panel comprises recognized professionals across contemporary photography, curation, and environmental advocacy.

Dr. Elena Marchetti

Dr. Elena Marchetti

Senior Curator, Whitney Museum

Focus on body politics and conceptual image-making. Author of "The Vulnerable Frame" (2019).

Marcus Chen

Marcus Chen

Director, Ocean Conservancy

Leads global initiatives on ocean plastics. Develops frameworks for low-impact art production.

Isabelle Dubois

Isabelle Dubois

Fine-Art Photographer

Hasselblad Award winner (2018). Featured in Venice Biennale (2017, 2021).

Sarah Kim

Sarah Kim

Gallery Director

Jan Kesner Gallery. Former curator at LACMA with 15 years experience.

Judging Process

Evaluation Criteria

🎨

Artistic Expression

Originality, conceptual strength, aesthetics

🌱

Theme Relevance

Engagement with waste, recycling, environment

📷

Technical Quality

Composition, lighting, execution

⚖️

Ethical Compliance

Consent, dignity, ecological responsibility

Enter the Competition

Submission Process

  1. Register: Complete the form with your name, email, country, and short bio.
  2. Upload: Submit up to 5 works with title, year, location, and 300-character description.
  3. Model Releases: Attach signed releases for each depicted model (mandatory, 18+).
  4. Pay Entry Fee:
    • $35 per single entry
    • $100 for 5 works (bundle)
    • 50% student discount (valid ID required)
  5. Confirm: Receive confirmation email and PDF summary.

Ready to Submit?

Submissions open February 1, 2025

Notify Me When Open

Have Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes artistic nude from pornography?

Artistic nudes emphasize concept, form, and respect; pornography focuses on explicit sexual acts. Our jury evaluates works based on artistic merit and thematic relevance.

Can I submit collaborative works?

Yes. The entrant must secure permissions from collaborators and models, and all necessary model releases must be provided.

Are heavy manipulations allowed?

Creative post-processing is allowed if it supports the concept and does not misrepresent consent or subjects.

Do you accept series?

Yes. Count each image within the 5-work limit; note the series title in the description.

Get in Touch

Contact Us

Email: info@jankesnercompetition.com

Press & Partnerships: press@jankesnercompetition.com

Address:
Jan Kesner Gallery
1643 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA