And sometimes, the rewards can be life-changing.
Whether you win 1st place or become a finalist, these events will surely boost your creative practice.
Matt Emmett, overall winner, Arcaid Photography Awards 2016.
Audubon Photography Awards
Combine your love of birds and photography by competing in the Audubon Photography Awards.
Participants must be legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and at least 13 years of age.
Photographers compete in four categoriesPortrait, Fine Art, Lifestyle, and Documentary & Street.
Matt Emmett, overall winner, Arcaid Photography Awards 2016. (Photo: Matt Emmett/Arcaid Images)
The contest accepts international entries and there is no limit on the number of submissions per photographer.
The theme for the contest changes with each competition.
Participation in an annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.
Sasha Dudkina, EyeEm Photographer of the Year 2017. (Photo:Sasha Dudkina)
There are also two special prizes up for grabsbest portfolio and crowd choice.
Participants can submit single photos or an entire portfolio.
All winners receive a portfolio review from the Director of Photography at Alamy.
bachirm, 1st prize winner Urban, 2017 International Drone Photography Contest. (Photo:bachirm)
Sasha Dudkina, EyeEm Photographer of the Year 2017.
The top entries are included in a traveling exhibition across Britain, as well as a coffee table book.
The Wildlife in HD Video category will receive a new camcorder.
Melissa Amber & Ashley Nicole, Black & White Conceptual Series of the Year 2017, MonoVisions Photography Awards. (Photo: Melissa Amber & Ashley Nicole)
But note, photographs of domestic, captive or enclosed wildlife of any description are not allowed.
There are also two youth categories for young photographers.
Additionally, the Photographer of the Year is selected based on their body of work and potential for growth.
Danny Yen Sin Wong, 1st prize Open Color, Siena International Photography Awards 2016. (Photo: Danny Yen Sin Wong)
bachirm, 1st prize winner Urban, 2017 International Drone Photography Contest.
Children are encouraged to apply in the special youth competition for photographers under 15 years old.
Cash prizes are also given to category runners-up.
Sergey Gorshkov, Finalist, Animal Portraits, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017. (Photo: Sergey Gorshkov / Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Second prize of $1,000 and third prize of $500, as well as photo book inclusion.
All category finalist receive two tickets to the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City.
Photographers are encouraged to apply to multiple categories and receive exposure through extensive media coverage.
Photographers compete across 18 categories, including series of up to 3 images.
The first place winner of each category receives a Gold Bar.
Top images are included in a traveling exhibition and are available for sale.
From architecture and wildlife to fine art and photo manipulation, the awards challenge participants to show their creativity.
Winners are also featured in the Monochrome Photography Awards Annual Book.
MonoVisions
This black-and-white photography magazine holds an annual competition to celebrate the best of monochrome photography.
Participants compete in two different sections, single photographs and series of up to 8 photographs.
First place winners receive $2,500, second place $1,500, third place $750.
The eight categories include Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mammals, and People in Nature.
First place category winners receive $500, second place category winners receive $250.
Its a leading showcase for photomicrographers from a variety of science disciplines.
While participants arent required to use Nikon equipment, as images must be taken using a light microscope.
When to enter:Entries accepted until late-AprilEntry fee:FREEPrize:First prize $3,000.
2nd to 20th place winners receive cash prizes ranging from $200 to $2,000.
The competition has been running every three years since 2007, with the next contest taking place in 2019.
All finalist images participate in an international traveling exhibition.
Siena International Photo Awards
This international photo contest receives over 50,000 images from amateur and professional photographers.
Whether Sports in Action or Story-telling, the categories allow photographers to show the best in their portfolio.
Winners are announced at an annual ceremony in Siena, Italy.
Sergey Gorshkov, Finalist, Animal Portraits, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017.
Professional photographers are judged on a body of work, while the open competition awards single images.
One of the worlds leading photo contests, the total prize fund is $30,000.
Travel Photographer of the Year
Also known as TPOTY, this photographer-founded contest celebrates travel photography.
The international competition culminates in an exhibition in London, selected from the 9 competition categories.
These include Earth & Climate, Food, and Tales of Adventure.
Category and portfolios winners receive prize packages.
The 2017 contest saw a new categoryUnderwater Photography Book.
There is also a separate youth competition.
Cash prizes for category winners.
