BOTANICALS

BOTANICALS is the New York Center for Photographic Arts (NYC4PA) themed call for photography of plant life — flowers, trees, leaves, vines, fruit, gardens, beaches, windowsills, parks, rainforests. The brief is loose: any photographic process and any setting where vegetation is the subject.

Cash prizes total $4,000 across 10 awards: a Grand Prize of $1,100, three First Prizes of $400, three Second Prizes of $325, and three Third Prizes of $250. Beyond the cash awards, 20 Juror Selections and 20 Honorable Mentions are also recognized — featured in the online gallery and catalog with certificates. The winning image is also featured on the NYC4PA website homepage.

The 2026 cycle is juried by Dan Burkholder, photographer known for pioneering work in HDR and mobile photography techniques. All 2D photographic mediums are accepted: print, transfers, encaustic, black-and-white, color, and experimental techniques.

Entry fee is $40 for the first three images, with $10 each additional and unlimited submissions allowed. Eligibility is open worldwide to amateur and professional photographers. Images that have won NYC4PA prizes in the prior two years are not eligible. Submissions go through SmarterEntry; the 2026 deadline is June 7 at midnight Pacific Time.