Life Framer — Humans

Life Framer runs as a monthly themed photography competition with a different juror each round. The "Humans" call invites work about people in all their variety — from formal portraits to snapshots of strangers, faces and bodies, social, national, personal and sexual identity. The 2026 cycle of this theme is judged by GMB Akash, a Bangladeshi documentary photographer known for his deeply human approach to visual storytelling and his long-term work on labour, migration, and survival.

The main prize is $2,000, with additional category awards and inclusion in Life Framer's online archive. Selected work is exhibited at Life Framer's partner galleries in New York, Tokyo, Milan, and Arles — a touring physical presence that runs alongside the online platform.

Entry fees are tiered between $20 and $100 depending on the number of images submitted (up to 10 maximum per applicant). AI-generated work is not accepted. Eligibility is open to photographers worldwide aged 18 or over. The Humans theme deadline is August 31, 2026, with results announced in mid-September. Other Life Framer themes follow on a rolling monthly schedule, each with a different jury and slightly different focus.