The Penn Institute for Urban Research is hosting its eighth annual photo contest with the theme, “Urban Nature.”

Cities across the world are embracing nature-based solutions to address extreme heat, flooding, and other climate change challenges. Photo submissions should explore the connection between urbanism and nature – sometimes in harmony, other times in contrast — and what their coexistence tells us about cities around the world.

The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2023. A prize of $500 will be awarded to the top submission as determined by a panel of Penn affiliated judges: Thabo Lenneiye, Managing Director, PennPraxis; Kathleen Morrison, Sally and Alvin V. Shoemaker Professor of Anthropology, School of Arts & Sciences; Joshua Mosley, Professor of Fine Arts, Weitzman School of Design; and Frederick Steiner, Dean, Weitzman School of Design. Other exemplary submissions will be awarded Honorable Mentions.

Additional information:

  • The contest is open to the public, including all Penn students.
  • Submissions will be judged by a panel of Penn IUR affiliates.
  • Winning photographs will be shared with Penn IUR Urban Link subscribers and on social media.

Photographs can be submitted here.

Notes:

  • Photographers should submit no more than 3 photographs.
  • All photos must be your original work. Collage, cropping, and use of software such as Photoshop is permitted.
  • By entering the contest, you acknowledge that the submitted photo is an original work created solely by you, that the photo does not violate, plagiarize or infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, database, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the photo. You will retain all copyrights over the image, and the image will be attributed to you when used.
  • By entering the contest, all entrants grant Penn IUR and its affiliated publications an unrestricted, perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to publish, reproduce, display, distribute and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit). Penn IUR will not be required to seek any additional approval in connection with such use.
  • Submissions that fail to meet ethical standards will not be considered. For additional information about general ethical guidelines for photographers, read the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics.
  • Prizes and awards constitute taxable income. U.S. taxes will be deducted from payment for winning photographs, regardless of a photographer’s nationality. Payment for winning photographs will take a minimum of several weeks and can take up to six months.