NTD Photography Competition Extends Its Registration Deadline

The competition invites participants from around the world to capture traditional aesthetic principles and values.

“Yosemite Valley” by William Lee (United States). Nature & Landscape category Outstanding Technique Award winner at the Fourth NTD International Photography Competition. Courtesy of the NTD International Photography Competition

Since registration opened this spring, the upcoming 5th NTD International Photography Competition has received entries from nearly 50 countries across five continents in just a few short months. Recently, the organizers announced that the registration deadline will be extended from the original July 31 to Sept. 30, in hopes of encouraging more talented photographers to participate.

The NTD International Photography Competition is one of the international arts and cultural events organized by New Tang Dynasty Television. This competition aims to promote cultural and artistic exchange among photography enthusiasts worldwide, uphold traditional values and aesthetics, and inspire uplifting and meaningful photographs.

“So far, we’ve received registrations from photographers in 48 countries around the world,” said Lucy Zhou, director of the NTD Competition. “From the UK and France to India and Iran, from Peru to Algeria—participants come from ... five continents, including [the countries of] China, the United States, and Taiwan.”

Reviving Tradition

The competition is dedicated to reviving traditional aesthetic principles by showcasing kindness, beauty, brightness, and the natural state. It also aims to preserve cultural heritage while providing photographers with a global platform to showcase their talents and share their visual works with a wider audience.

The competition entries are divided into two categories: “Social Relations and Humanity” and “Landscape and Nature.”

The “Social Relations and Humanity” category includes images of human life in its natural state, portraits, folk culture, humor, human-animal interaction, and human-environment interaction. Participants are allowed to adjust brightness, color balance, and sharpness, as long as the final result appears natural. However, no elements may be added, removed, or altered in the content of the photograph.

“More Butter Tea, Please” by Stanley Wong (Canada). Society & Humanity category Outstanding Technique Award winner at the Fourth NTD International Photography Competition. Courtesy of the NTD International Photography Competition

The “Landscape and Nature” category includes scenes and subjects in their natural state, as well as architecture and landscapes. Participants are allowed to adjust brightness, color balance, and sharpness, but the final image must retain a natural appearance. Submissions that alter the natural characteristics through post-processing, or that involve adding, deleting, or modifying content elements, will not be accepted.

“Love” by Wen-Hsien Lin (Taiwan). Nature & Landscape category Outstanding Technique Award winner at the Fourth NTD International Photography Competition. Courtesy of the NTD International Photography Competition

New Awards

This year’s competition has introduced three new special awards: the Best Work Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of American Independence, the Best Sports Photography Award, and the Best Chinese Photographer Award.

“Fall Over” by David Wong (Australia). Society & Humanity category Outstanding Technique Award winner at the 4th NTD International Photography Competition. Courtesy of the NTD International Photography Competition

Renee Luo, photographer and judge of the NTD Photography Competition, stated that the photographic works from each country possess their own unique characteristics, which are closely tied to the region’s geography and cultural heritage.

“Protection” by Ting-Hsin Chen (Taiwan). Society & Humanity category Silver Award winner at the Fourth NTD International Photography Competition. Courtesy of the NTD International Photography Competition

Luo looks forward to seeing submissions from more countries and regions that reflect their unique cultural characteristics, and she especially encourages Chinese photographers to participate in the competition.

The Prizes

Each category will award the following prizes:

• Gold Award: 1 winner per category (2 total), each receiving $5,000 or equivalent value in photography equipment/products, plus a certificate.
• Silver Award: 2 winners per category (4 total), each receiving $2,500 or equivalent value in photography equipment/products, plus a certificate.
• Bronze Award: 3 winners per category (6 total), each receiving $1,000 or equivalent value in photography equipment/products, plus a certificate.
• Honorable Mention: 10 winners per category (20 total), each receiving $300 or equivalent value in photography equipment/products, plus a certificate.

The three special awards—Best Work Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of American Independence, Best Sports Photography Award, and Best Chinese Photographer Award—each carry a prize of $2,000 or equivalent value in photography equipment/products, along with a certificate.

The registration deadline is Sept. 30, 2025. The awards ceremony and finalist exhibition will be held in New York in January 2026.

For more details, please visit: Photo.NTDTV.com.