ABOUT IMA next
IMA next is a photography competition open to anyone who wishes to participate. Every month, one theme and one judge from various backgrounds and practices will be announced. The winner will be awarded with a cash prize along with a feature on IMA Online, IMA magazine or with possible opportunities to exhibit his/her works at other occasions organized by IMA.
This is essentially a platform that offers the chance for one of your photographs to open its wings and learn to fly away into the world of art photography.
It may be your carefully designed and thought-through photographs taken with your favourite camera or it may also be an accidental shot with your smartphone that turned out to be a great image. Anything is welcome. Our aim is to discover new talents from all over the world through IMA next.
PRIZE
| Grand Prix | 100,000 JPY Cash Prize (A selection of prices opportunities below depending on the nature of your work) ・Exhibition at IMA Gallery ・Participation rigft to the art fair， Photo Camp (Once a year. For 2019, it is now planned for October) ・Free participation to the Step Out! portfolio review (Once a year) ・Feature on IMA magazine ・Exposure on IMA Online and IMA official SNS |
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| Shortlist | ・Exposure on IMA Online and IMA official SNS |
GUIDLINES
IMA next is a photo competition that aims to support emerging photographers to succeed in the art photography world.
| How? | Please chose the theme you would like to enter for and fill out the appropriate submission form. Make sure you chose the right form as it is different depending on each theme. 1～5 can be uploaded for each entry, however in that case, all your photographs in the entry will be judged as 1series. If you would like to submit multiple series, please make another entry. There is no limit to the number of entries per theme. |
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| Who? | The applicant must be older than 16 years old. Otherwise, anyone is welcome! We have no restriction in terms of your nationality, age, gender or experience (Professional/Amateur). |
| How long? | For each theme, there will be 2 months submission period. Once every month, a theme will be announced and the submissions will open. |
| Entry | Fee 2000JPY per each entry |
| Upload Regulations | ・All submissions need to be still photographs, no moving images will be accepted. All sorts of post-production process are allowed. ・DVD/Blue-Ray submissions will be rejected. ・If the submitted work is deemed non-photographic, it may not be judged. ・The submission of 1 ~ 5 images of 10MB each are possible for 1 entry. ・Any work that violates the rights of a third party (copyright, trademark right, portrait rights) cannot be submitted. If the work includes anything created by a third party (art work, films, photographs, music…etc.) and if it may concern any other rights, there is a need for you to have gotten permission from all party involved before you enter. |
ENTRY THEME
In IMA next, one theme will be announced each month. Each theme will then be judged by a professional in the creative industry. 1～5 entries are allowed for each theme.
Accepting entriesUntil November 30st
2019NOV
THEME #06
Black&White
COPYRIGHT Hanako Murakami / Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery
The world is awash in color, and we register the reality before our eyes in color. However, photographs begin from black and white. Images captured in monochrome give rise to a different meaning, aesthetic value, and context than color images, and are capable of showing us a very different world from what we are used to. Although the information contained in color is usually minute, a world that is depicted in gradations of black and white may occasionally speak to us even more eloquently. I believe that the richness of monochromatic forms of expression is something that both photographers and viewers have experienced. Regardless of the subject or the differences between film and digital media, please showcase the new frontiers of the long-existing "BLACK&WHITE" without being held back by existing ideas.
Accepting entriesUntil November 30st
2019OCT
THEME #05
TRAVEL
COPYRIGHT YOSHITOMO NARA
Traveling is an opportunity to put yourself outside of the daily life. On the road, there are unknown worlds and places that can inspire your adventurous spirit and satisfy your curiosity. At the same time, it is also a place that can offer a tranquil time for introspection. On you trip, many appealing photography subjects are awaiting you. Nature, animals, people, lifestyles, festivals, culture, food, accidents...Trips are full of various encounters. Now, what was it on your trip that you discovered and moved you, making you want to snap a picture? We are looking forward to photos that go beyond existing concepts and are captured with a free spirit.
INTERVIEW
Yoshinori Mizutani
The artist’s challenge to go overseas through presenting own works via social media.
