Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards

Now in its 16th year, the Kuala Lumpur International Photo Awards , an annual global portrait photography competition continues to engage the global photographic community with the 2024 Call for Entries, seeking fresh and innovative photography from new, emerging and established photographers from around the world.

KLPA2024 invites photographers to submit staged portrait studies, from the simple command of ‘turning of the head to face the camera’, conceptualised self-portraits, to elaborately constructed set designs. Is open to all photographers of all genres including experimental, conceptual, street, environmental, studio, self-portraits or inspired documentary narratives.

2024 THEME

Although photography is often called a literal art form, portraiture can push the boundaries on the literal with constructed narratives. We are now open for entries to the 2024 edition with a theme of MAKE IT REAL : Staged Narratives in Portraiture seeking the deeper trajectories of storytelling, alternative realities or make-believe tales that infect our minds.

One can say that most directed portrait sessions are staged or constructed, to a degree – as in fashion photography, formal, environmental, and self-portraiture, as opposed to candid street or reportage photography. The re-enactment of histories and new identities allows viewers to enter into fable-esque worlds as in cinema or theatre productions and encourages dialogue and discourse because life is full of complexities that exist beyond mere art.

KLPA2024 invites photographers to submit staged portrait studies, from the simple command of ‘turning of the head to face the camera’, conceptualised self-portraits, to elaborately constructed set designs. Open to all photographers of all genres including experimental, conceptual, street, environmental, studio, self-portraits or inspired documentary narratives. Let’s push the boundaries.

PRIZES

OPEN CATEGORY

Open to all international photographers, subject to the theme MAKE IT REAL.

1st Prize USD$2,000.00

2nd Prize USD$1,000.00

3rd Prize USD$500.00

Top 40 photographers will have their portraits printed and exhibited at Temu House, our venue partner in Kuala Lumpur in July 2024

STUDENT CATEGORY*

USD$250 will be awarded to the best 3 entries and the top 5 will participate in the print exhibition with the main category.

Open to all students under 25 years who are enrolled in full or part-time photography and art-related courses, subject to the theme MAKE IT REAL. Entries are free.* Proof of course enrolment is required. See Rules for more information.

The fee ranges from USD $15 for a single image to USD $75 for 6 to 10 images. Entry is free for students under the age of 25 as of 1 February 2024.