Organizer Information
This Is a Person is a juried international Photography exhibition platform hosted by Decagon Gallery (online exhibition format). The program is curated by photographer and juror Hossein Fardinfard, whose practice focuses on portraiture, identity, and psychological space. The platform operates as a selective curatorial space dedicated to contemporary photographic discourse, particularly work that engages conceptual and emotional depth rather than purely aesthetic representation.
The initiative positions itself within contemporary online exhibition ecosystems, prioritizing critical engagement with portraiture and the evolving definitions of identity, presence, and interiority in photographic practice.
Title & Description
This Is a Person – International Photography Open Call 2026
“This Is a Person” is an international open call inviting photographers to submit work for a curated online exhibition exploring the psychological and emotional dimensions of portraiture. Rather than focusing on surface representation or traditional likeness, the exhibition seeks images that communicate interior life, ambiguity, and emotional complexity.
Submitted works are expected to move beyond literal interpretation and instead explore presence, identity, and perception through a more conceptual photographic approach. The curatorial framework emphasizes restraint, conceptual clarity, and emotional depth in Photography.
Only a small percentage of submissions (approximately 10–12%) will be selected for exhibition, reinforcing the highly curated nature of the program. Each selected artist will have one image featured in the final online exhibition hosted by Decagon Gallery.
The exhibition is juried by Hossein Fardinfard and will culminate in an online presentation running from May 20 to July 20.
Categories
- Photography
- Portraiture
- Fine Art Photography
- Conceptual Photography
- Digital Photography
- Analog Photography
Eligibility
- Open internationally
- Applicants must be 18 years or older
- All photographic processes accepted (digital and analog)
- Open to emerging and established photographers
- Individual artists only (no restriction on nationality)
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected artists will receive:
- Inclusion in a curated online Exhibition
- Global visibility via the Decagon Gallery platform
- Juried selection by Hossein Fardinfard
- Cash awards:
- First Prize: $500 + Solo online exhibition feature
- Second Prize: $300
- Third Prize: $200
- Professional recognition in a highly selective international showcase
Awards are selected from exhibited works and distributed via PayPal, Venmo, MoneyGram, or check (subject to restrictions).
Application Fee
$25 entry fee for up to 8 images
Application Requirements
- Up to 8 photographic images
- JPG format (2100 pixels on the longest side)
- No watermarks, borders, frames, or text overlays
- Completed online submission form
- Basic artist information
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 3 May 2026
- Exhibition Dates: May 20 – July 20 2026
Location
Online (International)
Additional Details
- Highly selective acceptance rate (10–12%)
- One image per selected artist will be exhibited
- Emphasis on psychological depth over technical perfection
- Works relying on literal interpretation or excessive styling are discouraged
- Artists retain full copyright and ownership of submitted works
- Selected works will be exhibited exclusively online via Decagon Gallery
- Evaluation criteria include emotional restraint, conceptual clarity, and narrative depth