All about photo.com: photo contests, photography exhibitions, galleries, photographers, books, schools and venues.
Win a Solo Exhibition this May: Extended Deadline: April 25, 2025
Win a Solo Exhibition this May: Extended Deadline: April 25, 2025

Request for Proposals: Freshwater Storytelling

Close on April 22, 2025
Share
Request for Proposals: Freshwater Storytelling
Territory: Worldwide
Theme: Several categories
Eligibility: 18+
Entry Fees: Free
Prize: Cash Prize
Access to Safe and Clean Water is crucial to human development. Sustainable Development Goal #6 captures the essence of water by committing to making safe and affordable drinking water available for all by the year 2030. Despite this, many parts of the world are currently having significant challenges with access to safe water. Issues like climate change, and the way that we live, are putting unsustainable demands on the global supply of freshwater. In essence, we are using more freshwater than we can regenerate, and this has led to approximately 10% of the world’s population currently lacking access to clean and fresh water.

The National Geographic Society’s World Freshwater Initiative seeks to illuminate the status of freshwater supplies and demands globally by highlighting areas of water shortage, assessing human use of water on local and regional ecosystems and exploring the impact of climate change on water provinces around the world. The World Freshwater Initiative has two key components that help us accomplish this:

The World Water Map, a powerful geo-visualization of water availability globally. It promotes water literacy, informs audiences of freshwater issues at the global and hyper-local level, and helps answer important questions such as: where are the world’s “water gaps,” where human demand for freshwater outpaces the renewable supply? What sectors are driving this demand?

Grantmaking in the areas of storytelling, conservation and education. Through these grants, we’re cultivating a community of Explorers who are inspiring actions that promote sustainable water use.

In partnership with the Conrad Hilton Foundation’s Safe Water Initiative, The National Geographic Society seeks submissions from storytellers interested in creating and disseminating content that raises public awareness and engagement of important issues around the sustainable use of freshwater resources.

Who should apply
This RfP will support accomplished and talented storytellers from across the world. However, those working in areas where the National Geographic Society has a low representation of storytelling Explorers, such as sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia, Middle East and North Africa are particularly encouraged to apply.

A variety of content formats, including, but not limited to, Photography, Film and Video, Mapmaking, Data Visualization, Written Word, Spoken Word, etc. will be considered. Projects that dig deeper into the challenges facing specific communities such as last mile households, low-income households, women and girls, and children face in achieving equitable access to freshwater and how these issues are worsening as freshwater scarcity increases are encouraged. Applications are also encouraged for projects that highlight specific solutions to these challenges, and elevate the voices of individuals, organizations and communities at the forefront.

Storytellers who have lived in or have significant experience working in the communities where their stories are focused or will collaborate with organizations in these communities will be prioritized. Applicants should show a record of successful media projects and must submit a portfolio as part of their application packet.
Stay up-to-date  with call for entries, deadlines and other news about exhibitions, galleries, publications, & special events.
Advertisement
Win a Solo Exhibition in May
Photo Basel 2025
AAP Magazine #49: Portrait
Call for Entries
AAP Magazine #48 Portrait
Publish your work in AAP Magazine and win $1,000 Cash Prizes

Contests Closing Soon

Deadline: April 24, 2025
PHotoESPANA Best Photobook 2025
Categories include Research, Creation, Bibliophilia, and First Publication. The Research category encompasses books that recover significant archives or present a new approach or reinterpretation of works by great masters of photography (theoretical essays on photography also compete in this section). In the Creation category, books compete whose authors present a personal work where the conceptual and narrative approach prevails. Bibliophilia highlights books for their original edition, whether
Deadline: April 25, 2025
Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition
The "Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition | A Contemporary Look at Architecture" is a biennial programme. It aims to honour the person and the work of this outstanding photographer, who bridged the gap between analogue and digital photography and whose work is recognised both nationally and internationally. Luis Ferreira Alves' photographic work demonstrates a remarkable ability to create a unique perspective, both "objective" and "subjective", on the work of vari
Deadline: April 25, 2025
Cortona On The Move: BarTur Grant
Cortona On The Move and the BarTur Photo Award are proud to announce their partnership to launch the Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant, supported by the Visual Storytellers Fund. This new initiative is dedicated to empowering photographers globally, providing grants and resources to support the creation of compelling documentary photo essays that address urgent social, environmental, economic, and cultural issues of our time. Cortona On The Move, the renowned international photograph
Deadline: April 25, 2025
Blue
Decode Gallery is pleased to announce our upcoming theme: Blue. From landscapes and seascapes to portraits and abstracts, blue can be found everywhere. The different hues and shades of blue captivate and evoke a sense of calm or even melancholy. We are excited to see how photographic artist utilize this color. Submit today for your chance to be included in this exhibition. JUROR: Holly Hart is a fine art photographer. She grew up in Southern Oregon. In 2011 she graduated with a
Deadline: April 25, 2025
Black and White Spider Awards 2025
The 20th Anniversary Edition of Black & White Spider Awards is now open and accepting entries. With over 235 title awards, international press and exposure to the biggest names in photography - it’s your chance to be recognized as the best in the industry as we celebrate 20 years of outstanding photography. Get exposure and put your work in front of the world's leading galleries, art directors, curators, editors and publishers and be recognized by the industry at the premier internatio
Deadline: April 25, 2025
Gomma Black and White Awards 2025
Introducing Gomma new contest dedicated to black and white photography. With 20 years’ experience in the field is our time to launch a contest for monochrome photography. The winners will receive cash prizes, certificates and benefit from enormous world-wide exposure. To celebrate the Finalists bodies of work we will publish a Limited-Edition hardcover photo book that will be distributed worldwide. We at Gomma have continuously been working with publ
Deadline: April 25, 2025
AAP Solo Exhibition May 2025
We want to showcase incredible work. Photography that awakens our imagination, transforms our way of thinking, or simply resonates with who we are. The Solo Exhibition enables you to reach a wider audience through our independent magazine that has become one of the most vibrant portals of photography on the web. The Solo Exhibition competition is open to any category of photography or subject matter. Photojournalism, street photography, artistic photography, portrait, nu
Deadline: April 27, 2025
15th Annual Photobook Exhibition
The Griffin Museum recognizes the importance of photobooks. Distinct from the gallery aesthetic, photobooks offer their own visual language, often conducive to more narrative qualities and seriality than the standard on-the-wall format. We celebrate this form of artistry and want to see the photobooks our community is working on. Juried by Karen Davis, Curator and Co-owner of Davis Orton Gallery, and Crista Dix, Executive Director of the Griffin Museum, our 15th Annual Photobook
Deadline: April 27, 2025
ND Awards 2025
ND Awards aims to promote photography and photographers. Our idea is to create new opportunities to present valuable work to audiences all over the world. We aim to build a place where photographers can show different points of view and thrive through competition. The winners of the Professional and Non-Professional sections will receive the titles: ND Photographer of the Year and ND Discovery of the Year and cash prizes. Our judging panel will comprise highly acclaimed industry professionals, i
Deadline: April 27, 2025
31st Annual Juried Members’ Exhibition
Our annual Juried Members’ Exhibition is open to all creative artists who use photography as their primary medium. It celebrates still images while also welcoming moving images, installations, public works, and experimental or mixed techniques, all for inclusion in our summer exhibition. We are so pleased to announce our juror is Ann Jastrab from Center for Photographic Art, Carmel. Ann M. Jastrab is the Executive Director at the Center for Photographic Art (CPA) in Carme
Deadline: April 27, 2025
Photographer of the Week 19
Showcase Your Talent: Become Our Photographer of the Week! Each week, from Monday morning to Sunday evening, you can submit up to 10 of your best shots! If your photo is chosen by our jury, you'll have your image featured across the All About Photo website and social media for an entire week. Don’t miss your chance to shine it's free! Showcase Your Talent: Become Our Photographer of the Week! For the entire week: Your winning photo will be sh
Deadline: April 28, 2025
26th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers
Winners of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award: The judges of the 26th Julia Margaret Cameron Award will choose four winners in two categories: professional women photographers (series and single image) and non-professional women photographers (series and single image). Fully-paid Solo Exhibition: The Gala Awards will arrange an exhibition for the four Winners mentioned in their respective categories. The Awards will cover all expenses related to the exhibition, including print
Call for Entries
Win A Solo Exhibition in May
Get International Exposure and Connect with Industry Insiders

Related Articles

Best Photos Celebrating Women – AAP Magazine 46 Winners Revealed
With this 46th edition of AAP Magazine, we aim to celebrate the women who continue to shape the photographic landscape — not only as subjects, but as visionaries. The theme of this issue centers on women as the subject, but the winning photographers include artists of all genders, united by a shared commitment to portraying womanhood in all its complexity.
2025 World Press Photo of the Year revealed
World Press Photo today announces the Photo of the Year and two finalists of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, showcasing a selection of the world’s best photojournalism and documentary photography.
2025 World Press Photo Contest Winners
World Press Photo today announces the winners of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, showcasing a selection of the world’s best photojournalism and documentary photography. Gathered from across 2024’s fast-changing political and media landscape, the photos invite viewers to step outside the news cycle and look more deeply at prominent and less-seen stories from across the world and again at familiar events. These works show the power of authentic photojournalism and documentary photography - offering space for reflection in times of urgency through visual excellence and dedication to accuracy.
The winners of the 2024 Gomma Grant Edition
Gomma has officially announced the winners of the 2024 Gomma Grant Edition. This year, the level of submissions was truly extraordinary, making the selection process exceptionally challenging. The remarkable talent and creativity displayed by photographers from around the world have been a source of great inspiration.
The 2025 Saltzman Prize Winner and Shortlist
CPW is pleased to announce that Qiana Mestrich is the recipient of the 2025 Saltzman Prize. The Saltzman Prize recognizes the extraordinary achievements of an emerging photographer whose recent work has garnered wider visibility and whose distinctive voice contributes fresh perspectives to the ongoing dialogue surrounding photography and visual culture. As the winner, Mestrich will receive a $10,000 award, the 2025 CPW Vision Award for Emerging Photographer, and a solo exhibition of her work at CPW in the fall.
All About Photo Presents ’The Illusion of Poppies’ by Julie Wang
All About Photo presents 'The Illusion of Poppie's by Julie Wang, a contemplative solo exhibition that explores the delicate interplay of memory, perception, and impermanence through the ephemeral beauty of poppies.
The Winners of the Female in Focus 2024 x Nikon
By showcasing diverse perspectives and narratives, Female in Focus not only highlights outstanding talent but also contributes to a broader shift toward inclusivity in photography. This year’s winners continue that tradition, offering compelling interpretations of the theme “Renewal.” Their work reflects themes of transformation, resilience, and change, capturing deeply personal and universal stories..
 International Women Photography Contest: Celebrating Women’s Strength & Beauty
This prestigious international photography competition is open to all artists, whether amateur or professional, who wish to highlight the essence, strength, beauty, resilience, and impact of women. The theme is completely open—your work can span genres such as fashion, portrait, documentary, sports, fine art, or commercial photography. Whether you shoot in digital, film, or monochrome, all techniques and styles are welcome.
All About Photo Presents ’Til Death’ by Maureen Ruddy Burkhart
All About Photo proudly presents an exclusive online exhibition featuring the work of American photographer Maureen Ruddy Burkhart. On view throughout February 2025, Til Death showcases a whimsical series capturing beauty, joy, and spontaneity from her reluctant journey as a wedding photographer.