James Balog Earth Vision Awards

Photography is a uniquely powerful medium that bears witness to the relationship between humans and the environment. It shapes our environmental attitudes, perceptions and values and challenges people to create healthier, more sustainable relationships with nature.

The James Balog Earth Vision Awards (JBEVA) are juried prizes that are intended to support photographers who are responding to today’s complex environmental issues through photography. The awards will be given every two years.

The Awards are organized and produced by the Denver Art Museum (DAM) in Denver, Colorado, with funds endowed by James Balog and other donors.

Learn more about James Balog and the awards here: https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/james-balog-earth-vision-awards

First prize: $40,000

($30,000 at the time of the award and $10,000 twelve to eighteen months later—see “Terms and Conditions”)

Finalist: $25,000

($19,000 at the time of the award and $6,000 twelve to eighteen months later—see “Terms and Conditions”)

A three-member jury of expert photo professionals will review all entries. In advance of final decisions, the jury may contact entrants for clarification about their applications.

The Awards are intended to recognize the winning artists’ direct engagement with the world around us. Images may be literal and documentary or symbolic and interpretive. They may address impacts that are positive and inspiring, or negative and distressing, or both. The jury will not consider fabricated photographs and photographs that involve cloning, excessive color manipulation or AI-generated content.