The Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition 2025 is a biennial event that celebrates the art of architectural photography. Named after the renowned Portuguese photographer Luis Ferreira Alves, the competition invites participants from around the world to submit compelling visual narratives that capture the essence, form, and cultural significance of architecture. The competition aims to recognize and reward talented photographers who can convey the relationship between architecture and its surroundings, emphasizing light, space, and human interaction with the built environment. By blending artistic vision with technical expertise, this competition serves as a platform for both emerging and established photographers to showcase their skills in architectural and urban landscape photography.
The competition encourages participants to submit a cohesive series of 5 to 7 photographs, accompanied by a descriptive text that provides insight into the architectural context and creative concept behind the images. Unlike conventional photography contests that focus on isolated images, this competition values visual storytelling and thematic consistency, ensuring that each submission tells a meaningful architectural story. Judges will evaluate entries based on originality, composition, technical execution, and conceptual depth, selecting works that highlight innovative perspectives on contemporary and historical architecture. The competition also serves as an important archival initiative, preserving outstanding architectural photography as part of the Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award Collection.
Organized with the support of prestigious institutions such as the Porto City Council, Casa da Arquitectura, and the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto, this competition is a globally recognized event in the field of architectural and fine art photography. It provides photographers with the opportunity to gain significant exposure, with winning entries featured in an exclusive exhibition and published in a curated catalogue. By fostering artistic excellence and encouraging a deeper understanding of architecture through photography, the Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition continues to uphold its mission of promoting cultural heritage and visual storytelling in the architectural realm.
There is no entry fee.
Eligibility
Open worldwide to aspiring and professional photographers.
Prize
The competition offers substantial rewards, including a first prize of €10,000, a second prize of €4,000, and a third prize consisting of a voucher for photographic equipment worth €1,500. Winners will also have their work featured in a high-profile exhibition, included in a curated catalogue, and preserved as part of the Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award collection.
