Open for entries 24th January – 10th June 2017. Entries are submitted via https://www.hasselblad.com. Winners will be announced in January 2018.
For full details on competition download Masters 2018 Rules & Regulations
Who can enter
The Hasselblad Masters Competition is open to all photographers who have been active professionals* for more than three years and who are using digital cameras of at least 16 Megapixel, by drone camera or film cameras, regardless of brand and format. The Project//21 category is open to all photographers under the age of 21.
No employee of Hasselblad, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, sales representatives, distributors, manufacturers, licensees or agents and their immediate family members, are eligible to participate in this Contest. All applicable federal, state, municipal, and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. Hasselblad will have the final say on entry eligibility.
* with the exception of the Project//21 and Aerial categories
How to enter
Admissions start 24th January 2017 and you have until 10th June 2017 to get your entries to us. Fill in the online entry form and then click on the “Upload your entry” link to submit the images. Only JPEG files smaller than ten (10) MB will be accepted. All files should include full EXIF/ Metadata. Each entry must consist of three (3) photos in each category that you wish to enter, and you’re allowed to enter as many categories as you like, with each entry judged on the three submitted images in that category. The three images do not have to form a set or series; just three images that fit the nature of the category and best showcase your skill and creativity.
Categories
There are 11 categories in the competition:
Aerial (New for 2018)
The aerial category is for photographs taken from an elevated position not supported by a ground-based structure. Evidence of conformity may be requested.
Art
High-quality fine-art images that have been created by an individual to fulfil their creative vision.
Landscape/Nature
Photographs that capture the beauty of the natural world in all its forms, from stunning landscapes through to perfectly executed images of flora and fauna.
Wedding
This category is open to photographers capturing outstanding images of any aspect of a wedding in styles that range from the traditional through to the more individual approach.
Portrait
A wide-open category that covers any photography of the human form, ranging from full-length studies through to head and shoulders and close-ups, with the emphasis on creativity.
Fashion/Beauty
The glitz and glamour of the fashion and beauty world is covered by this category, and we’re looking for some inventive and exciting work that truly reflects the dynamism of this sector.
Product
Here the definition of product is as far ranging as the photographer wants to make it, with subjects ranging from cars through to food or packaging being equally eligible, while the brief could be a commercial one or self-set.
Architecture
With every type of building from the grand through to the humble being open to photographers, we’re looking for an imaginative interpretation of the architectural theme.
Wildlife
A wide open category that covers all forms of wildlife, from the huge through to the tiny. Our only stipulation is that images depict living creatures and any entries showing stuffed or dead animals will be automatically excluded.
Project//21
Project//21 is a general photographic category open to all amateur photographers, students, assistants and young professionals 21 years old and under on the 10th June 2017. Proof of age will be required.
Street/Urban
The category here is the realism of the genre; not just gritty street photography, but also the city itself (and its life) and the people who live in it.
Rules
To meet the rules of the competition you need to upload three (3) images in each category you choose to participate in, and you can enter all of the 11 categories should you wish.
Your three (3) images will judged independently, although each candidate’s entire body of work may be considered for judging purposes, through the perusal of websites, links etc to access further images where desired. An entrant must hold all rights to the photographs submitted, including model releases, and any other rights associated with the shoot. All files should include full EXIF/Metadata. They must also grant Hasselblad the right to use the submitted images in Finalist exhibitions and online activities, which can include press articles, Hasselblad publications, VICTOR Magazine, Bulletin and website news.
The photographer must have authorization to use any photos that have been previously published or are awaiting publication, Photos that violate or infringe upon another person’s copyright, are not eligible.
Submissions must be made digitally, regardless of capture form.
To be eligible, the submitted photos must be shot using either a Digital system, minimum of 16 MPixel, or they can be scanned 35mm, medium format or large format film.
Hasselblad retains the right to cancel any entered image or images that are in any way conflicting with Hasselblad’s aesthetic or ethical standards, including, but not limited to:
– Overly erotic or pornographic images;
– Religious images that may be perceived as offensive;
– Images that depict or convey children in an unseemly manner; – Shows violence, animal abuse, drug abuse, bomb making.
When entering the Awards, the entrant must agree to the Masters Programme rules and regulations.
Prizes
Each of the category winners will be sponsored with Hasselblad camera equipment for a period of approximately four months. During this time the photographer can use the equipment at their discretion to create a set of images for a special Masters Commemorative book that will subsequently be published. All winning images will be published on the Hasselblad global website, will possibly be presented at exhibitions around the world, will possibly feature in Hasselblad advertising and Masters Partner’s promotions, and in the Hasselblad Masters Book Vol. 6. The book will be launched at photokina 2018 and the winners will be presented with a trophy.
Each of the 11 winners will also receive a high-end medium format Hasselblad camera to keep.
Hasselblad reserves the right to use all Masters images indefinitely across digital & print platforms and each usage will always credit the photographer appropriately.
Judges & Jury
Hasselblad Masters are carefully selected by three juries – the Hasselblad Internal Jury, the Hasselblad Public Jury and the Hasselblad Masters Jury.
Hasselblad Internal Jury
This jury consists of Hasselblad employees and selected third-party industry experts that are skilled photographers, or who work with photographers, photographs and photographic media, or work within the photographic industry. The task of this jury is to select the 110 Hasselblad Masters finalists (the top 10 in each category) through an internal voting system.
Hasselblad Public Jury
The Hasselblad Public Jury will identify a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place entry from each category. These selected entries will then score points towards the ‘Hasselblad Masters Jury’ vote, with the public jury therefore effectively acting as a ‘seat’ on the main jury. The Public Jury votes are placed using a rating system where each public individual can award 1, 2 or 3 stars to an image in each category. It is not possible to vote more than once on an image, and once the total of 6 allotted stars are used up, that image category is considered closed and the voter can move on to the next category. It is not mandatory to vote in all 11 categories. Individuals wishing to vote must have a login account for the Hasselblad website and be logged in, with accounts restricted to one set of votes in each category, so to eliminate multiple votes from the same individuals. Hasselblad reserves the right to overrule the public vote if it suspects foul play or an untrustworthy result.
Hasselblad Masters Jury
The Hasselblad Masters Jury features 24 (in addition to the public vote, making for a total of 25 member votes) of the industry’s most respected photographers, established editors and industry experts, along with previous winners of the Masters competition. Together they constitute the majority of the Masters votes, and use the same star rating system as the public jury. Once the Masters jury has completed their votes, the result of the public jury is added and the winners for each of the 11 categories are announced.
View additional details at