Organizer

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

Location

Global (Online competition)

Deadline

• Photo Contest Opens: May 16, 2025
• Photo Contest Closes: September 16, 2025
• Winners Announced Publicly: October 30, 2025

Competition Category

• The competition does not have a list of separate, distinct categories; it is unified under the theme of showcasing the transformative and awe-inspiring impact of light on our lives, communities, and planet .
• Content can include various properties of light, light technology (e.g., lasers, LEDs), images created with light technology (e.g., from telescopes and microscopes), and people interacting with light .

Eligibility

• Adults aged 18 and up .
• Open to both amateur and professional photographers globally .

Entry Fee

Free to enter .

Prizes/Awards

• First Prize: US $2,500
• Second Prize: US $1,000
• Third Prize: US $500
• Judges’ Choice for Best of Science Prize: US $1,000
• Winning photographs will be published in various SPIE publications, featured online, and displayed at SPIE conferences and exhibitions .

Core Introduction

An annual competition organized by SPIE to raise awareness about the International Day of Light and showcase how light influences cultural, economic, and societal aspects of our world . The contest encourages eye-catching images that explore the transformative and awe-inspiring nature of light, providing a fantastic platform for those passionate about science or technology photography .