Sustainable vs UnSustainable International Photography Research Program

Deadline: 10-Mar-2027

The Sustainable vs Unsustainable International Photography Research Competition invites individuals, communities, students, and professionals worldwide to submit original photographs exploring sustainability and unsustainability in places, spaces, and projects. The competition uses visual storytelling to encourage global discussion about sustainable practices and provide international recognition and publication opportunities for selected participants.

About the Competition

The Sustainable vs Unsustainable International Photography Research Competition is organized by the School of Collectively Building (SOCB) to foster global dialogue around sustainability through photography. The initiative welcomes visual perspectives from different countries, disciplines, and communities to document both successful and problematic approaches to sustainability. Photographs can explore sustainability across areas such as: - Architecture. - Urban planning. - Technology. - Infrastructure. - Natural environments. - Places and public spaces. - Sustainability-focused projects. Purpose of the Photography Competition The competition aims to use photography as a tool for research, public awareness, and discussion. By documenting sustainable and unsustainable practices, participants can help audiences better understand the environmental and social impacts of decisions made in different places and projects.

The initiative seeks to:

- Highlight successful sustainability solutions. - Expose unsustainable practices. - Encourage global dialogue. - Improve public understanding of sustainability. - Present diverse perspectives from around the world. - Encourage more informed decision-making. - Inspire action toward a more sustainable future. What Can Participants Photograph? Participants can submit photographs that either demonstrate sustainable solutions or reveal unsustainable practices. The subject can be connected to a place, space, project, or environmental setting.

Possible themes include:

- Sustainable architecture. - Unsustainable urban development. - Sustainable infrastructure. - Environmental conservation. - Natural environments. - Renewable or sustainable technologies. - Urban planning. - Resource use. - Community sustainability initiatives. - Projects that demonstrate environmental challenges.

Participants should focus on the sustainability implications of what they photograph

Sustainable and Unsustainable Perspectives The competition deliberately considers both sides of sustainability. A photograph may showcase an innovative solution that demonstrates how sustainability can be achieved. Alternatively, it may document a practice, development, or project that creates environmental or social concerns. This approach encourages participants to examine sustainability critically rather than presenting only positive examples. Photography as Visual Research Participants are expected to accompany their photographs with an explanation of the subject and its impact. The written explanation should help viewers understand: - What is shown in the photograph. - Where the subject is located. - What project, practice, or situation is being documented. - Why it is sustainable or unsustainable. - What environmental or social impact it creates. - Why the example is relevant to wider sustainability discussions. This combination of photography and written research provides context beyond the visual image itself. Submission Requirements

Participants must submit original photographs taken after May 2025

Each submission should include:

- An original photograph. - A 400-word explanation. - Relevant project details. - Information explaining the sustainability or unsustainability of the subject. The explanation should clearly describe the impact of the photographed subject and provide enough context for the image to be understood as a sustainability-focused research contribution. Team Participation

Participants may submit individually or as a team

Teams can include up to two participants. This allows photographers, researchers, students, practitioners, and other collaborators to work together on a visual research project. Who Can Participate? The competition is open worldwide.

Eligible participants include:

- Individuals. - Communities. - Students. - Professionals. - Practitioners. - Researchers. - Participants from any discipline. There is no restriction to a particular professional or academic background, allowing people with different perspectives on sustainability to participate. International Participation The competition welcomes submissions from around the world. Its international approach is intended to bring together different perspectives on sustainability and demonstrate how sustainable and unsustainable practices vary across places, communities, projects, and environments. Recognition and Publication Selected and winning projects will receive opportunities for exhibition and publication. The competition provides international visibility through: - Exhibition of selected projects. - Publication of selected work. - International recognition. - Exposure within the sustainability community. The strongest entries may receive particularly significant visibility through SOCB publications. Cover Feature Opportunity Top entries may be featured on the cover of SOCB journals, books, or magazines. This provides selected photographers and researchers with an opportunity to gain additional professional recognition and showcase their work to audiences interested in sustainability and related fields. Impact on Sustainability Dialogue The competition aims to make sustainability more understandable by showing real examples through photography. Visual documentation can help audiences recognize the consequences of different choices in architecture, infrastructure, urban planning, technology, and natural environments. By presenting both sustainable and unsustainable examples, the competition encourages participants an