Washington DC has had links with France and Paris from the very start. Designed by French urbanist Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the Nation’s Capital carries so many French or Parisian related locations, objects, names, that the Alliance Française of Washington DC could not have chosen a better theme for its first-ever photo contest.*

After all, AFDC is THE French Heartbeat of the City.

* Photos should be taken in Washington, DC and should illustrate a connection between Washington and Paris (or France).

Awards*

$1000 - The Alliance Française of Washington DC Photography Award for 18+

$500 - The Frances Benjamin Johnston - Photo Pioneer Award for 15-17 years old

$250 - The Audience Award for All Participants - SPONSORED BY THE WASHINGTON HISPANIC

*The participant needs to be present in the US to be able to receive the prize, we will be unable to send the prize money abroad.

Submission Rules

• Entry is limited to original works that have not formerly been displayed or exhibited and for which the entrant holds all applicable rights. 

• Photos should be taken in Washington, DC and should illustrate a connection between Washington, DC and France or Paris.

• Any equipment can be used: Image data files created with any device capable of taking still images, including smartphones and digital still cameras (including medium and large-format digital cameras)

• Images that have been lightly retouched by using camera apps, photo editing apps, other software, etc. will be accepted.

• Both color and monochrome images will be accepted.

• Send your photos in digital format to executive.assistant@francedc.org (you can use WeTransfer if the photos are too heavy).

• If you would like to participate in the Audience Award, share your photo/photos on Instagram or Facebook with a hashtag #ParisonthePotomac and tag AFDC: @AFWDC on Facebook and @afwashington_dc on Instagram. Make sure your account is public and that you follow us. 

• Digital file size: up to 20 MB of image data per work.

• Image-data file format: JPEG/150 dpi recommended

• Winners might be asked to provide higher resolution images for publication or display purposes related to the contest.

• The limit for submitted works is 3 single photos.

• Works that have won prizes in other contests or that have been submitted to other contests currently underway, including similar works, are not eligible. No simultaneous submission is accepted.

• Works that are identical or similar to another submitted work ("identical or similar works") are ineligible for submission. "Identical or similar works" refers to the following works: a work produced from identical image data; a work produced by cropping or retouching identical image data to alter it; or a work produced from similar, though not identical, image data as described above (e.g. a frame from the same series of shots, photography conducted at a different date or time yet producing the same result, or work otherwise deemed to be similar).

Eligibility

The contest is open to all photography amateurs, members and non-members of Alliance Française of Washington DC. Entrants 15-17 years of age require the signed permission of a parent or guardian. The contest is not open to employees of Alliance Française of Washington or their immediate families.

Timeline and Assessment

The submissions will be reviewed and assessed by a panel of judges from the realms of journalism, photography, and culture and will be announced later.

The jury will assess all the submited works according to this evaluation form. You can download it here for your reference.

All participants will have at least one photo displayed at the VEN hotel at 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC.

The closing ceremony where the winners will be announced will take place on July 7, 2022 at the VEN hotel. More details to come.

Submission formats

Send your photos in digital format to executive.assistant@francedc.org (you can use WeTransfer if the photos are too heavy).

If you would like to participate in the Audience Award, share your photo on Instagram or Facebook with a hashtag #ParisonthePotomac and tag AFDC: @AFWDC on Facebook and @afwashington_dc on Instagram. Make sure your account is public and that you follow us.

Forms to sign and submit (via e-mail)

Please submit your photos together with the following forms reviewed and signed by the participant. Only send forms by email to executive.assistant@francedc.org - do not mail the forms:

Registration Form

Consent Form

Release Form

Parent or Legal Guardian Form (if under 18 yars old).

Please download all forms here (PDF).