#SEARCAPhotoContest2025

19th SEARCA Photo Contest (2025)

When people think of agriculture, they often picture farms and fishers—the fields, the waters, the harvests. What we rarely see are the stories in between—the people and processes that bring food from its source all the way to the plate. From sorting and packaging to transport, trading, and selling, these steps are just as vital in making sure food is safe, fresh, and nourishing for everyone.

Themed "Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain," the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest turns the spotlight on these "in-between" journeys—those overlooked moments that connect producers with markets, communities, and consumers. While past contests have celebrated farmers and their fields, this year we shine a light on the bigger story of agriculture—the journey that continues after the harvest, the people who make it possible, and the ways food creates prosperity beyond the farm or fishing ground.

What to Capture

We are looking for images that reveal the hidden heartbeat of agriculture—activities that show how food moves, transforms, and connects communities.

Your photos might capture:

Postharvest care

Cleaning, sorting, drying, or preserving crops to keep them fresh and safe

Food transformation

From artisanal food-making to small enterprises turning harvests into new products

Transport and movement

Trucks, boats, bikes, or carts bringing produce from rural areas to towns and cities

Markets and trade

The vibrant scenes of wholesale hubs, cooperatives, retail outlets, or busy market stalls

Entrepreneurship

Youth- or women-led businesses adding creativity, branding, and value to local produce

Digital tools

Mobile apps, QR payments, and online platforms that link farmers directly with buyers

Consumer connections

The final step, where families, restaurants, and communities enjoy the fruits of this journey

Working together

Cooperatives and associations pooling resources to grow stronger together

To spark inspiration, imagine:

Workers sorting fruits in a cooperative warehouse.
Women preparing cassava chips or packaging coffee for sale.
Trucks, boats, or bicycles ferrying vegetables to market.
Youth entrepreneurs showcasing their products at a local fair.
Families shopping at a weekend wholesale market or dining in a farm-to-table restaurant.

Every photograph tells a story. This year, let your lens uncover the unseen journeys that bring food from the harvest to the table—and celebrate the people who make it possible.

Submission deadline: 30 November 2025

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Guidelines and Mechanics

1. Eligibility

The 19th SEARCA Photo Contest is open to all Southeast Asian nationals, except SEARCA staff and their immediate family members.

2. Submission Period and Platform

All entries must be submitted via https://photocontest.searca.org/2025 during the submission period, 5 September–30 November 2025, 11:59 p.m. (GMT+8).

3. Entry Specifications and Certification

A contestant can submit an unlimited number of entries as long as they meet the photo contest specifications, as follows:

To minimize plagiarism, contestants will be asked to certify that:

They own the submitted photographs and grant SEARCA full permission to use them in knowledge packaging, sharing, and advocacy related to SEARCA's mandate. SEARCA will ensure the photographer is properly credited for photos used, such as in print and digital publications.
The photographs are original, have not won any previous photo contests, been published elsewhere (whether in print or electronically), or submitted as entries to any other photo contests during the 19th SEARCA Photo Contest period. The same or similar photos submitted to past SEARCA photo contests may not be submitted again.
The photos have not been digitally altered or enhanced in any way other than simple cropping.

4. Photo Format Requirements

Entries must be digital, colored, in JPEG format, and at least 3,000 pixels wide for a horizontal image or 3,000 pixels tall for a vertical image at 300 dpi.

5. Entry Information Details

Each entry should include the following details in English:

Photographer's full name, age range, and gender
Photographer's country of origin
Photographer's professional status
Photo caption
Place where the photo was taken (include country)
Complete date taken

6. Judging Criteria

Photos will be judged based on the following criteria:

Relevance to the theme	40%
Technical quality (clarity, use of tones and color, photographic composition)	30%
Impact	30%
TOTAL	100%

7. Evaluation Process

Photo entries will undergo a tiered evaluation process, as follows:

Initial Screening: The Photo Contest Secretariat will first screen all entries for eligibility.
Shortlisting: A committee of selected SEARCA staff and scholars will then shortlist the qualified photos.
Final Judging: A panel of external experts will serve as the final judges to select the top three winners from the shortlisted finalists.
SEARCA Center Director's Choice: The SEARCA Center Director will select one photo from the finalists.

8. Winner Notification

Winners will be notified via email. SEARCA has the right to offer the prize to the next winning entry if the winner does not respond within two weeks after notification.

9. Prize Claim Requirements

Winners will be asked to provide their bank information for cash prize remittance; certificates of recognition will be sent by mail.

10. Prize Remittance Guidelines

Remittance of cash prizes will follow current SEARCA administrative and financial guidelines.

Prizes and Award

First Prize

USD 1,000 and a Certificate

Second Prize

USD 800 and a Certificate

Third Prize

USD 500 and a Certificate

SEARCA Center Director's Choice

USD 500 and a Certificate

Submit Your Entries

Kindly read our guidelines before submitting your entry.
Recommended web browsers: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Fields marked with asterisk (*) are required.

1. Your entry

Browse Image*

Maximum file size: 8 MB

Description*

Place taken*

Date taken*

Camera used*

2. Your profile

Enter your Profile ID

Enter your Profile ID to retrieve your saved information. If this is your first time submitting to SEARCA Photo Contest 2025, please complete the form below. For returning participants, check your email for your Profile ID, sent after your first submission.

Or input your personal information

Name*

Address*

Email*

Online portfolio

Link to samples of your work.

How did you find out about the SEARCA Photo Contest?*

Are you a professional photographer?*

Yes No

Are you considered youth (18–35 years old)?*
Will be used in the judging of Best Youth Photographer award

Yes No

Photo of yourself*

Maximum file size: 500 KB

3. Certification

I certify*:

That I own the photograph, and that I grant SEARCA full permission to use it in knowledge packaging, sharing, and advocacy related to SEARCA's mandate. On the other hand, SEARCA shall ensure that the photographer will be properly credited for photos used especially in mass-produced print publications;
That the photograph is original, and that it has not won any previous photo contest/s, has not been published elsewhere (print or electronic), and has not been submitted to any other photo contest/s during the SEARCA Photo Contest 2025 period. Furthermore, the same/similar photos submitted to past SEARCA photo contests will be disqualified;
That the photo has not been digitally altered and/or enhanced in any way other than simple cropping minor adjustments on brightness, contrast, and saturation; and does not have watermark or any other mark in the photo itself; and
That in case this photograph contains an identifiable child/minor subject, the child's parent/guardian has given me consent/permission (written or verbal) to use the photograph for the purposes deemed appropriate by SEARCA.

If you encounter any problems, email us at fotos@searca.org.
Note: we do not disclose your personally identifiable information to any person or company except where you have given us permission to do so or if the law requires it. Learn more.