At a time of increased uncertainty and tension on both the interpersonal and global stages, photography’s role in helping us negotiate our daily existence has never been stronger. Photographers and visual artists are invited to submit photographic images reflecting, questioning, and expanding on the notion of “Origin”.

The theme of the fourth edition of the Tokyo International Photography Competition is: “Origin”.

About the competition

There are numerous competitions whose aim is to discover new photographic talent from around the globe, but many of these opportunities are often beyond the reach of those who do not speak a certain language or have a deep understanding of a particular culture. This has often been the case for Japanese photographers trying to enter foreign markets and for foreigners wanting to present and exhibit their work in Japan.

Since its inception, the goal of the Tokyo International Photography Competition (TIPC) has been to create a series of cultural and geographical bridges between some the world’s largest photographic communities. And over these past 3 years, we have seen our dream take shape, connections flourish, new initiatives born, and we are truly excited by all that lies ahead.

The launch of TIPC in 2013 was the first chapter of a long journey that lead to the inauguration of the annual Tokyo International Photography Festival in 2015, presented by the Tokyo Institute of Photography, in cooperation with United Photo Industries of Brooklyn, NY.

A select group of 10 internationally renowned jurors from around the world will review all the images submitted and nominate 8 talented photographers whose work will be exhibited as part of a traveling exhibition in Tokyo (Japan), before heading out to New York (USA), with additional host cities to be announced shortly!