We are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the International Documentary Photography Competition “Sign of the Times.”

This competition, which invited international photographers from five countries to capture the essence of our contemporary era, has seen remarkable participation and the emergence of extraordinary talent.

In total, we received an impressive 358 entries, showcasing the dedication and passion of photographers who have a deep commitment to documenting the world around us. The competition featured two categories, with 292 entries in the main category, "Sign of the Times," and 66 entries in the sub-category for AI-generated images titled "Imagined Cities." Participants hailed from five different countries, representing a diverse range of perspectives: Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Spain.

The competition's theme, "Sign of the Times," was a call to document the essence of our current era, capturing the people, processes, things, and events that define our world in the 21st century. Entries in the main category encompassed various documentary photography genres, including portrait, landscape, still life, and street photography. The common thread was the endeavor to capture the spirit of our times.

Street photography played a significant role, with candid, unposed images of people and everyday life in public spaces, capturing spontaneous moments and the essence of specific places and cultures. Documentary portraiture was also prevalent, offering a deeper narrative about individuals or groups within their unique contexts, shedding light on their lives, experiences, or social issues. Additionally, environmental documentary photography depicted the impact of pressing environmental issues, including climate change, conservation efforts, pollution, and the intricate relationship between humans and their environment.

The competition's international jury was composed of esteemed members representing each of the five participating countries. The jurors, who were experts in photography, industry professionals, critics, artists, journalists, and other distinguished figures reviewed the submissions. In a unique twist, the international jury decided to expand the winners' circle, increasing the number of winning entries from 25 to 26.

These winning entries in the main category, selected by the international jury, are showcased in the Exhibition Gallery at Adatu Fabrika, the Art Academy House of Latvia, in Kuldiga, throughout September 2023. In the sub-category "Imagined Cities," 26 exceptional AI-generated image entries chosen by the international jury are displayed on the Digital Gallery Screen at Adatu Fabrika. The images can also be viewed on our website at https://photokick.eu/photo-gallery/.

The three finalists of the main category received SONY digital equipment, certificates, trophies and gained considerable global press exposure.

The winners in the main category are:

1. István Tóth-Piusz: Smokers
2. Dace Laukmane: Sign of the Times
3. Attila Petrovics: Nobody Sees Nothing

The three finalists for the Subcategory “Imagined Cities” for AI-generated images selected by the international juror team are:

1. Dagnija Grundberga: City Scheme
2. Maija Demitere: Memories of Bees
3. József Schell: Urban Hell

The participants in this subcategory also received certificates, trophies and gift cards.

 The Hungarian National Museum will have two events related to the PhotoKick project:

• From the middle of November an outdoor display on the museum’s fence will present the winners as well as an assemblage of entries from both categories of the PhotoKick competition– more details will be announced soon!
• Organised by the Historical Photo Department of the museum, a workshop will be held on the 18th of November at the Hungarian National Museum, where Hungarian teachers can discover the world of AI imaging. The program will be organised around the topics of photo manipulation, prompts and AI-generated images, and the various manners in which teachers can integrate this new technology into their classroom activities.

To stay updated with the latest news, announcements, and updates regarding the competition, we invite you to regularly visit our official website at: https://photokick.eu/news/