About the Contest
What changes when we switch to infrared, and which things remain constant? What beauty lies in the light that our eyes can’t see? What do new perspectives show us about our world that only photography can capture? We want to see what the best of infrared and regular photography can show us. We’re proud to announce our fifth biennual infrared photography contest, Life In Another Light 2026!
Our contest isn’t just about capturing images—it’s about discovering new ways to see the world. Whether you’re a budding enthusiast or a seasoned pro, we want to see the best of what infrared and general photography can offer. Your unique perspective can unveil the extraordinary!
Three Winners and several Honorable Mentions will be chosen across thirteen categories for the chance to win over $60,000 in prizes!
Read the full contest rules here.
Contest categories
Candy Chrome
Vibrant and stunning shots capturing candy-colored foliage (taken with our Candy Chrome infrared filter)
Abstract
Transformational imagery of concepts or textures that aims to capture what is beyond normal expectations in photography.
Portrait
Lifestyle, studio, or street photographs of people
Cinematic
Images that showcase strong storytelling elements, as if they were taken straight out of a feature film
Ultraviolet
Images taken in the ultraviolet light spectrum (taken with our UV Bandpass filter)
Astro Landscape
Night sky shots that capture the stunning wonder of deep space
Aerial
A perspective from above through a bird’s-eye point-of-view
Landscape - Visible Light
Capturing the outdoor spaces of the world
Landscape - Infrared
The classic category for infrared photography. Life shown in another light.
Black & White
High contrast, strongly composed monochromatic photos, either visible or infrared
IR Chrome
Images that achieve the classic ethereal look of Kodak Aerochrome—deep red and orange contrasted against blue
(taken with our IRChrome infrared filter)
Long Exposure
Extended duration images utilizing slow shutter speeds
Infrared short film
Cinematic short video filmed in infrared (2 minutes minimum, 15 minutes maximum with any infrared filter)
Submit a Photo
Previous Contests
Category – Infrared Short Film
First place
When Earth Took A Breath
Lambert Grand
Second place
Das Erdbeerfeld
Markus Holstraeter
Third Place
The Spectral Divide
Mako Miyamoto
Honorable Mention
Tacony Creek Philadelphia
Brandan Giehl
Honorable Mention
Sedona Portals
Egor Povolotskiy
Honorable Mention
Granitus Planetus
Majxr Tom
Category – Landscape Infrared
First place
Switzerland
Gavin Spooner
Second place
WA1K345
Jonas Hangartner
Third Place
Into the Trees
Sennen Powell
Honorable Mention
Majestic Fjord
Katie Farr
Honorable Mention
Spirit Island
Kert Gartner
Honorable Mention
tectonic uplift, arizona
Nathan Rochefort
Category – Astro Landscape
First place
Losing Track of Time
Jonas Hangartner
Second place
Neowise
Daniel Stein
Third Place
The Galactic Tree
Jürgen M. Lobert
Honorable Mention
Aurora
Yohan Raintung
Honorable Mention
Luminous Jewels
Tony Casswell
Honorable Mention
mount hood startrails
Karthik Devarajan
Category – Black & White
First place
alligator in morning mist
Carolyn Hinton Hutchin
Second place
Beginning of the winter day
Muhammad Amdad Hossain
Third Place
divide
Edd Allen
Honorable Mention
Iceland 01
Sergiy Antonenko
Honorable Mention
Space Oddity
Pierre Banoori
Honorable Mention
Vesterhorn in Infrared
John Franzen
Category – IR Chrome
First place
Dreams of Reality - Dream 5
Mitja Kobal
Second place
Vaulion
Jonas Hangartner
Third Place
Grow Out
Jan Ole Müller
Honorable Mention
New York in Red High line
Francis R. Pellegrino
Honorable Mention
Open Court
Dan Waterman
Honorable Mention
Ragnar's Castle
Jürgen M Lobert
Honorable Mention
Wind River
Jason Kurth
Category – Landscape – Visible Light
First place
Merapi
Yohan Raintung
Second place
Reflective Dawn
Mike Lee
Third Place
lunar sunrise
Jason Kurth
Honorable Mention
Early in the morning
Cristian Bertolini
Honorable Mention
Namibia
Sergiy Antonenko
Honorable Mention
Peak Radiance
Brandon Poulx
Category – Aerial
First place
Black Sand Beach
Bobby Ritchey
Second place
dried fish processing
Muhammad Amdad Hossain
Third Place
Majestic Waterfall
Simone Marulli
Honorable Mention
Collecting the Lillies
Shibasish Saha
Honorable Mention
Earf
Andrew Finch
Honorable Mention
Marathon Swimmer in a Poisonous River
Yuri Pritisk
Category – Long Exposure
First place
People Mixture
Dibakar Roy
Second place
The River Full of Sky
Simone Marulli
Third Place
Tintagel
Peter Pelosi
Honorable Mention
Bridge
Antonina Gritsun
Honorable Mention
Traffic
Marvin Schewe
Honorable Mention
Wheel of Fire
Lars Michael
Category – Portrait
First place
Meg With Scarf
Rob Jemmett
Second place
Duble
Ivan Kulikov
Third Place
Polina
Natalia Pereverzeva
Honorable Mention
Art Documentation in the Painter's Studio
Alexandr Korolev
Honorable Mention
Inna
Titova
Honorable Mention
Out of Darkness
George Staver
Category – Ultraviolet
First place
Magnolia Grandiflora
Michael Riffle
Second place
Borage for Courage
Rain Hayes
Third Place
Luminous New Growth
Troy Casswell
Honorable Mention
Pepe
Oscar Javier Cubillos Pinilla
Honorable Mention
father
Rob Shea
Honorable Mention
Seeing like a bug, the metallic world of flowers
Maria Fini
Category – Candy Chrome
First place
Bout to Bloom
Ginny Taylor
Second place
candy landscape
Robert Gajsek
Third Place
grazing
Mark Burke
Honorable Mention
arlington row
Gavin Spooner
Honorable Mention
candy egret
Jeetu Rohra
Honorable Mention
Coot in Weed
Sennen Powell
Category – Abstract
First place
Stairsteps
Olga Ivanova
Second place
Down from the deep
David Harland
Third Place
Indoor Road
Raido Elmat
Honorable Mention
Fantasy Garden
Frank Kaczmarek
Honorable Mention
Fluorescent Lilium
Troy Casswell
Honorable Mention
More London
Gordon Sutherland
Category — Aerial
First place
Low Tide
Dani Kangu
Second place
Waterlily harvesting
shibasish Saha
Third Place
Untitled
muhammad amdad hossain
Honorable Mention
Eid Prayer
Dibakar Roy
Honorable Mention
the early bird gets the view
lindsey mccutchan
Honorable Mention
chapmans peak derive
steven cheadle
Category — Astro Landscape
First place
Yosemite Starry Night Reflections
David Swainson
Second place
Momos House
Tim Liscum
Third Place
Logans Rock
John Harrison
Honorable Mention
Castle of Dotia
George Ntekas
Honorable Mention
milkyway and its reflection
jitendra S. Katre
Category — Black & White
First place
Towards Win
pranab basak
Second place
Covid Economy
mithail Afrige Chowdhury
Third Place
portrait of a highland cow
George Baker
Honorable Mention
Working together
jiben xu
Honorable Mention
clematis poof
rain hayes
Honorable Mention
mushroom beauty
north kaplan
Category — IR Chrome
First place
IR Sequenz
Stefan Dullnig
Second place
throne
sean jones
Third Place
la Pierre Saint Martin
Mariano Royo
Honorable Mention
Jungle 7-eleven
Dani kangu
Honorable Mention
waiting for the karelian train
alexandr korolev
Honorable Mention
point state park
joey gannon
Category — Landscape — Visible Light
First place
Rhythm
zhang yue
Second place
mount bromo
yohan raintung
Third Place
blue diamonds
pierre-louis ferrer
Honorable Mention
badwater basin sunset
david swainson
Honorable Mention
beavertail lighthouse
dan waterman
Honorable Mention
glacier bay
susannah sofaer kramer
Category — Landscape — Infrared
First place
Santa Magdalena
mohamed fakhrdine
Second place
valley ridge with waxing gibbous moon
rain hayes
Third Place
prince charming
yann philippe
Honorable Mention
devils valley road
diane porter
Honorable Mention
marina bay singapore
xiaoyi chen
Honorable Mention
lemon tree
yookwanghyun
Category — Long Exposure
First place
Posts and gulls
lars michael
Second place
inferno
florent serfati
Third Place
H
yuri pritisk
Honorable Mention
High tide
xiaoyi chen
Honorable Mention
urban motion
rob shea
Honorable Mention
somewhere in karelia
alexandr korolev
Category — Portrait
First place
The artist
Hermine Lecucq jouan
Second place
untitled
muhammad amdad hossain
Third Place
Untold tears
pranab basak
Honorable Mention
the eyes of truth
mithail afrige chowdhury
Honorable Mention
marena
florent serfati
Honorable Mention
innocence
sean jones
Category — Photo Essay — Visible Light
First place
Sisters
yuri pritisk
Second place
look up
pierre-louis ferrer
Third Place
learning to speak in black & white
sennen powell
Honorable Mention
London (2001)
Tamara Rose
Honorable Mention
Planks, pylons, and piers
Brent eanes
Category — Photo Essay — Infrared
First place
Marvels and wonders of eastern switzerland
antoine mobile
Second place
citta eterna - Rome in infrared
peter pelosi
Third Place
Taman Festival - Abandoned Theme Park in Bali
Martynas Charevicius
Honorable Mention
mexico city under the invisible light
florent serfati
Honorable Mention
great western divide sequoia national park
jeff stovall
Honorable Mention
upside-down in the northwest passage
kiliii Yuyan
Category — Photo Essay — Infrared
First place
touching the sublime
tomas jirku
Second place
IR-chitecture
antoine mobile
Third Place
Fairy Tale of prague
vladimir migutin
Honorable Mention
Nordic landscapes and northern lights
christian obermeier
Honorable Mention
Madrid in IR
Yann Philippe
Honorable Mention
Road lines
dan waterman
Honorable Mention
dreams of the misty mountain huangshan
lin fan
Honorable Mention
hegemony
hermine jouan
Honorable Mention
Saigon in red
dzung tran
Category — Photo Essay — Visible Light
First place
From my window
violeta milutinovic
Second place
Everyday life in india
sebastian gra
Third Place
aftermath of the magnum fire
shirley smith
Honorable Mention
survival
zoran milutinovic
Honorable Mention
moments in india
sebastian gra
Category — Aerial
First place
derelict boat from above in infrared, 550nm
ewan j. richards
Second place
blood of the earth, ir chrome
paolo pettigiani
Third Place
promised island, visible light
yuri pritisk
Honorable Mention
a glance through the clouds, 590nm
vladimir migutin
Honorable Mention
colorful view, visible light
melvin guante
Honorable Mention
cyber city, full-spectrum
siu pik kam olivia
Honorable Mention
flying over mars, 665nm
rigoberto costa
Category — Black & White
First place
caney fork in between storms
john maclean
Second place
cypress tree tunnel
rob shea
Third Place
succulents
beamie young
Honorable Mention
Kirkjufell
hermine jouan
Honorable Mention
vertical forest
arian yousefi javan
Honorable Mention
rock of holy phenomenon
yuri pritisk
Honorable Mention
aloe polyphylla
rob shea
Category — IR Chrome
First place
Life on mars
katie farr
Second place
innsjoren
hermine lecucq jouan
Third Place
Sunken Boat
Dani Kangu
Honorable Mention
Cleveland Dam
reilly lievers
Honorable Mention
lights and shadows in the dolomites III
tomasz Grzyb
Honorable Mention
norway's dream house
yann philippe
Honorable Mention
untitled
jesse rossman
Category — Landscape IR
First place
Nature's fury
ken sklute
Second place
lights and shadows in the dolomites
tomasz grzyb
Third Place
home
lys olsen
Honorable Mention
half dome reflection
rob shea
Honorable Mention
socotra yemen
ziryab alghabri
Honorable Mention
kodak cow
augustin cross
Honorable Mention
multnomah falls
miles b. jordan
Category — Landscape Color
First place
Opening
Muhammad hary
Second place
superstition mountains glow
Tim liscum
Third Place
hintersee
yohan raintung
Honorable Mention
the last anchorage
yuri pritisk
Honorable Mention
golden gate bridge engulfed in forest fire smoke
rain hayes
Honorable Mention
early morning
zoran milutinovic
Honorable Mention
rural life and nature
amirual islam
Category — Long Exposure
First place
Mashes sands
michael s. riffle
Second place
borneo rainforest
muhammad hary
Third Place
redfoss
hermine jouan
Honorable Mention
katsiveli
yuri pritisk
Honorable Mention
kirlian leaf
yann philippe
Honorable Mention
arpenaz waterfall
pierre-louis ferrer
Honorable Mention
roberto clemente bridge
joey gannon
Category — Portrait
First place
A worker
muhammad amdad hossain
Second place
water spirit
sean p. jones
Third Place
beauty
shubhodeep Roy
Honorable Mention
mentawai
marc ressang
Honorable Mention
adrift
beamie young
Honorable Mention
classic car
tim weaver
Honorable Mention
the son helps his father
abdo tahoon
Category — Kolari Pocket
First place
Golden Hills
rob shea
Second place
tropical ice
lance schroeder
Third Place
panama city, panama from cerro ancon
mark a. mauerman
Honorable Mention
symmetrical depth
lance schroeder
Honorable Mention
garden between the city
kelsey j. hockenberger
Honorable Mention
spring day at memorial park
mark a. mauerman
Honorable Mention
lone tree hill
rob shea
Category — Photo Essay
First place
Imagining and then making paradise visible: wonders from utah and the role of chaos
luciano demasi
Second place
Hong kong: the golden city
tran minh dung
Third Place
Invisible paris
pierre-Louis ferrer
Honorable Mention
Trees are life
basuzilon
Honorable Mention
california foothills
david nilsen
Honorable Mention
one year on mt. wendelstein
christian obermeier
Honorable Mention
desert southwest
klaus priebe
Honorable Mention
storm warriors
gabor hegyi-kovacs
Category — Infrared Landscape
First place
Lonely tree
david hall
Second place
morning fog
david hochleitner
Third Place
home sweet home
matteo dalle feste
Honorable Mention
Manhattan
Rodney bowes
Honorable Mention
under the moon
sayou
Honorable Mention
celestial
nick spiker
Honorable Mention
the old shack
ralph a. croning
Category — Infrared Color
First place
The watchman
blake rudis
Second place
red velvet
helen bradshaw
Third Place
tectonic
matthew stuart piper
Honorable Mention
Flowers
kate adler
Honorable Mention
city in full-spectrum
basuzilon
Honorable Mention
island beach
david nilsen
Honorable Mention
blue suns
henry h. smith
Category — Infrared Portrait
First place
Girl
pierre-louis ferrer
Second place
eddie
vladimir migutin
Third Place
tropical wonderland
dave tree
Honorable Mention
boys
brendan e. kahn
Honorable Mention
listening to the rustle
mindaugas grybauskas
Honorable Mention
female portrait
vladimir proshin
Category — Infrared Black & White
First place
zabriskie
beamie young
Second place
touch
ivan kulikov
Third Place
life in the desert
klaus priebe
Honorable Mention
The sierra nevada
lincoln castricone
Honorable Mention
long forgotten
murray rudd
Honorable Mention
on the way home
ken sklute
Honorable Mention
