Datacolor & Friends Photo Contest celebrates its 10th anniversary! This needs to be celebrated and fitting for the party, the theme for the 2026 competition is colorful: COLOR PLAY.
Colors accompany us everywhere and influence how we perceive the world. They can evoke emotions, tell stories, and make special moments visible. Whether vibrant and bright, soft and harmonious, or surprising and contrasting – the interplay of colors offers endless possibilities to be creative. Datacolor is looking for your images that stage the theme of color play in a very special way. Whether a spectacular color fireworks display, fascinating color combinations in nature, in everyday life, or in architecture, or a small detail that becomes eye-catching through its colors – your creativity knows no bounds. Datacolor looks forward to your colorful, extraordinary, and inspiring submissions!
Up to 3 images per photographer are allowed, which can be both realistic and altered. Natural images or creative color looks, individual shots or compositions, and all photographic genres are allowed as long as the theme is depicted. Images created solely with the help of AI are not allowed.
The best photos will be awarded by Datacolor with great prizes provided by B+W Filter, Daniel Spohn, DigitalPHOTO, dpunkt.verlag, FotoTV., Creative Studio Pavel Kaplun, Rheinwerk Verlag, Rollei, TAMRON and Datacolor .
Notes: Please upload your images as jpg files for the competition, the file size should ideally remain under 1MB. An edge length of a maximum of 1400 pixels is sufficient. Each participant may submit up to three images.
The main prizes will be awarded by the jury. The jury members are:
- Heike Jasper, photo trainer and specialist author
- Maike Jarsetz, photographer, Adobe trainer, and author
- Andreas Klein, TAMRON
- Daniel Spohn, nature photographer, photo trainer, biologist
- Klaus Wohlmann, photographer and photo trainer
- Creative Studio Pavel Kaplun, photo and videography, photo trainer
- Markus Siek, DigitalPHOTO
- Ernst Thürnau, Datacolor
The jury prizes:
1st place (total value approx. 1,225 €):
- Datacolor Spyder Print Studio
- Voucher for the TAMRON shop worth 500 €
- FotoTV. Annual access
- Creative Studio Pavel Kaplun book bundle: „Photographers see more“
- DigitalPHOTO eBook package consisting of four eBooks
- Maike Jarsetz’ „Digital Darkroom“, published by dpunkt.verlag
2nd place (total value approx. 720 €):
- Datacolor LightColor Meter
- Rollei tripod Compact Traveler No. 1
- Creative Studio Pavel Kaplun book bundle: „Photographers see more“
- DigitalPHOTO eBook package consisting of four eBooks
- FotoTV. 3-month access
- „Lightroom Classic – Step by Step to Perfect Photos“ by Maike Jarsetz, published by Rheinwerk Verlag
3rd place (total value approx. 574 €):
- Datacolor Spyder Photo/Video Kit
- DigitalPHOTO eBook package consisting of four eBooks
- FotoTV. 3-month access
- „The Good Image“ by Friedrun Rheinhold, published by dpunkt.verlag
- Creative Studio Pavel Kaplun filter collection „Color Harmonies for Luminar“
4th place (total value approx. 499 €):
- Datacolor SpyderPro
- B+W Master Clear, filter diameter of your choice (up to Ø 86 mm)
- „The Light in Landscape Photography“ by Mark Robertz, published by dpunkt.verlag
- Creative Studio Pavel Kaplun filter collection „Color Harmonies (LrC + LR CC)“
5th place (total value approx. 338 €):
- Datacolor Spyder Celebration Kit
- FotoTV. 3-month access
- „A Date with Your Camera“ by Anja Brandes, published by Rheinwerk Verlag
2 Audience Awards for the two photos with the most votes from the audience:
The dates:
End of photo submissions: 18.10.2026
End of audience voting: 08.11.2026
Announcement of audience voting and jury voting: 12.11.2026
Good luck participating!
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