Through children’s eyesSilent witnesses of conflict
HuSoMe invites photographers present in the Gaza Strip to bear witness to children’s daily lives, beyond the images of war. The selected series will contribute to a visual memory founded on authenticity, dignity and respect for humanitarian principles.
- End of September 2026Entries open
- End of November 2026Entries close
- Mid/late December 2026Results announced
- Early 2027First exhibition
Free to enter
Documentary photography has the power to reveal what words sometimes struggle to convey. Through this competition, HuSoMe wishes to build a faithful visual memory of the lives of Gaza’s children.
The aim is to shed light on their daily lives with sensitivity, without seeking sensationalism, and in keeping with the ethical principles on which documentary photography is founded. Every photograph carries a gaze; every gaze tells a story.
Telling the daily lives of Gaza’s children
The competition is looking for documentary photo series showing the daily reality of children living in the Gaza Strip. The photographs may explore, among other things:
- Daily life
- Family bonds
- Places of learning
- Play
- Solidarity
- Resilience
An open competition,
based on presence
- Adult photographers (18 and over), professional or amateur.
- Of any nationality.
- Physically present in the Gaza Strip when the images were taken.
- One photo series per participant.
Entry is completely free.
A coherent documentary series
4 to 10 photographs taken between 2024 and today, forming a coherent whole around a single documentary approach.
The entry comprises
- A title — the thread that links the series.
- The photo series — 4 to 10 images.
- Captions — one caption per photograph.
- A statement of intent — the photographer’s approach.
- A short biography — a few lines about the author.
File specifications
- JPEG format, long side about 2,000 px, maximum ~8 MB per image.
- Full resolution will only be requested from finalists, for the exhibition.
The full technical specifications are set out in the official rules.
Bearing witness, never exploiting suffering
Demanding documentary photography
- Original work, taken by the participant.
- True to documentary reality.
- Respectful of the dignity of the people photographed.
- Images generated or modified by artificial intelligence are not accepted.
- Manipulations that alter the actual content of images are prohibited. Standard technical adjustments remain permitted provided they do not alter the documentary meaning of the image.
An ethical charter
Participants undertake to respect:
- Human dignity.
- The protection of minors.
- Respect for privacy.
- Documentary truth.
- No staging or sensationalism.
Selection by an independent jury
Entries will be judged by an independent jury made up of figures from documentary photography, journalism, humanitarian action and child protection.
Judging criteria
- Relevance to the theme
- Documentary quality
- Authenticity
- Narrative strength
- Technical quality
- Coherence of the series
- Respect for ethical principles
€8,000 in prizes
- First prize€4,000
- Second prize€3,000
- Third prize€1,000
Special mentions may also be awarded.
An international touring exhibition
The selected photographs may be shown in international exhibitions, print and digital publications, conferences and cultural events, as well as educational and awareness-raising activities.
A touring exhibition will be organised by HuSoMe in partnership with cultural, academic and humanitarian institutions, notably in cities where HuSoMe is present.
- Metz
- Luxembourg
- Geneva
- Paris
Each work will be shown with its author’s credit.
Humanity, Solidarity, Medicine
HuSoMe works with populations affected by humanitarian crises, armed conflicts and disasters. Through its medical, humanitarian and awareness-raising work, the association stands for solidarity, dignity, access to healthcare, training and the protection of vulnerable people.
HuSoMe competition 2026
Help build a visual memory
Entries open at the end of September 2026The submission form will be available on this page as soon as entries open.