2025 NCOA Photography Award Contest: This is 75

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is hosting a photography contest celebrating 75 years of service to older adults. The contest aims to redefine aging as a period of vitality, purpose, and connections by showcasing portraits of older adults aged 60 and above who are actively engaged in life—interacting with others across generations, volunteering, working in their communities, and maintaining physical and mental activity. Photographers are invited to submit images along with personal stories from the subjects reflecting on what aging well means to them.

Submissions must be color photographs only (black and white and AI-generated images are not allowed). All submissions must include a brief statement or story of at least 100 words about each photo. Photo subjects must live in the United States. Submit high-resolution images (300 dpi) in JPEG format with a maximum size of 5 MB for jurying. Award winners must provide a high-resolution file of at least 20 MB for canvas printing. File names must follow the format: First Name-Last Name_Image Title.jpeg. Submissions labeled "untitled" will be removed from the jury process. Entrants may submit between 2 and 10 images. There is no entry fee. Artwork previously submitted will not be accepted.

Awards include: 1 First Prize ($1,500), 1 Second Prize ($800), 1 Public Vote Award ($600), 7 Merit Awards ($300 each), and 10 Honorable Awards ($150 each). The application deadline is March 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Winners will be notified April 15, 2025. Public voting opens May 15, 2025. An in-person exhibition will be held May 26-28, 2025 at Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA. The public vote winner will be announced May 30, 2025. Awards will be mailed June 15, 2025. An additional gallery exhibition curated by mosaicARTs in DMV areas will run June through September (dates to be announced). The final exhibition will be displayed permanently at NCOA headquarters in Crystal City, VA. A guest juror, in conjunction with the NCOA Age+Action Committee, will select finalists for the exhibition.