AAP Magazine 56 Shadows: A Global Photography Call for Entries Celebrating the Art of Light and Darkness

Unleash the Poetry of Shadows

Photography has always existed at the intersection of light and darkness. When light fades, shadows appear—stretching across surfaces, shaping forms, and revealing stories that might otherwise remain unseen. In photography, shadows are not merely the absence of light; they are a creative force capable of transforming the ordinary into something deeply evocative.

With its newest international call for entries, All About Photo invites photographers from around the world to explore this powerful visual language in AAP Magazine #56: SHADOWS. This upcoming edition will present a curated selection of compelling photographic projects dedicated to the artistic possibilities of shadow.

The Expressive Power of Shadows

Shadows are among the most poetic elements in photography. They shape composition, create atmosphere, and introduce a sense of mystery that encourages viewers to look deeper. A shadow may conceal as much as it reveals, leaving space for imagination and interpretation.

Throughout the history of photography, artists have used shadows to evoke emotion and mood—nostalgia, solitude, tension, or quiet serenity. A long shadow cast across a street can suggest the passage of time; a dark silhouette can transform a familiar subject into something symbolic and universal. For photographers, learning to see and use shadows creatively is often what elevates an image from simple documentation to visual storytelling.

The Beauty of Silhouettes

Silhouettes are an essential part of the language of shadows. By reducing a subject to its outline against a luminous background, photographers create striking graphic compositions that emphasize shape, gesture, and movement.

This technique removes unnecessary details and allows emotion to emerge through form alone. A solitary figure at sunset, a tree against a glowing sky, or a couple walking through a backlit street can instantly become timeless visual metaphors. Whether subtle or dramatic, silhouettes demonstrate how the balance between light and darkness can shape narrative and atmosphere.

What the Jury Is Looking For

For AAP Magazine #56: SHADOWS, submissions will be evaluated according to three key criteria: creativity, originality, and visual or emotional impact. The goal is to identify photographers who bring a distinctive voice to the theme and whose work resonates with viewers beyond aesthetics alone.

Rather than promoting a single interpretation of shadows, the call welcomes diverse perspectives—from minimalist compositions and abstract explorations to documentary and conceptual approaches.

A Platform for International Exposure

Participating in an All About Photo competition can be an important step in a photographer’s career. The platform is widely recognized in the international photography scene and regularly attracts the attention of editors, book publishers, gallery owners, festival directors, curators, and creative directors.

For emerging photographers, visibility can open doors to exhibitions, publications, and new collaborations. For established artists, it offers an opportunity to connect with new audiences and share their work within a global photography community.

A Lasting Online Exhibition

Selected photographers will benefit from international exposure through the All About Photo website, newsletter, and social media channels. The winning portfolios will also be featured in a permanent online exhibition, allowing the work to remain accessible to collectors, editors, and photography enthusiasts long after the competition results are announced.

This digital gallery becomes a lasting showcase of contemporary photography, highlighting how artists around the world interpret the same theme through different creative perspectives.

An Invitation to Explore the Darkness

Photographers interested in submitting their work should ensure that their images have not previously been published in AAP Magazine, as previously featured work is not eligible for resubmission. Beyond this requirement, the competition encourages artistic freedom and welcomes diverse interpretations of the theme.

The winners will be announced on the All About Photo website and across its social media channels, where a vibrant international audience of photography enthusiasts actively discovers new talent and contemporary photographic projects.

In a world saturated with images, the power of shadows remains uniquely captivating. They guide the viewer’s eye, create drama, and evoke atmosphere in ways few other visual elements can. Through AAP Magazine #56: SHADOWS, photographers have the opportunity to explore this timeless visual language and share their vision with a global audience.

For those who believe that light is only half the story, this call for entries is an invitation to reveal what lies within the darkness.

Submit your work, share your vision, and let your shadows speak.

March Solo Exhibition: Civilization by Damien Aubin

This series explores environments shaped by human ambition, where structures operate at a scale that exceeds individual presence.

Whether meticulously maintained, fully operational, or marked by abandonment, these spaces persist. I do not seek to document decay, but rather to observe how these architectural forms continue to impose their systemic logic, even when human activity has withdrawn. In these images, human presence recedes in favor of massive, organized structures. Within this apparent coherence, a subtle form of decoherence emerges — a misalignment between monumental scale and lived experience, between operational systems and the tangible reality of the body. I approach these environments from a distance, observing how structure prevails over function. The act of photographing becomes a way of remaining within this tension — of confronting what both attracts and unsettles me. What remains is not decay as an end, but inertia — a quiet persistence of civilization beyond its visible utility.

Civilization is an ongoing body of work, conceived as an open and evolving series.

Discover the full exhibition here

New Call: Win a Solo Exhibition this April!

More information on the solo exhibition competition here Maximize Your Exposure: Enter the Solo Exhibition Competition for a Month-Long Online Showcase

At All About Photo, we celebrate extraordinary photography that inspires, transforms, and connects with us on a deeper level.

WHY ENTER THE SOLO EXHIBITION?

Global Reach: The Solo Exhibition allows you to showcase your work to a wide audience through one of the most dynamic photography portals on the web.

Open to All Genres: Whether you're into photojournalism, street photography, fine art, landscapes, or portraiture—this competition welcomes all categories and subjects. Unleash your creativity!

For All Photographers: Open to both professional photographers and enthusiasts alike. Submit a cohesive body of work or portfolio that reflects your unique vision.

EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS:

Featured Solo Exhibition: Your work will be showcased for a full month across our Home Page, Competition Gallery, and Photography Exhibition Directory.

Exclusive Interview: In-depth insights and unique exposure.

Permanent Online Presence: Your Solo Exhibition will be permanently accessible on All About Photo Showroom + a dedicated portfolio page showcasing 20 images in our Photographers Directory.

Social Media Exposure: Reach a global audience through our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.

A Special Edition Newsletter exclusively dedicated to announcing your Solo Exhibition.

International Press Coverage: Get featured in major media outlets with guaranteed publications on Bored Panda, Visura, and Photophiles Magazine.

Sell Your Work, Commission-Free: Sell directly to buyers with no commission fees—maximize your earnings!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Open Theme
Submit 6 to 14 images for a flat fee of $45.
Only cohesive projects or portfolios will be published as a Solo Exhibition.

Why Wait? Submit Today! Seize the opportunity to gain international visibility, connect with industry experts, and elevate your photography career. Enter the Solo Exhibition competition now!

More information on the solo exhibition competition here

AAP Magazine 55: International Photography Contest Celebrating Women’s Strength and Beauty

Since the earliest days of photography, women have played a vital role in shaping visual culture—not only as subjects, but as creators of powerful narratives that define eras, challenge norms, and expand artistic boundaries.

Across documentary, fine art, fashion, portraiture, and experimental practices, women photographers have continuously redefined how stories are told through the lens. Today, photography remains one of the most influential tools for exploring identity, strength, resilience, and beauty, and women remain at the heart of that evolution.

AAP Magazine 55 proudly invites photographers from around the world to submit their work for a special edition dedicated entirely to women. This international photography competition is open to all artists, whether emerging or professional, who wish to present compelling visual interpretations centered on women.

The theme is intentionally open, offering complete creative freedom. Submissions may explore personal narratives, social issues, cultural perspectives, conceptual ideas, or purely aesthetic visions. All photographic genres and techniques are welcome, including digital, film, color, and black-and-white photography.

AAP Magazine 55 provides far more than a competition—it is a global platform for meaningful exposure. Selected photographers will have their work published in a prestigious international photography magazine recognized by collectors, curators, editors, and industry professionals worldwide.

In addition to publication, the competition awards a total of $1,000 in cash prizes and extensive visibility through editorial features and online promotion.

The first-place winner will receive a $500 cash prize, an exclusive interview, and prominent publication in AAP Magazine 55. Their work will also be showcased in the Winners Gallery on All About Photo and included in the printed edition distributed internationally.

The second-place winner will receive $300, and the third-place winner will receive $200, both benefiting from the same high-level exposure and publication opportunities.

Numerous honorable mentions will also be selected, with their photographs featured alongside the winners in this special edition.

Submitting to AAP Magazine 55 is an opportunity to elevate your photography career while becoming part of a curated collection celebrating women through diverse visual voices.

Publication in AAP Magazine places your work in front of a global audience actively engaged with contemporary photography. Beyond the printed magazine, selected images continue to gain online visibility, ensuring long-term exposure on one of the world’s most respected photography platforms.

The submission process is simple and open to both single images and cohesive portfolios. Whether your work is intimate or bold, documentary or conceptual, this edition of AAP Magazine is an invitation to share your vision and join an international conversation about women and photography.

AAP Magazine 55 is now accepting submissions. Photographers are encouraged to enter and take part in an edition that honors creativity, diversity, and the enduring power of visual storytelling.

Submit your work today and let your photography reach a worldwide audience.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK TODAY!

New Solo Show: ‘When The Pavement Breathes’ by Margarita Mavromichalis

All About Photo is thrilled to unveil our February Solo Exhibition, ‘When The Pavement Breathes’ by Margarita Mavromichalis

When The Pavement Breathes is a vivid exploration of the unnoticed moments that quietly transform the mundane into the extraordinary. Rooted in spontaneous, candid observation, this body of work traces the pulse of the street, where chance encounters fleeting gestures, and unguarded expressions briefly surface before dissolving back into routine. The photographs, made across cities and streets in different parts of the world, reveal unexpected juxtapositions and subtle details that disrupt habitual ways of seeing.

Despite their varied geographic origins, the images speak a shared visual language. Humor, irony, beauty, and oddity emerge not as cultural exceptions, but as universal human experiences. Familiar gestures repeat across borders; emotions echo from place to place. In this way, the work emphasizes how daily life, wherever it unfolds, carries more in common than we often assume.

Moving through these global yet intimate moments, the series invites viewers to slow down and rediscover wonder within the everyday. Shadows converse with architecture, bodies mirror their surroundings, and the ordinary becomes momentarily strange or luminous. When The Pavement Breathes suggests that the street itself is alive, responsive, expressive, and filled with quiet surprises just beneath the surface. By paying attention to what is often overlooked, the work reframes the urban landscape as a living gallery, where the most compelling moments are unscripted and universally human.

Discover the solo exhibition here