About

“UNFILTERED”

New York doesn’t pose — it lives. Every block, every face, every moment tells a story. UNFILTERED is about capturing the city’s beauty in its truest form: the laughter, the chaos, the quiet, the connection. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence. The stories that make this city impossible to define, but unforgettable to feel.

Submit

• A series of 5–10 original photographs
• A short self-introduction
• A title for each photo
• A short story paragraph about the work

What winners receive

1st Place

• $5,000 Cash Prize

• Named Hotel Canvas Featured Artist 2026

• Solo Exhibition at Hotel Canvas Fifth Avenue Gallery

2nd Place

• $1,000 Cash Prize

3rd Place

• $500 Cash Prize

All participants may:

• Have a guest room in Hotel Canvas Fifth Avenue named after them

• Use that room as their personal Canvas to display work

• Keep 100% of sales revenue from their art

– Hotel Canvas Group

About Canvas Group

Breaking the traditional definitions of “guest” and “hotel”, with the core concept that “the hotel is the canvas and the guest is the creator”. Canvas is transferred as a living art gallery where guests are encouraged to record and interpret their unique connection with this city through diverse emotional perception and forms of expression, whether it is photography, paintings or writings, so that people, emotions and endless artistic possibilities converge here at Canvas.

How to enter

Preference given to students currently enrolled in a College Photo Program

Judging Rules

1. Each judge gives a score in every category (up to that category’s maximum points).
2. Judges should weigh both artistic expression and connection to the theme 'UNFILTERED'.
3. Final scores are averaged across judges to determine rankings.
4. In the event of a tie, Storytelling & Emotion will serve as the tiebreaker.
5. Judges must declare any conflicts of interest and abstain from related entries.

Each participant’s work will be evaluated across five categories, with each category carrying a maximum point value. Judges assign a score directly in each category — the total adds up to 100 points. The highest-scoring entries determine the finalists and winners.

Storytelling & Emotion

How deeply the work moves the viewer — the strength of its narrative, mood, and emotional connection. Max points: 35

Authenticity & Connection to Theme

How well the work embodies the theme 'UNFILTERED' — real, raw, and true to the artist’s perspective. Max points: 25

Creativity & Vision

Originality of concept, style, and composition — showing a unique way of seeing New York. Max points: 20

Technical Execution

Mastery of lighting, framing, exposure, and clarity that enhances the story. Max points: 10

Cohesion & Series Narrative

How well the images function as a complete series — flow, rhythm, and consistency. Max points: 10

Total: 100 points