GSA is pleased to announce the 2026 Photography Competition to encourage girls to be bold and go beyond their perspective through visual creativity.

As the final instalment of this year’s ‘Go Bold’ student event series, we are excited to launch the 2026 Photography Competition, generously sponsored by Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

An opportunity for you to explore the theme of ‘Light the Way: Female Leadership Guidance’ for all girls.

Lighting the way is a theme which inspires girls by highlighting the importance of guidance, empowerment, and confidence in helping them achieve their full potential.

So spread the word and get everyone excited for this creative competition!

SCAD is a private, non-profit, accredited university, offering more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners.

Theme

‘Light the Way: Female Leadership Guidance’

An opportunity for you to explore the theme of ‘Light the Way: Female Lead ership Guidance’ for all girls.

Who lights the way for you? Maybe it’s a teacher who believed in you, a friend who always has your back, a family member whose strength you admire, or a community that makes you feel like you belong. This theme is about the people, places, and ideas that guide and inspire us — the ones who help us find our direction, lift us up when things are tough, and show us what’s possible.

Pick up your camera and photograph whatever lights the way for you. It could be a person, a place, a moment, or even something that represents the encouragement and support that keeps you going.

 

 

TAKING PART

Get creative, think about the theme and snap your photo! Choose a title for your photo. The shorter the better usually!

Start your caption with – ‘Light the way…’ and tell us who or what lights the way for you and why.

  1. Take photo
  2. Choose title
  3. Create a caption

 

CAMERA EQUIPMENT 

The best camera is the one you have access to.

People think that expensive cameras take great photos – this is not always true and our judges won’t be taking this into consideration.

Judges will be looking at your composition, creativity, storytelling and how you link your photo, title and caption to the theme.

 

 

 

Meet the Judges!

Vivien Allender

Photography Faculty
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Born in Australia and drawn early to Japan, Vivien Allender’s career began in Tokyo, where she photographed and wrote about the youth cultures of Japan for a range of publications including Vogue Australia. With a focus on fashion, her work has been featured around the globe in print and advertising campaigns.

Josh Jalbert

Chair of Photography
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Josh Jalbert is an artist, educator, and Chair of Photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where he has taught since 2010. Jalbert holds an M.F.A. in Photography from the University of Oregon and conducted postgraduate study in Philosophy, Art and Critical Thought at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. His research spans aesthetic theory and philosophy, new media, and photography as transdisciplinary art practice.

Exhibition credits include Photo London at Somerset House, Manifest Gallery, the Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, the College of William & Mary, the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University, the Schneider Museum of Art, the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, and the Center for Fine Art Photography. His work is held in private and public collections, has appeared in film and television productions, and has been featured on wearable and consumer products.

Rules

  • You may interpret the theme in any way you wish.
  • Entries are free.
  • Submissions can be photos in any aspect ratio – portrait, landscape, panorama, square etc. All entries should be one photo only. If more than one photo is submitted per application, the first photo will be selected as the one to be judged.
  • You can use any camera or device to take a photo – including iPads, phones, cameras – anything that has a camera, you can use to take your photo.
  • Please include your name, age, year group, and school on your submission.
  • Please include a title for your submission.
  • Please include a caption for your photo that is no more than 50 words and starts ‘Light the way…’.
  • Only one entry per pupil allowred.
  • There are three age categories:
    a. KS2 – Years 3 to 6 – most people will be aged 7 – 11 years

b. KS3 – Years 7 to 9 – most people will be aged 11 – 14 years

c. KS4 & KS5 – Years 10 to 13 – (including Sixth Form) – most people will be aged 14 – 18 years

  • Entries must be your own original work.
  • Entries must be submitted no later than Friday 11 September using the button below. A supervising teacher’s email address will be required for submission.
  • Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

a. Originality and creativity

b. Creative expression of the ‘Light the Way: Female Leadership Guidance’ theme

c. Composition of photo

d. Use of title and caption to engage the viewer in the photograph

  • Winners will be announced in the Autumn term 2026.

Submitting your work

 

Please submit your entries by Friday 11 September 2026 11:59pm.

 

The longlist in each category will be informed, via their teacher, no later than Friday 9 October 2026.

 

The shortlist in each category will be informed, via their teacher, no later than Friday 23 October 2026.

 

Winners will be announced at the GSA Annual Conference, Monday 16 – Tuesday 17 November 2026.

 

GSA will announce and celebrate the longlist, shortlist, and winners over its communications channels.

 

Submit your entry

WINNING & PRIZES

A winner will be announced for each category.

All winners will be invited to make a video recording of themselves showcasing their winning entry. The photos from the shortlist and winners will be displayed at the GSA Annual Conference in November.

Winning photos will be published on the GSA website at www.gsa.uk.com and shared on social media; winners must keep their status confidential until this time.