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Photo Challenge

The Photo Challenge inspires photographers to take great pictures and upload them to Commons. Monthly thematic competitions encourage participants to try new subjects, new photographic or processing techniques, and to develop skills while improving the Commons repository of free images. Photographs entered into a competition must be new to Commons and taken by a Commons user.

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Formal things

Challenges

Challenges are based on a theme and run for a month. The theme may be a concrete subject, an abstract concept, a photographic technique or artistic style.

Participation

Everybody can participate in challenges open for submission. You simply

  1. Choose one or all of the current challenges
  2. Read the challenge description(s), which may vary in their rules (e.g., some place restrictions on when the photos are taken)
  3. Take picture(s) for the challenge(s) during the challenge period (or, if allowed, select from your own existing pictures that are not yet on Commons)
  4. Upload your picture(s) during the challenge period
  5. Submit your candidates at the top of the current challenge gallery during the challenge period. To do that you click the [Edit] button of the Entries section of your chosen challenge and insert the File name above the last entry (or above File:-Insert image here-.svg for the first entry).
    Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:
    Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron
    For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.
  6. Do not sign your submission(s)
  7. If you want, you can have a look at previous challenges and Vote

Challenges are open to any Commons user. Submissions must be your own work, not previously uploaded to Commons prior to the challenge date and should illustrate the challenge theme in the opinion of the photographer. Please read the challenge descriptions, as there may be additional rules or explanations for specific challenges. There is no limit on the number of submissions per user (unless specially so restricted in the challenge), but please choose from among your best and most varied images.

To submit pictures, you edit the gallery of the contest and add your candidate(s) to the top of the list.

New themes can be proposed and discussed here.

Assessment

After the challenge has closed to new submissions, the pictures will be assessed by popularity voting in the subsequent month. You are allowed to vote for images submitted by others if your Commons account is at least ten days old and has more than 50 edits or if you participated in one of the challenges. Challenges open for voting can be found here.

Winning

The best three pictures will be awarded first, second and third place. They will be displayed on the Photo challenge page and may use the template {{Photo challenge winner}} on the file description page.

Table of contents

New media viewing experience

Please note users can disable the media viewing experience for all images on Commons when logged in (uncheck "Enable Media Viewer" under Files and click Save in Preferences, Appearance).

Challenges open for submission


2025 – July – Waterside structures

The new challenge features Waterside structures.

Ideally, each submission should contain a summary description of the subject in the file information, including the location of the subject, and relevant categories should be added to the files to enable other Commons users to find them and use them. Please take care not to violate copyright in respect of non-free creative works, and observe our educational project scope and the personality rights of identifiable people, or your files may be subject to deletion.

The challenge will remain open for submissions throughout July UTC.

Checklist for this theme:

  • Photographs must be the work of the nominator.
  • Photographs must be newly uploaded to Commons during the challenge submission period i.e. July 2025 UTC (but may have been taken earlier).
  • Submissions must be added to the top of the "Entries" section below.
  • Please do not nominate lots of similar photos; instead choose just your best and most varied images.

Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

  • Restriction: A maximum of four entries can be submitted per photographer.

There are 20 days 9 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)


Examples

Entries

Submit your photos

  • Alte Mainbrücke in Würzburg - Views of the brige (Bavaria)
    Alte Mainbrücke in Würzburg - Views of the brige (Bavaria)
  • Isola dei Pescatori [Lake Maggiore], Italy
    Isola dei Pescatori [Lake Maggiore], Italy
  • Waterside Constrution - 2025
    Waterside Constrution - 2025
  • Pavilhão Japonês, Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo, SP em meados em Julho de 2025
    Pavilhão Japonês, Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo, SP em meados em Julho de 2025
  • Ibirapuera Park Bridge, July
    Ibirapuera Park Bridge, July
  • Ibirapuera Park Bridge, July 2025
    Ibirapuera Park Bridge, July 2025
  • Second Sausalito Waterfront with SF Background
    Second Sausalito Waterfront with SF Background
  • Wellen brechen sich an einer Buhne unterhalb der Strandpromenade von Baltrum
    Wellen brechen sich an einer Buhne unterhalb der Strandpromenade von Baltrum
  • The Efteling Grand Hotel just before the start of the fountain show Aquanura
    The Efteling Grand Hotel just before the start of the fountain show Aquanura
  • The scenery of the Kintai Bridge after the light has turned on at Neihu Dahu Park in the evening
    The scenery of the Kintai Bridge after the light has turned on at Neihu Dahu Park in the evening
  • Residential buildings by Årstaviken Stockholm
    Residential buildings by Årstaviken Stockholm
  • Winterhafen (Mainz)
    Winterhafen (Mainz)
  • Firenze di notte.
    Firenze di notte.
  • Seen on a tour of Norfolk Harbor, these massive dockside cranes will work on naval vessels.
    Seen on a tour of Norfolk Harbor, these massive dockside cranes will work on naval vessels.
  • Nave incagliata sul molo.
    Nave incagliata sul molo.
  • Quais of Canal du Faux-Rempart and Ill
    Quais of Canal du Faux-Rempart and Ill
  • Tenby Lifeboat Station, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
    Tenby Lifeboat Station, Pembrokeshire, South Wales
  • The Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon, Plaoshnik -Ohrid, North Macedonia.
    The Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon, Plaoshnik -Ohrid, North Macedonia.
  • Sausalito Waterfront with SF Background, Sausalito, California, United States
    Sausalito Waterfront with SF Background, Sausalito, California, United States
  • Trandkorb on the main beach, Touquet-Paris-Plage (Fr)
    Trandkorb on the main beach, Touquet-Paris-Plage (Fr)
  • The Queen Emma Bridge
    The Queen Emma Bridge
  • Lover Bridge of Tamsui on Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf at night.
    Lover Bridge of Tamsui on Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf at night.
  • Wharf on lago di Mergozzo
    Wharf on lago di Mergozzo
  • Former submarine tunnel in Montenegro
    Former submarine tunnel in Montenegro
  • View of Capri (island), Italy
    View of Capri (island), Italy
  • Gothic church in Stuttgart.
    Gothic church in Stuttgart.
  • CapitanaTramonto.
    CapitanaTramonto.
  • Waterside structure in Ustka
    Waterside structure in Ustka
  • Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station beside the Niagara River
    Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station beside the Niagara River
  • Wharf in Hamburg
    Wharf in Hamburg
  • Port de Morges, Switzerland
    Port de Morges, Switzerland
  • look out to the wind farm
    look out to the wind farm
  • Observation platform over the Baltic Sea; Chłopy Poland
    Observation platform over the Baltic Sea; Chłopy Poland
  • Concrete quay reinforcements; Baltic Sea
    Concrete quay reinforcements; Baltic Sea
  • Ferry on the Vistula River; Janowiec Poland
    Ferry on the Vistula River; Janowiec Poland
  • Bollard on the quay; Baltic Sea, Ustka Poland
    Bollard on the quay; Baltic Sea, Ustka Poland
  • Underwater observation window, Kitakyushu City, Japan
    Underwater observation window, Kitakyushu City, Japan
  • Rovine di edifici incompiuti si affacciano sul Lago Sandro Pertini (Lago ex-Snia), l'unico lago naturale all'interno di Roma, attualmente oasi naturalistica
    Rovine di edifici incompiuti si affacciano sul Lago Sandro Pertini (Lago ex-Snia), l'unico lago naturale all'interno di Roma, attualmente oasi naturalistica
  • Diga e Lago di Ridracoli
    Diga e Lago di Ridracoli
  • Закат на Гудзоне
    Закат на Гудзоне
  • NYC. George Washington Bridge
    NYC. George Washington Bridge
  • Бывший Бадаевский (Трёхгорный) пивоваренный завод. Вид с Москва-реки
    Бывший Бадаевский (Трёхгорный) пивоваренный завод. Вид с Москва-реки
  • Statue of liberty. View from Battery Park
    Statue of liberty. View from Battery Park
  • Maryport Old Lighthouse on a summer evening
    Maryport Old Lighthouse on a summer evening
  • Restaurant Sea Palace at Amsterdam
    Restaurant Sea Palace at Amsterdam
  • The houseboats of Amsterdam
    The houseboats of Amsterdam
  • Cityscape of Yeouido skyscrapers and Hangang Railway Bridge, Seoul
    Cityscape of Yeouido skyscrapers and Hangang Railway Bridge, Seoul
  • The People's Liberation Army Naval Museum in Qingdao, China
    The People's Liberation Army Naval Museum in Qingdao, China
  • A footbridge and adjacent building, within the Hama-rikyū Gardens in Tokyo, Japan
    A footbridge and adjacent building, within the Hama-rikyū Gardens in Tokyo, Japan
  • A sluice gate that leads to the Sumida River in Tokyo, Japan
    A sluice gate that leads to the Sumida River in Tokyo, Japan
  • Kitajukken River in Sumida Ward at night
    Kitajukken River in Sumida Ward at night
  • a perfect representation of majestic, multi-tiered waterfall in Chiapas Mexico
    a perfect representation of majestic, multi-tiered waterfall in Chiapas Mexico
  • Boathouse in Amsterdam
    Boathouse in Amsterdam
  • Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum and Amsterdam ship
    Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum and Amsterdam ship
  • Concrete cascades on Pena River, North Macedonia.
    Concrete cascades on Pena River, North Macedonia.
  • Control towers of a dam on the Mavrovo Lake, North Macedonia.
    Control towers of a dam on the Mavrovo Lake, North Macedonia.
  • Firenze - città attraversata dal fiume Arno - Panorama dal Piazzale Michelangelo.
    Firenze - città attraversata dal fiume Arno - Panorama dal Piazzale Michelangelo.
  • Campo sportivo e parco fluviale sul fiume Arno in Rignano sull'Arno (Firenze).
    Campo sportivo e parco fluviale sul fiume Arno in Rignano sull'Arno (Firenze).
  • San Clemente (Reggello) - sul fiume Arno.
    San Clemente (Reggello) - sul fiume Arno.
  • Embankment in Samsun, Turkey
    Embankment in Samsun, Turkey
  • Moskva river, Zaryadye Park
    Moskva river, Zaryadye Park
  • Chain Bridge, Budapest
    Chain Bridge, Budapest
  • Fort Paphos, Cyprus
    Fort Paphos, Cyprus
  • Looking across frozen Carter Pond toward cabin shelter
    Looking across frozen Carter Pond toward cabin shelter
  • Seaport and breakwater at sunset
    Seaport and breakwater at sunset
  • Lined up buildings overhanging the river.
    Lined up buildings overhanging the river.
  • Watermill in Ramsau am Dachstein in Austria,Europe
    Watermill in Ramsau am Dachstein in Austria,Europe
  • Evening spirit in a lodge at Okawango river in Namibia in Africa
    Evening spirit in a lodge at Okawango river in Namibia in Africa
  • Footbridge in Melbourne on the Southbank of Yarra River in Victoria in Australia
    Footbridge in Melbourne on the Southbank of Yarra River in Victoria in Australia
  • Town canal at night in Amsterdam,Netherlands,Europe
    Town canal at night in Amsterdam,Netherlands,Europe
  • Waterside structures of Nizhny Novgorod on the bank of the Volga river
    Waterside structures of Nizhny Novgorod on the bank of the Volga river
  • Waterside structures of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
    Waterside structures of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
  • Waterside structures on the bank of the Volga river
    Waterside structures on the bank of the Volga river
  • Skyline of Miyakojima Hirara Port in the afternoon
    Skyline of Miyakojima Hirara Port in the afternoon
  • Waterside structures in Ruissalo, Turku
    Waterside structures in Ruissalo, Turku
  • Rignano sull'Arno - paese sul fiume Arno.
    Rignano sull'Arno - paese sul fiume Arno.
  • Am Sandtorkai 1 and Neuerweg bridge in Hamburg
    Am Sandtorkai 1 and Neuerweg bridge in Hamburg
  • Weserwehrschleuse Bremen - Oslebshausen
    Weserwehrschleuse Bremen - Oslebshausen
  • Old port cranes in Gothenburg harbour
    Old port cranes in Gothenburg harbour
  • Cascada Brunnen im Ciutadella Park in Barcelona
    Cascada Brunnen im Ciutadella Park in Barcelona
  • Passeig de Colom Barcelona, Spanien
    Passeig de Colom Barcelona, Spanien
  • Okinawa Monorail 1104-1204 moving along Kokuba River, Naha, Okinawa
    Okinawa Monorail 1104-1204 moving along Kokuba River, Naha, Okinawa
  • Apartment buildings along the Liming Lake, Daqing, Heilongjiang
    Apartment buildings along the Liming Lake, Daqing, Heilongjiang
  • Jin River (between Jinjiang Bridge and Fuxing Bridge), Chengdu, Sichuan
    Jin River (between Jinjiang Bridge and Fuxing Bridge), Chengdu, Sichuan
  • Electrifying – container cranes at the Port of Thessaloniki, Greece, towering over the Thermaic Gulf.
    Electrifying – container cranes at the Port of Thessaloniki, Greece, towering over the Thermaic Gulf.
  • Alpine paradise. The perfect blend of crystal waters and majestic peaks.
    Alpine paradise. The perfect blend of crystal waters and majestic peaks.
  • Sonnenuntergang am Weissenhäuser Strand
    Sonnenuntergang am Weissenhäuser Strand
  • Küste von Fuerteventura aus der Luft gesehen
    Küste von Fuerteventura aus der Luft gesehen
  • Brighton West Pier
    Brighton West Pier
  • On the shores of the Baltic Sea.
    On the shores of the Baltic Sea.
  • To submit your photos please click here
    To submit your photos please click here

2025 – July – Vending machines

The new challenge features Vending machines.

Ideally, each submission should contain a summary description of the subject in the file information, including the location of the subject, and relevant categories should be added to the files to enable other Commons users to find them and use them. Please take care not to violate copyright in respect of non-free creative works, and observe our educational project scope and the personality rights of identifiable people, or your files may be subject to deletion.

The challenge will remain open for submissions throughout July UTC.

Checklist for this theme:

  • Photographs must be the work of the nominator.
  • Photographs must be newly uploaded to Commons during the challenge submission period i.e. July 2025 UTC (but may have been taken earlier).
  • Submissions must be added to the top of the "Entries" section below.
  • Please do not nominate lots of similar photos; instead choose just your best and most varied images.

Add your entry between the <gallery> tags as indicated. Gallery entries are placed each on a new line, and consist of the filename, a vertical bar |, and a description. For example:

Electric steam iron.jpg|An electric steam iron

For help on the syntax of entries in a gallery see Help:Gallery tag. Please do not add square brackets [[ ]] or include a thumb parameter or the full URL. The File: prefix is not required, but harmless.

  • Restriction: A maximum of four entries can be submitted per photographer.

There are 20 days 9 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)


Examples

  • A fruit vending machine
    A fruit vending machine

Entries

Submit your photos

  • A smart vending machine of NK BOSS(A C2B brand in Taiwan) that sells daily necessities.
    A smart vending machine of NK BOSS(A C2B brand in Taiwan) that sells daily necessities.
  • Máquina de Venda Automática de Guaraná em 2025
    Máquina de Venda Automática de Guaraná em 2025
  • Corona Vending Machine
    Corona Vending Machine
  • Italo tickets vending machines, Venice, Santa Lucia station, Italy
    Italo tickets vending machines, Venice, Santa Lucia station, Italy
  • Red Crown Gasoline pump in Seligman.- Arizona (USA)
    Red Crown Gasoline pump in Seligman.- Arizona (USA)
  • One Swiss roll vending machine by Yannick(A Taiwan patisserie brand) at Taipei Bridge Station.
    One Swiss roll vending machine by Yannick(A Taiwan patisserie brand) at Taipei Bridge Station.
  • Self-service ramen machine and beverage machine in Galaxy Diner in Flagstaff, Arizona
    Self-service ramen machine and beverage machine in Galaxy Diner in Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Unmanned self-service ramen machine and beverage machine by Yo-Kai Express at Ximen metro station.
    Unmanned self-service ramen machine and beverage machine by Yo-Kai Express at Ximen metro station.
  • That drink goods is sold out other than Lipton aluminum foil milk tea sachets inside the beverage vending machine of HeySong in Riverside Park of New taipei City.
    That drink goods is sold out other than Lipton aluminum foil milk tea sachets inside the beverage vending machine of HeySong in Riverside Park of New taipei City.
  • Rural products vending machines at Daqingxi Railway Station, Daqing, Heilongjiang
    Rural products vending machines at Daqingxi Railway Station, Daqing, Heilongjiang
  • Air vending machine
    Air vending machine
  • Kulkomat in Ustka seaside resort
    Kulkomat in Ustka seaside resort
  • Train tickets
    Train tickets
  • Retro-style russian soda water vending machine
    Retro-style russian soda water vending machine
  • Selecta vending machine in Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland.
    Selecta vending machine in Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland.
  • Vending machine and coin locker in Akihabara, Japan.
    Vending machine and coin locker in Akihabara, Japan.
  • Vending machine and coin locker seen in Steins;Gate in Akihabara, Japan.
    Vending machine and coin locker seen in Steins;Gate in Akihabara, Japan.
  • Kunst für 5 €
    Kunst für 5 €
  • Sake, øl og whisky i byen Fuji i Japan.
    Sake, øl og whisky i byen Fuji i Japan.
  • Capsule toy machines in Japan
    Capsule toy machines in Japan
  • Vending machines at New Hampshire Welcome Center
    Vending machines at New Hampshire Welcome Center
  • Honey vendor in Hamburg
    Honey vendor in Hamburg
  • Fuel pump at Costco Nanjo in Okinawa, Japan
    Fuel pump at Costco Nanjo in Okinawa, Japan
  • Vending maching selling amulets in Nagano, Japan
    Vending maching selling amulets in Nagano, Japan
  • Self-service karaoke box at Beijing Daxing International Airport
    Self-service karaoke box at Beijing Daxing International Airport
  • Self-service beer dispensing station in Qingdao
    Self-service beer dispensing station in Qingdao
  • Service vending machines
    Service vending machines
  • Electricity vending machine
    Electricity vending machine
  • Time vending machine
    Time vending machine
  • Chewing gum machine in Schlüsselfeld
    Chewing gum machine in Schlüsselfeld
  • Gumball machine
    Gumball machine
  • Cofee vending machine in Provence
    Cofee vending machine in Provence
  • To submit your photos please click here
    To submit your photos please click here

Challenges open for voting

Voting is open to all registered contributors who have held accounts for at least 10 days and made 50 edits, and also to new Commons contributors who have entered the challenge with a picture. Users cannot vote for their own picture. Voters may select up to three photographs in each theme to award points and can give praise to other photos without awarding points. Voting will be open for one month. The votes not complying with those requirements will be removed or converted to praises. In some cases users might be asked to correct their votes after voting ends.



June 2025

Previous challenges


May 2025

April 2025

Meadows: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 3
image
Title A hill dream Sunset over a green meadow
with forest in foreground
and layered mountain
silhouettes in the distance,
under a glowing orange sky.		 Fioritura a Castelluccio
di Norcia. Italia
Author Anna.Massini Martinovmejl Repuli
Score 14 12 9
Camelidae: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 3
image
Title Camel at toni's zoo - B&W Kamel am Strand in Ägypten. Ägyptische Motive mit
Kamel. Strand des
Grand Makadi Hotels
am Roten Meer.
Author Roy Egloff Kora27 Kora27
Score 16 11 10

March 2025

Hiking: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 1 3
image
Title Silhouette of a female hiker
in front of the Massif du Mont-Blanc		 A hiker on the last meters before
reaching the summit of the
Schneespitze in the Stubai Alps		 A picture of three people hiking
the path called "Dragon's Back"
in Brecon, Wales. Taken by
Lauren Moon in June of 2024.
Author Stephan Sprinz Milseburg Lighting-design-lila
Score 15 15 11
Newspapers: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 3
image
Title Newspapers are living history Newspaper reader
in Naples, Italy		 Rolled up newspaper delivered
to a home in Redan, Victoria.
Author Sindugab Mozzihh Peterdownunder
Score 14 12 10

February 2025

Absence: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 3
image
Title Absence of essence Automatic river lighthouse.
Yenisei River, Krasnoyarsk		 Linden alley at Kalevankangas
Cemetery in Tampere, Finland
Author Tn.kuvat VSerebrenikov Xannima
Score 18 17 12
Healthy living: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 3
image
Title Heal thy life. Sun salutation for
healthy living		 Young athletic girl
Author Tn.kuvat Sneha G Gupta VSerebrenikov
Score 12 11 10

January 2025

Leatherwork: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 2
image
Title Tanners at work in
one of the old tanneries
of Fez, Morocco		 Pilot with Leather
Aviator Helmet		 Handmade shoes
Author Lusi Lindwurm Roy Egloff AK-Bino
Score 24 11 11
Ovals: Entries • Votes • Scores
Rank 1 2 3
image
Title Horseshoe Bend (Arizona) Underpass of
Michelinstraße in Hallstadt		 Fontana in un
giardino storico
in Roccalvecce (Viterbo)
Author Gzzz Ermell Albarubescens
Score 15 12 11

Previous years

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