Grand Jury
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 Grand Jury brings together practitioners from renowned photographic art institutions and museums, editors from authoritative photography magazines, directors of art centres, curators, and representatives of photography communities.
* The following names are listed in no particular order.
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 Grand Jury brings together practitioners from renowned photographic art institutions and museums, editors from authoritative photography magazines, directors of art centres, curators, and representatives of photography communities.
* The following names are listed in no particular order.
KALLE SANNER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HASSELBLAD FOUNDATION
Grand jury chair, Kalle Sanner, is the Executive Director at Hasselblad Foundation. A photographer himself, his work explores the interplay between spatiality and perception. His practice in architectural photography encompasses both self-initiated projects and commissions for cultural institutions, architectural firms, and design studios. Sanner has previously worked as Head of Unit for Film, Photography, and Literary Composition at HDK-Valand.
ALEX POLLACK
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Alex Pollack is the Director of Photography at National Geographic, where she leads the brand's visual storytelling strategy across platforms. With two decades of experience in important roles, she is known for her keen editorial judgement and dedication to creating impactful imagery. Her influence has shaped how stories are told through photography in both digital and print, placing a focus on diversity, originality and strong visual narratives.
AYA MUSA
SENIOR CURATOR
FOAM
Aya Musa serves as a Senior Curator at Foam, the preeminent photography museum in the Netherlands. Prior to this, Musa was a curator at the Nederlands Fotomuseum. For many years, he has been involved in the planning and execution of various exhibitions, many of which have set new benchmarks in their respective genres. He is particularly interested in contemporary photographic art that responds to today's society.
KALLE SANNER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HASSELBLAD FOUNDATION
Grand jury chair, Kalle Sanner, is the Executive Director at Hasselblad Foundation. A photographer himself, his work explores the interplay between spatiality and perception. His practice in architectural photography encompasses both self-initiated projects and commissions for cultural institutions, architectural firms, and design studios. Sanner has previously worked as Head of Unit for Film, Photography, and Literary Composition at HDK-Valand.
ALEX POLLACK
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Alex Pollack is the Director of Photography at National Geographic, where she leads the brand's visual storytelling strategy across platforms. With two decades of experience in important roles, she is known for her keen editorial judgement and dedication to creating impactful imagery. Her influence has shaped how stories are told through photography in both digital and print, placing a focus on diversity, originality and strong visual narratives.
AYA MUSA
SENIOR CURATOR
FOAM
Aya Musa serves as a Senior Curator at Foam, the preeminent photography museum in the Netherlands. Prior to this, Musa was a curator at the Nederlands Fotomuseum. For many years, he has been involved in the planning and execution of various exhibitions, many of which have set new benchmarks in their respective genres. He is particularly interested in contemporary photographic art that responds to today's society.
PAUL LACHENAUER
MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Paul Lachenauer is a managing photographer in the Imaging Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he has photographed objects in the Met's collection for the past 29 years. Currently he is working on Across the Wine Dark Seas, an exhibition catalogue for the Met's Greek and Roman Department. His personal photography is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the New York Public Library.
REBECCA SWIFT
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE
GETTY IMAGES
Rebecca Swift is the Senior Vice President, Creative, of Getty Images, leading content creation used in global award-winning advertising, design, and editorial content. With more than 20 years in photography, she co-founded the creative research team at Getty Images, steers visual diversity in the industry and shares insights globally. She has multiple honours, like AdAge's "20 Women to Watch" and the "Most Influential Leader in UK Visual Media".
RONGRONG
CO-FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
THREE SHADOWS PHOTOGRAPHY ART CENTRE
RongRong co-founded the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre and the Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival. With his wife inri, he created series like In Fujisan and Liulitun. Their works are collected worldwide, including by New York's MoMA, London's Tate Modern, and the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. The couple has won the "Outstanding Contribution to Photography" from Sony World Photography Awards and the "International Award" from the Photographic Society of Japan.
PAUL LACHENAUER
MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Paul Lachenauer is a managing photographer in the Imaging Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he has photographed objects in the Met's collection for the past 29 years. Currently he is working on Across the Wine Dark Seas, an exhibition catalogue for the Met's Greek and Roman Department. His personal photography is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the New York Public Library.
REBECCA SWIFT
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE
GETTY IMAGES
Rebecca Swift is the Senior Vice President, Creative, of Getty Images, leading content creation used in global award-winning advertising, design, and editorial content. With more than 20 years in photography, she co-founded the creative research team at Getty Images, steers visual diversity in the industry and shares insights globally. She has multiple honours, like AdAge's "20 Women to Watch" and the "Most Influential Leader in UK Visual Media".
RONGRONG
CO-FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
THREE SHADOWS PHOTOGRAPHY ART CENTRE
RongRong co-founded the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre and the Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival. With his wife inri, he created series like In Fujisan and Liulitun. Their works are collected worldwide, including by New York's MoMA, London's Tate Modern, and the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. The couple has won the "Outstanding Contribution to Photography" from Sony World Photography Awards and the "International Award" from the Photographic Society of Japan.
SONIA JEUNET
GLOBAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR
MAGNUM PHOTOS
Sonia Jeunet is the Global Education Director at Magnum Photos, based in London. She develops and curates the agency's educational programmes, while taking the lead on partnerships that shape the agency's vision for photographic education. With more than 15 years of experience in visual storytelling, she regularly teaches about professional practice and serves as juror and portfolio reviewer for major photography events and festivals.
ZACK HATFIELD
MANAGING EDITOR
APERTURE
Zack Hatfield is the managing editor of Aperture magazine, where he commissions and edits stories, coordinates with contributors, and assists with books that originate from the magazine department. In 2024, he was a juror for the Aperture Portfolio Prize. Before joining the organisation in 2024, he was a senior editor of Artforum.com. His writing has appeared in Artforum, Bookforum, 4Columns, and the New York Review of Books.
SONIA JEUNET
GLOBAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR
MAGNUM PHOTOS
Sonia Jeunet is the Global Education Director at Magnum Photos, based in London. She develops and curates the agency's educational programmes, while taking the lead on partnerships that shape the agency's vision for photographic education. With more than 15 years of experience in visual storytelling, she regularly teaches about professional practice and serves as juror and portfolio reviewer for major photography events and festivals.
ZACK HATFIELD
MANAGING EDITOR
APERTURE
Zack Hatfield is the managing editor of Aperture magazine, where he commissions and edits stories, coordinates with contributors, and assists with books that originate from the magazine department. In 2024, he was a juror for the Aperture Portfolio Prize. Before joining the organisation in 2024, he was a senior editor of Artforum.com. His writing has appeared in Artforum, Bookforum, 4Columns, and the New York Review of Books.
Categories
Categories
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 competition features seven categories, focusing on the essence of visual art: exceptional image quality, authentic beauty, in-depth thinkings, fresh perspectives, and creativity.
The Hasselblad Masters 2026 competition features seven categories, focusing on the essence of visual art: exceptional image quality, authentic beauty, in-depth thinkings, fresh perspectives, and creativity.
- Entries in the Landscape category reflect photographers' unique perspectives, balancing aesthetics with narrative depth. We hope to see works that go beyond surface beauty to draw viewers into the scene, creating a sense of presence and vivid emotional resonance. Ultimately, these works should forge a shared connection between humanity and nature.Submit NowLandscape
- Architecture photography transcends mere technical proficiency, urging fresh perspectives that break conventional views of buildings. The works should carry creators' unique interpretation, using photographic language to shift viewers' experience of structure and built environment. We look forward to works that reveal cultural memories, social traces, and the marks of time, thereby unveiling profound humanistic meanings.Submit NowArchitecture
- Portrait photography reveals the subjects' inner worlds, complex emotions, and inner selves, while also embodying the encounters, connections, and resonance between the photographers and the subjects. Beyond superficial appearances, we hope to see works that capture the unseen, special moments of different identities and resonate deeply with viewers.Submit NowPortrait
- Entries in the Street category go beyond merely documenting a city. They carry photographers' unique interpretation, turning ordinary urban fragments into a living, breathing narration of how we live and interact. We hope to see works that showcase authentic subtle bonds between people and cities—stories that speak volumes and evoke a sense of co-presence.Submit NowStreet
- The Art category is a realm of fantasy where concept merges with technique, driven by creativity as well as human imagination and sensibility. We look forward to entries that break norms and reveal independent thinking through a distinct visual signature. These works should reshape perceptions of photography as art, and connect with global viewers through a visual language that resonates beyond the frame.Submit NowArt
- Project//21 is an unconstrained platform for photographers who are 21 years old or younger to express their intuitive and uncharted power. With no restrictions on themes or genres, we hope to see works brimming with youthful power that explore the boundaries of photographic technology whilst revealing independent thinking, keen observation, and sincere creativity.Submit NowProject//21
- Wildlife photography requires technical mastery alongside a strong point of view, making it a bridge for viewers to admire the beauty and wonder of nature. We hope to see works that capture unrepeatable moments and visualise the subtle bond between humans and wildlife. These images should convey life's vitality and nature's rhythm, connecting viewers with these creatures and provoking in-depth reflections on our relationship with nature.Submit NowWildlife
Landscape
Entries in the Landscape category reflect photographers' unique perspectives, balancing aesthetics with narrative depth. We hope to see works that go beyond surface beauty to draw viewers into the scene, creating a sense of presence and vivid emotional resonance. Ultimately, these works should forge a shared connection between humanity and nature.
Submit NowArchitecture
Architecture photography transcends mere technical proficiency, urging fresh perspectives that break conventional views of buildings. The works should carry creators' unique interpretation, using photographic language to shift viewers' experience of structure and built environment. We look forward to works that reveal cultural memories, social traces, and the marks of time, thereby unveiling profound humanistic meanings.
Submit NowPortrait
Portrait photography reveals the subjects' inner worlds, complex emotions, and inner selves, while also embodying the encounters, connections, and resonance between the photographers and the subjects. Beyond superficial appearances, we hope to see works that capture the unseen, special moments of different identities and resonate deeply with viewers.
Submit NowStreet
Entries in the Street category go beyond merely documenting a city. They carry photographers' unique interpretation, turning ordinary urban fragments into a living, breathing narration of how we live and interact. We hope to see works that showcase authentic subtle bonds between people and cities—stories that speak volumes and evoke a sense of co-presence.
Submit NowArt
The Art category is a realm of fantasy where concept merges with technique, driven by creativity as well as human imagination and sensibility. We look forward to entries that break norms and reveal independent thinking through a distinct visual signature. These works should reshape perceptions of photography as art, and connect with global viewers through a visual language that resonates beyond the frame.
Submit NowProject//21
Project//21 is an unconstrained platform for photographers who are 21 years old or younger to express their intuitive and uncharted power. With no restrictions on themes or genres, we hope to see works brimming with youthful power that explore the boundaries of photographic technology whilst revealing independent thinking, keen observation, and sincere creativity.
Submit NowWildlife
Wildlife photography requires technical mastery alongside a strong point of view, making it a bridge for viewers to admire the beauty and wonder of nature. We hope to see works that capture unrepeatable moments and visualise the subtle bond between humans and wildlife. These images should convey life's vitality and nature's rhythm, connecting viewers with these creatures and provoking in-depth reflections on our relationship with nature.
Submit NowPrizes
Prizes
Prizes include a Hasselblad 100-megapixel mirrorless medium format camera (X2D II 100C), two XCD Series lenses, a creative fund of EUR 5,000, and an opportunity for your work to be published in the Hasselblad Masters book.
Prizes include a Hasselblad 100-megapixel mirrorless medium format camera (X2D II 100C), two XCD Series lenses, a creative fund of EUR 5,000, and an opportunity for your work to be published in the Hasselblad Masters book.
Timeline
Timeline
Rules
Rules
- The Hasselblad Masters competition is open to photographers worldwide. Entries may be shot on any digital or film camera from any camera brand and in any frame size. However, photos taken with drones, smartphones, or tablets are not eligible.
- Project//21 is open to photographers worldwide who are 21 years old or younger. There are no restrictions on the theme of entries. However, for age verification, participants must provide proof of age before the finalists are announced.
- Participants may submit entries to any competition category on the official Hasselblad website. Each category requires the submission of three photos that fit the category's theme and are consistent in style. A single group of three images may only be submitted to one category. Images must be submitted as a JPG (less than 10MB per image) with a resolution of 300 dpi or higher. The longest side of the image should be 1000 pixels or longer. Images must not have watermarks, signatures, etc.
- Entries that have previously won awards at the Hasselblad Masters competition or other photography contests (including but not limited to the Sony World Photography Awards, the Nikon Photo Contest, the International Photography Awards, SkyPixel Annual Photo & Video Contest, World Press Photo Contest, Trierenberg Super Circuit, etc.) are ineligible for this contest.
- Participants must ensure the authenticity of their information and the originality of their entries. If false information is submitted or the entries are AI synthesised, the participant will be disqualified and bear the corresponding legal responsibilities.