Commons:Photo challenge
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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
- Choose one or all of the current challenges
- Read the challenge description(s), which may vary in their rules (e.g., some place restrictions on when the photos are taken)
- 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)
- Upload your picture(s) during the challenge period
- 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.
- 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:
- Do not sign your submission(s)
- 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
2026 – January – Brutalist architecture
The new challenge features Brutalist architecture and Soviet modernist architecture.
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 January 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. January 2026 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 21 days 7 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)
Examples
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Entries
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Brutalism can be colorful. -
Interior of St. Adalbert church in Świnoujście, Poland -
Interior of St. Adalbert church in Świnoujście, Poland -
beautiful brutalism in Metz -
National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, Japan -
L' edificio che ospita l'Istituto giapponese di cultura a Roma, viene considerato un esempio di architettura brutalista che utilizzava il cemento armato, unita alle tipicità dell'architettura tradizionale giapponese. -
Karl-Marx-Monument (Chemnitz) und das Mercure-Hotel. -
Гостиница «Дружба», Выборг ( построена в 1982 году) 2H1A5462WI -
University of Winnipeg in a Blizzard the day Kobe Bryant died -
The Hudson Bay Building in a vacant Downtown Winnipeg on the first day of the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdowns -
St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg viewed from the river walk at The Forks -
The Marlborough Hotel in downtown Winnipeg -
Building in Winnipeg's Exchange District -
Bank building in Winnipeg with Brutalist Architecture behind it -
300 Main under construction in downtown Winnipeg -
Fort Gary Apartments in Winnipeg behind the Fort Garry Hotel -
The Oscar-Niemeyer-Haus in Berlin, Germany. -
High-rise complex Am Stadtwall 10 in Delmenhorst, Germany. -
Edificio in stile Brutalista in via Salaria a Roma (1970-1972) -
Architettura Brutalista in via Salaria a Roma. Edificio tra via Salaria e via di Tor Fiorenza (1977) -
Brutalist hotel Fairmont Golden Prague (formerly InterContinental) shortly after major reconstruction, Prague, Czechia -
Decorative wall at Fairmont Golden Prague hotel (formerly InterContinental), Prague, Czechia -
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, a concert hall in Japan -
Night view of Kondareddy fort -
Lille Metro station Quatre Cantons - Grand Stade (France) -
1. Karl-Marx-Monument (1971). Der Entwurf stammt von dem sowjetischen Bildhauer Lew Kerbel. 2. Hinterliegende Gebäude (1969). Chemnitz, Sachsen. -
St. Nicholas catholic church, Hérémence, Valais, Switzerland -
The "Manhattan" estate in Wrocław: residential and commercial complex, built in 1970, Grunwaldzki Square, Wrocław, Poland -
The ZREMB office building in Wrocław, an example of brutalist functional architecture of the communist era in Poland, Traugutta Street 1-7, Wrocław, Poland -
Catholic Church of St. James in Darmstadt-Kranichstein -
Exterior of Villa Cavrois (Croix), France. -
Entrance structure of the Sutjeska Memorial Complex (Monument to the Battle of Sutjeska), Tjentište, Bosnia and Herzegovina. -
1980s apartment buildings along Jintai Road. -
Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, in Hô Chi Minh-Ville, Vietnam. -
Nguyễn Thiện Thuật, in Hô Chi Minh-Ville, Vietnam. -
Tamkang Church Tamhai sanctuary. The Church of fair-faced concrete architecture in Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City -
Cergy Préfecture, Cergy-Pontoise, France -
Cergy Préfecture, Cergy-Pontoise, France -
_und_das_Mercure-Hotel_2H1A7558WI.jpg?lang=zh)
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_und_Geb%C3%A4ude_hinter_im_(1969)_in_Chemnitz_2H1A7600WI.jpg?lang=zh)
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2026 – January – Peace
The new challenge features Peace and Peace symbols.
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 January 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. January 2026 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 21 days 7 hours left before this challenge ends. (refresh)
Examples
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2.jpg?lang=zh)
.jpg?lang=zh)
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Entries
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Sign out front of recently burned down house in Wolf Point Montana that says "Never forget that justice is what love looks like in person" -
Blick auf die Wiese an der Elbe in Torgau, Sachsen. -
Osterbrunnen mit einer Friedensfigur in Form einer Taube in Gornsdorf, Sachsen. -
Ciondolo con il simbolo della Pace -
San Francesco d'Assisi, il fanciullo e le colombe. Statua all'ingresso del Santuario della Verna -
The Peacekeeping Monument, Ottawa.- Canada -
Door knob on Osnabrück city hall commemorating the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 -
Remains of an anti-aircraft gun emplacement. It is now a good place for a picnic. -
Memorial in honor of the french soldiers killed in 1832 during the Antwerp siege. Tournai (Belgium), -
Friedensglocke auf dem Fichtelberg. Erzgebirgskreis, Sachsen. -
Peace Bridge in Winnipeg at the Forks along the Nestaweya River Trail -
Peace Flame in Derry, lit after the Good Friday Agreement -
Peace Mural in Belfast near Sandy Row -
Peace mural in Derry Northern Ireland, the broken gun symbolizing the Good Friday Agreement -
Peace Mural in Derry with smaller violent murals below it -
Discarded protest signs in London, July of 2017 -
Civil Rights Mural in Derry at the cite of Bloody Sunday -
Make love not war! -
Erzgebirgische Volkskunst. Ortsschwibbogen in Oelsnitz, Erzgebirgskreis, Sachsen. -
A replica of the Urakami Cathedral bell. The original cathedral was destroyed by the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. -
Pace e Amor. Colomba della Pace sulle luminarie natalizie in via del Corso a Roma -
Signpost in Christiania (Copenhagen). -
-
-
Friedenspfahl in Schwäbisch Gmünd
peace-pole in Schwäbisch Gmünd -
Spiritueller Friedensort mit Buddha-Statue auf dem Zeiselberg in Schwäbisch Gmünd
Spiritual place of peace with Buddha statue on the Zeiselberg in Schwäbisch Gmünd -
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,_Place_de_Lille_%E2%80%93_Monument_aux_soldats_fran%C3%A7ais.jpg?lang=zh)
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.
December 2025
Previous challenges
October 2025
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Assembly train at the construction site of the new Nuremberg-Ebensfeld line |
Freight train near Eltmann | Грузовые поезда в России 2H1A5430WI |
| Author | Ermell | Ermell | Kora27 |
| Score | 13 | 12 | 10 |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Tanneries. Large open-air vats of color dyes with tannery workers amongst them in Fez |
Tanneries. Large open-air vats of color dyes with tannery workers amongst them in Fez |
mit blauer Tinte gefärbte Rose rose colored with blue ink |
| Author | Wowan1978 | Wowan1978 | Pedemann |
| Score | 25 | 16 | 10 |
September 2025
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Oasis de montagne de Chebika, en Tunisie, au petit matin du mois de janvier | Member of the Bhil ethnic group in southern Rajasthan in front of fired bricks, which the Bhil traditionally produce by hand, often in slave-like conditions | Bricks for construction |
| Author | Louhaeun | Lusi Lindwurm | Saral Shots |
| Score | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Gold colors fireworks from Dadaocheng, Taipei on 2025-08-20 | Золочёные фигурные купола Церковного корпуса Петергофского Дворца 2H1A4248WI | Chimor gold ear and head ornaments |
| Author | Junyu-K | Kora27 | WMrapids |
| Score | 16 | 9 | 7 |
August 2025
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Time to milk the cows. | Old style Chinese decoration | Contemporary blue and white bathroom |
| Author | Magnolia677 | Pauloleong2002 | OKJaguar |
| Score | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
File:200130 D 9059.CR2.jpg |
| Title | Andrews Mare, Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK |
Willow trees on the bank of the river Windrush at Witney, Oxfordshire, UK |
Tree on Lake Gunn Nature Walk in Fiordland National Park in Southland on South Island of New Zealand |
| Author | JoanaImages | Scampz | Karel Stipek Austria |
| Score | 17 | 14 | 10 |
July 2025
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | De Adriaan Windmill in Haarlem, Netherlands |
Seen on a tour of Norfolk Harbor, these massive dockside cranes will work on naval vessels. |
Blick von der 580 Meter hohen Steilklippe „Cabo Girao“ auf die am Ufer liegenden Terrassenfelder in der Nähe der Ortschaft Câmara de Lobos auf Madeira. |
| Author | JoanaImages | JoannaPoe | Otto Domes |
| Score | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Selecta vending machine in Chavannes-de-Bogis, Switzerland. |
Ticket machines in the concourse of Nuremberg Central Station |
Sake, øl og whisky i byen Fuji i Japan. |
| Author | W8Kp3mZr1j | Ermell | Odd Roar Aalborg |
| Score | 11 | 8 | 6 |
June 2025
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | One purple Tulip surrounded by a few white Tulips. |
Flamingos, one shakes itself after a bath, Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau, Camargue, France |
a goose surrounded by ducks |
| Author | MikeBurnsPhotos | Mozzihh | Chrissieminton |
| Score | 17 | 15 | 11 |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Treno a vapore nella stazione di Pontassive in occasione della Befana |
Sinter terraces full of steam in the morning sun, Lower Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park |
Vasca e sorgenti di acqua calda sulfurea al Parco della Mola di Oriolo Romano |
| Author | Repuli | Lusi Lindwurm | Albarubescens |
| Score | 13 | 10 | 8 |
May 2025
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image | .jpg?lang=zh) |
 |
|
| Title | Sunflower field in Burgundy | Waterlily | Hasenglöckchen eingerahmt |
| Author | Ibex73 | Peterdownunder | Englandfan~commonswiki |
| Score | 12 | 8 | 8 |
| Rank | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| image |  |
 |
|
| Title | Rettungsschwimmer im Parque Natural de Corralejo, Fuerteventura | Flag of Namibia on an airplane winglet | Paracadutista della Brigata Folgore con bandiera italiana sopra Livorno |
| Author | Fischer1961 | Mozzihh | Marcxosm |
| Score | 18 | 7 | 5 |
April 2025
| 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 |
| 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
| 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 |
| 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
| 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 |
| 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
| 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 |
| 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 |