The Photography Club of India, a distinguished unit of the Imageshpere Foundation, proudly unveils IKSHANA!
IKSHANA – is more than a mere platform; it is the very essence of the eye, the vision, and the revelation of the created! Within IKSHANA, the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary, serving as the nexus for our dynamic community of over 70,000 visual creators. This is where the remarkable is extracted from the every day, where the mundane is elevated to the magnificent.
Welcome to IKSHANA, where creativity knows no bounds, and every photograph tells a story of vision, passion, and revelation.
Embarking on an exciting evolution from a traditional photography exhibition and contest, the Photography Club of India (PCI) is proud to unveil the grand transformation of its annual event into a spectacular FESTIVAL – introducing IKSHANA PHOTO FESTIVAL 2026.
IKSHANA PHOTO FESTIVAL 2026 is not just an event; it’s a celebration of exceptional photography spanning across the globe. Our festival aims to acknowledge and commend outstanding photographers and serve as a powerful platform for both professional and enthusiast photographers to showcase their work to a global audience.
Beyond the lens, IKSHANA PHOTO FESTIVAL 2026 is dedicated to shedding light on pressing societal issues through the impactful visual medium of photography. Our festival is not just an exhibition; it’s a platform for awareness, engagement, and dialogue.
Immerse yourself in a diverse range of events that IKSHANA PHOTO FESTIVAL 2026 has to offer, including enlightening Talks and Discussions, captivating Exhibitions, thrilling Photography competitions, invaluable Portfolio Reviews, thought-provoking Screenings, exciting Book launches, and enriching Workshops. Join us in this extraordinary celebration of creativity, vision, and the power of visual storytelling!
CATEGORIES:
Open color:
Subject Freedom: Any subject is allowed — landscapes, portraits, street scenes, wildlife, abstract, etc. Color Requirement – Images must be in color. Monochrome or black-and-white photos are not accepted under this theme.
Open monochrome:
Focuses on storytelling through light, shadow, form, and texture, using black-and-white, grayscale, sepia, or toned monochrome formats with no visible color elements allowed; Again, this category accepts all genres including portraits, landscapes, street, and abstract photography, provided the image is fully monochrome.
RULES AND REGULATIONS:
1. General Eligibility and Submission Guidelines
1.1. All photographs must be taken by the participating individual using a DSLR, mirrorless, prosumer camera, or the highest-resolution (maximum size) setting available on mobile devices.
1.2. Participants must follow the submission guidelines for each category. For clarifications, write to: [email protected]
/ [email protected]
1.3.Images containing signatures, borders, logos, watermarks, or any other markings are strictly prohibited and will be rejected.
1.4.Participants whose images are shortlisted must submit:
a. RAW files (e.g., CR2, NEF, ORF, PEF, etc.)
b. The original unedited JPEG file for authentication
Note: DNG files are allowed only if they are the camera’s native RAW format.
1.5.If your work is selected for display at IKSHANA PHOTO FESTIVAL 2026, you will be notified via your registered email and asked to submit high-resolution images.
2. Selection, Judging, and Organizer’s Rights
2.1.The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence regarding results will be entertained.
2.2.PCI reserves the authority to select or reject any entry that does not meet required standards or deviates from the rules.
2.3. The Organizer reserves the right to change or replace the time, venue, prizes, or any rules and regulations as necessary, with or without prior notice.
3. Awards, Certificates, and Collection of Works.
3.1.Winners must collect their certificate, award, and the exhibited photo frame from the exhibition venue.
3.2.If you cannot collect your exhibited photo frame at the venue, PCI will hold it for 15 calendar days at its Kolkata office.
a. After 15 days, the frame becomes PCI’s property.
b. If PCI uses or sells the frame elsewhere, your photo credit will be acknowledged.
4.Legal Responsibility
4.1. If people appear in your photographs, you are responsible for obtaining appropriate permissions or model releases, if required.
PAYMENT AND SUBMISSION DETAILS:
** This value will be auto-converted as per your local currency rate.
5. There are two categories . Maximum 3 Photos in each Category. The number of submissions will be limited to as explained in the rule.
6. PCI will have the authority to select or reject works if they are not per standard or deviate from any of the rules.
7. If your work is selected for the display at IKSHANA PHOTO FESTIVAL 2026, you will be notified through your registered email and request to submit high-resolution photographs.
8. Photos having signature, logo, watermark and border are not acceptable.
9. If you choose to include people in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining the necessary releases from the individuals depicted, in case required.
POST PROCESSING – ALLOWED
1. Colour Correction
2. Removal of Dust
3. Cropping
4. Reasonable Adjustments of Exposure
5. Contrast
6. Conversion to monochrome
POST PROCESSING – NOT ALLOWED
1. Watermarks, Logo or Signature or Borders
2. Manipulation
3. Staging in case of street or candid
4. deliberately arranging something in order to mislead the audience
5. Painting in Object Details
6. Photo Montage, collage or super impose.
SPECIFICATION OF IMAGE:
Format: JPEG/JPG
Max Size: 1MB
Minimum Size: 1024px Longer Side with 100 dpi min
image Size should be 11 inches in the longer side
SCHEDULE:
Photo Submission starts: 08th Dec 2025 IST 0.00 Hr
Last Date of Photo Submission: 30th Jan 2026 IST 24.00 Hr
Result: 3rd Week of February 2026
Exhibition: March 2026
Exhibition Location: Kolkata
Contest Help:
Technical Help:
Whatsapp Support:
+91 7686976886
PCI Help Desk:
