Photometria Awards 2025: “Non Stop Pop”

Photometria Awards 2025: “Non Stop Pop” is now open for entries!

Photometria Awards 2025: “Non Stop Pop” : Photometria International Photography Festival announces an open call for photographers from around the world to submit their perspective on “Non Stop Pop“ and invites everyone who loves the art of photography to participate.

➜ Short description

Photometria International Photography Festival announces an open call for photographers from around the world to submit their perspective on “Non Stop Pop“ and invites everyone who loves the art of photography to participate. Pop culture reflects the values, desires and concerns of contemporary society and is constantly being redefined through its commercial dissemination in the media and consumer culture. The concept of “Non Stop Pop” suggests a constant and unceasing flow of images and symbols that flood the social web and constantly influence our perceptions and expectations.

An anthropological interpretation of pop culture focuses on its role as a collective tool for identity formation, creating a kind of “collective ego” expressed through symbols, clothing choices and behaviours, forming communities that are connected through the shared acceptance of these characteristics.

The notion of pop culture as a product of consumption is also a crucial dimension to be explored. As a field of incessant commodification and consumption, pop culture images are quickly assimilated by the public, who accept and reproduce them until they are overtaken by new trends. This rapid turnover of trends, which characterises the contemporary consumption pattern, emphasises temporality and ephemerality.

In the age of digital communication, pop culture is now infiltrating everyday life not only through traditional media, but also through social networks and the internet. Anyone can create and disseminate content, participating in the incessant production of pop aesthetics. In addition, people’s need to be popular and socially recognised has become one of the most dominant characteristics of pop culture. Through the display of moments from their personal lives on social media, many seek to construct an attractive and often carefully crafted image of themselves that exudes prosperity, success and social acceptance. However, the intensity with which online popularity is pursued often raises questions about whether these images represent the truth or whether they are a superficial version of reality. While these platforms foster a sense of connection and recognition, the images presented are often ‘filtered’ and selected, emphasizing only the brighter aspects of life. Thus, the pursuit of popularity often becomes an end in itself, moving away from authenticity, replacing personal experience with a manufactured narrative, which can create intense psychological pressure and feelings of inadequacy.

Finally, in pop culture, colour functions as a central aesthetic tool that enhances the visual immediacy and dynamics of images, making them attractive and widely recognisable. The intense and saturated colours that dominate advertising media, social media and fashion are not limited to a decorative role, but reflect and accentuate the impermanence and speed of consumer culture. Entries will be judged on the basis of aesthetic composition, originality and thematic depth of shots, which should interpret pop culture with an insightful eye and critical attitude.

Through your personal photographic expression, you are invited to highlight the most essential and timeless aspect of pop culture, participating in the dialogue on its role in the contemporary world.

The exhibition will contain the 25 best photos of the Photometria Awards 2025 and will take place in Ioannina as part of the 17th Photometria International Photography Festival and will continue its journey in several cities around Greece after the festival ends.

➜ Who may enter?

The “Non Stop Pop” competition is open to all photographers, both professional and amateur, who wish to present their own perspective on the complex and incessant influence of pop culture.

➜ Prize:

The overall winner will be awarded with a NIKON Z 30 camera and NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR lens, courtesy of Damkalidis SA. The second and third winners will be awarded with signed photo albums by Alec Soth. One of the top three winners gets the opportunity to participate in the next Photometria event with a solo exhibition.

➜ Entry fees:

Participation is free of charge for one photo submission and 5 Euro for submissions of three photos.