Overview
The "Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition | A Contemporary Look at Architecture" is a biennial programme. It aims to honour the person and the work of this outstanding photographer, who bridged the gap between analogue and digital photography and whose work is recognised both nationally and internationally.
Luis Ferreira Alves' photographic work demonstrates a remarkable ability to create a unique perspective, both "objective" and "subjective", on the work of various renowned Portuguese architects, including Álvaro Siza Vieira and Eduardo Souto de Moura. His images convey an intimate understanding of these architects—both Pritzker Prize winners—and the architectural spaces they designed. While it is true that Luis Ferreira Alves offers us visually striking documents of architectural spaces and forms, his perspective, shaped by centuries of visual culture since the Renaissance, goes beyond mere representation. His work reveals a deep understanding and appreciation of architecture due to his close relationship with the practice and discipline itself.
Participants stand to gain significant recognition, with a 1st Prize of €10,000, a 2nd Prize of €4,000 and a 3rd Prize consisting of a €1,500 voucher for the purchase of photographic equipment. The 2nd edition also includes the Portuguese Emerging Photography Award, consisting of a €1,500 voucher. Distinguished authors and finalists will be included in the official exhibition and publication for the edition, under the terms defined by the Organisation.
The Award is based on the “Luis Ferreira Alves International Photography Competition | A Contemporary Look at Architecture”, created under a protocol between the heirs of Luis Ferreira Alves and the promoting bodies, Porto City Council (CMP) and Cityscopio — Associação Cultural (CCA). The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto (FAUP) and Casa da Arquitectura (CA) form part of the Organising Committee. Sponsors and supporting organisations include Fundação “La Caixa” / BPI, and J. Soares Correia, together with the organisations associated with the 1st Prize and the Portuguese Emerging Photography Award, to be announced in due course. Strategic partners are the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), Metro do Porto, AMAG and panoramah!; institutional partners are the Portuguese Architects’ Association (OA), the Marques da Silva Foundation Institute (FIMS) and the Serralves Foundation.
Timeline
Launch of the 2nd Edition Open Call
Closure of the Open Call and preparation of assessment
Selection and announcement of finalists
Announcement of prize winners
Exhibition and prize-giving ceremony
Quick Info
The competition is open to all, without restriction as to nationality. Eligibility for the Portuguese Emerging Photography Award is restricted to Portuguese participants, in accordance with the specific conditions established for that Award.
Entries may be submitted individually or collectively (a collective must enter as a single competing unit and identify all of its authors).
Each participant, whether individual or collective, may submit only one project.
Participants must declare that the submitted images have not previously received an award in another competition.
Photographic Series: Submit a series of 9 to 11 images that interprets a work or group of architectural works in a coherent, rigorous and distinctive manner.
Project Statement: Include a project statement of no more than 2,000 characters.
Format: Photographs of digital or analogue origin are accepted, provided that the submitted images are presented in digital format.
Quality: Original files must be of sufficient quality for printing; authors progressing to the final stages may be asked to provide high-resolution files and colour proofs.
Watermarks: Images must not contain digital signatures, logos or watermarks.
Editing and AI: Standard photographic post-production is permitted, but images generated wholly or partly using generative artificial intelligence are not permitted, nor may AI be used to create, add, replace or substantially transform elements of the photograph.
All projects must be submitted exclusively through the Picter platform, on the LFA AWARD page indicated on the competition’s official website.
Deadline: 1 January 2027, at 23:59 (mainland Portugal time).
Profile Details: First name and surname, date of birth, gender pronouns, nationality, postal address, telephone number, email address and a biography of up to 1,500 characters.
Project Details: Project title, year and place of creation, project statement (maximum 2,000 characters), and a series comprising 9 to 11 photographs.
Image Details: Title, year of creation and place of creation for each photograph.
High-Resolution Files: Authors selected for the final stages may be required to provide TIFF files and colour proofs for in-person assessment, exhibition and publication.
Print Quality: When requested, TIFF files must be suitable for printing — Adobe RGB (1998), 8 or 16 bit, 300 dpi — together with any other technical materials specified by the Organisation.
Only entries that comply with the conditions established in the Rules will be admitted to the competition.
Failure to comply with the conditions of participation may result in disqualification of the entry, by reasoned decision of the Organisation and/or Jury, depending on the stage of the competition.
Participants retain full copyright. Submission grants the Organisation a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence, limited to the purposes of the LFA AWARD, to reproduce, publish, exhibit and disseminate the submitted materials. Physical copies produced for assessment and/or exhibition may be incorporated into the Award’s documentary archive.
Quality and poetic content of the visual narrative; technical quality of the photographs
Artistic and visual quality of the photographs
Originality
Ability of the series to present the architectural work in a distinctive way, through a visual discourse that explores relevant concepts of the work, the architect and the context, and in which the images relate to one another through order, sequence or cumulative effect.
1st Prize – €10,000, provided by an organisation of recognised prestige and relevance, to be announced in due course.
2nd Prize – €4,000, sponsored by “La Caixa” Foundation / BPI.
3rd Prize – a voucher worth €1,500 for the purchase of photographic equipment, provided by an organisation or brand of recognised relevance in the field of photography, whose association with the Award will be announced in due course.
Portuguese Emerging Photography Award – a €1,500 voucher for the purchase of photographic equipment, provided by an organisation or brand to be announced in due course.
The authors ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the remaining finalists, the recipient of the Portuguese Emerging Photography Award and the recipients of any Special Mentions will be included in the official exhibition and publication. Distinguished authors will also receive a certificate.
The authors of the projects ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd will each be entitled to three copies of the official catalogue for the edition.
Registration and submission of entries will take place through the Picter platform. The direct link for the 2nd edition will be made available on the official LFA AWARD website and through its communication channels. https://site.picter.com/luis-ferreira-alves-photoaward-2026?utm_source=picter
Further information may be obtained through the following channels:
Email: info@luisferreiraalvesphotoaward.com
Website: luisferreiraalvesphotoward.com
Instagram: @lfaphotoaward
Postal address: PO BOX 001601, 4108-007 Porto, Portugal