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Something Like Joy

The happiness that leaves you off guard

Decagon Gallery   /   Deadline: 09/15/26

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Not the easy kind. Not the posed smile or the perfect moment. We're talking about the joy that surprises you — that shows up in an ordinary afternoon, in a stranger's face, in light falling just right on something nobody else noticed.

Something Like Joy invites photographers to submit work that finds delight, warmth, wonder, or beauty in the world as it actually is. Big celebrations and quiet moments are equally welcome. So is the complicated happiness that comes after hardship — the laugh through tears, the small victory, the unexpected gift.

If your photography looks for the good — in people, in places, in everyday life — this call is for you.

Location

Online

Fees

$25 for up to 4 entries / $5 each additional entry

Eligibility

Open to photographers worldwide, aged 18 and over.

Requirements

Submit JPGs sized to 2100 pixels on the long side, without text, watermarks, or borders.

Preferably under 4 mb.

Name files: First Name-Last Name_Title.jpg

Awards

$1,000 in total cash awards, plus a solo exhibition feature for First Place.

First Place: $500 + Solo Exhibition on the Decagon Gallery website

Second Place: $250

Third Place: $150

Two Honorable Mentions: $50 each

Human Presence Nomination: Free entry to a future Decagon open call

Evaluation Criteria

Photographs will be evaluated by the juror for their aesthetic quality and adherence to the theme.

W: https://www.decagongallery.com/something-like-joy-entry
E: info@decagongallery.com