Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and German Photographic Society (DGPh) offer two awards for writing about photography

The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and the German Photographic Society (DGPh) are offering the two prizes, “Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award” and “Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication” for the fourth time. The awards are presented every two years. Applications for both prizes can be submitted from 1 July to 31 October 2026.

The DGPh Research Award “Thinking Photography” recognises projects in photographic theory and history as well as approaches from the humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences that constitute exceptional contributions to photography research. The prize is awarded for academic qualification theses (master’s theses, diploma theses, or dissertations), or other independent publications that contribute to an expansion of research perspectives on the medium of photography. With no thematic restrictions or guidelines in terms of methods and approaches, special attention is given to works committed to venturing beyond disciplinary or methodological boundaries. Texts in German or English, whether unpublished, published online, or published in print, can be submitted. They must have been produced or published from November 2024 onwards. The prize is endowed with €3,000.

The DGPh Award “Writing Photography” for innovative publishing recognises pioneering publications on photography, as well as journalistic, essayistic, and other publications. Particular attention is given to publication formats such as blog posts, columns and reviews, web-based publications, and works which creatively combine text and photographic material. Individual contributions in German or English, published digitally or in print, from November 2024 onwards, may be submitted. The prize is endowed with €1,000.

The decision is made by an annually appointed international jury of photography experts and researchers. The award ceremony will be held as part of a public event, jointly organised by the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and the DGPh in 2027.

Submission of the works
Application documents can be uploaded via the following links:

• Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award
• Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication

They must include the following documents:

• Abstract of the work in English (approx. 3,500 characters incl. spaces)
• Entire manuscript in German or English
• Curriculum vitae
• List of previous publications (optional)

The submission deadline is 31 October 2026. 

The promotion of academic research on photography
In cooperation with the German Photographic Society (DGPh), the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation is awarding the two prizes, “Thinking Photography” and “Writing Photography”, for the fourth time. The support of contemporary photography is one of the main objectives of the Foundation. Its commitment includes awards, scholarships, and exhibitions for young artists, as well as events that promote academic dialogue and research on the medium of photography.

Media contacts:

Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation 
Anika Manthey                
media.foundation@deutsche-boerse.com
Tel. +49 (0)69 211 1 40 60

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie (DGPh)
Regina Plaar                
presse@dgph.de
Tel. +49 221 9232069

About the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, dedicated to collecting, exhibiting and promoting contemporary photography. The Foundation is responsible for the development and presentation of the Art Collection Deutsche Börse, which now comprises over 2,400 photographic works by around 180 artists from 40 countries. It shows several public exhibitions per year in its exhibition space in Eschborn, near Frankfurt am Main. The Foundation supports young artists through awards, scholarships or the annual talent programme of the Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam Foam. Together with The Photographers’ Gallery in London, it awards the renowned Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize every year. The Foundation also supports exhibitions in international museums and institutions, as well as the creation of platforms for academic dialogue and research on photography.
www.deutscheboersephotographyfoundation.org

About the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie (DGPh)
The German Photographic Society (DGPh) is a registered association based in Cologne, with around 1,100 members throughout Germany. The DGPh is committed to promoting photography as a cultural practice, as well as strengthening its social and cultural significance. Its activities focus on communicating photographic topics to both specialist audiences and the wider public, as well as reflecting on and discussing current developments, such as digitisation, AI, and new forms of imaging media.
These activities engage with the wide range of contexts in which photography is used, including art, science, education, publishing, business, and politics, as well as the ways in which these fields intersect and influence one another. As a central authority for communicating groundbreaking achievements in photography to the public, the DGPh also awards prizes and scholarships.
www.dgph.de