Photo Contest

Frames of Familiarity

The Reality We Make

Is a dream less real than a Tuesday afternoon? Are things what they appear to be? We see shapes in clouds, faces in vegetables. Hear music in the rain.

The mind is a master storyteller; it takes what the senses offer and builds a world we call real. But what we see is neither wholly true nor wholly false.

As we build up to Manotsava 2026, RNP, NIMHANS, and NCBS invite you to photograph that space between what is and what seems - to examine the fluidity in objects, the stability in illusions, and how the gaze constructs all of it.

Deadline for submission: October 15, 2025

Eligibility

  • Open to all individuals aged 16+. Both amateur and professional photographers are welcome.
  • One photo submission per person
  • Each photograph must be accompanied by a Title (maximum 6 words) and a caption of up to 100 words describing what this picture means to you with respect to a sense of belonging.
  • Submissions can be made in Kannada, Hindi, or English

Technical Requirements

  • Original photographs only (no AI-generated or stock photos)
  • No B/W, no filters.
  • File format: JPEG or PNG
  • Minor colour correction permitted.

Verification Process

Each entry must include:

  • The original image file (with EXIF data intact)
  • A screenshot of the photo details (metadata) from the phone or camera gallery (showing date/time/location/device)

By participating in this contest, you confirm that:

  • The submitted image is original, created by you, and not generated using AI or copied from any other source.
  • You retain the copyright to your image, which will be considered under a Creative Commons license. However, you grant the festival permission to exhibit and publish the image across online and offline platforms for non-commercial purposes.
  • You understand that any submission found to be plagiarized, AI-generated, or in violation of copyright laws will lead to immediate disqualification and may result in legal consequences.
  • If any of the photos include visibly identifiable individuals, you have obtained their consent for display.

Prizes & Recognition

Top 20 Photographs

The top 20 photographs will be displayed at Manotsava 2026, in a curated public installation or gallery wall

Top 5 Photographs

The top 5 photographs will get a gift voucher from Bookworm.

Jury Details coming soon!