“BLACK PHOTOGRAPHY”
11th Maribor Photography Festival
The open call is held under the patronage of
the Photographic Association of Slovenia (FZS)
Reference number: 9/2026
INTRODUCTION / CONCEPT
As a conceptual starting point for this year’s edition of the festival, we return to one of the most significant and, at the same time, most radical chapters in Slovenian photography – the photographic movement known as the Maribor Circle.
In the early 1970s, the Maribor Circle introduced a decisive break in the dominant understanding of photography. At a time when aesthetically pleasing, technically perfected images were highly valued, the authors of this movement shifted their focus elsewhere – towards the margins, the fractures, and that which society pushed aside. Their photography did not seek harmony, but truth; it did not glorify an idealized reality, but revealed its rawness.
Instead of perfection, imperfection came to the forefront. Instead of distance – immediacy. Photography became a space of ethical and existential confrontation. The margins of society, underprivileged and marginalized groups, degraded urban and industrial environments, and everyday life without embellishment became central subjects. The aesthetics of the “unbeautiful” was not provocation for its own sake, but an expression of the time and its consciousness.
Fifty years later, social, aesthetic, and technological conditions have significantly changed. Yet the fundamental questions remain – perhaps even more urgently than before. It is precisely for this reason that this open call seeks to establish a dialogue between past and present.
Black photography is not merely a formal decision, but a conscious reduction. It is a concentration of vision. It is a space where light reveals fracture, structure, and gesture.
The open call “Black Photography” is both a tribute to the Maribor Circle as a historical rupture and an acknowledgment of its enduring authorial stance.
1. ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers aged 18 or older.
Participation is free of charge.
By submitting their works, participants:
confirm that they are the authors of the submitted works,
agree to the terms and conditions of this call,
grant permission for the use of submitted photographs for non-commercial purposes (exhibitions, promotion, publications – web, catalogue, media).
2. THEME
BLACK PHOTOGRAPHY
The open call focuses on black-and-white photography as both an expressive and conceptual field.
We welcome photographs that:
– explore the margins of society,
– address existential or social issues,
– engage with marginal spaces and communities,
– develop an aesthetic of the raw, the imperfect, or the direct,
– reflect on the role of photography in contemporary society.
3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Each author may submit up to 4 photographs.
– Format: JPG
– Size: max. 3500 px (longest side), min. 2500 px (longest side)
– Aspect ratio: 3:2, 2:3, 4:3, or 3:4
– Resolution: 300 dpi
– Maximum file size: 5 MB
Additional requirements:
– Photographs must not contain signatures or borders
– Each photograph must have a unique title
– Titles such as “Untitled”, “IMG_…”, etc. are not allowed
– File names must not include the author’s name
– File names must not exceed 30 characters
Only the following are accepted:
– Photographs created using photographic equipment
– Works not generated by artificial intelligence
Only basic adjustments are allowed (dust removal, light, contrast, saturation, cropping).
Other manipulations are not permitted.
Photographs that do not meet the requirements will be disqualified.
4. SUBMISSION
Applications and submissions must be made via the following link:
5. DEADLINES
Submission deadline: 15. June, 2026
Jury process completed by: June 30, 2026
Notification of results: by July 15, 2026
6. JURY
The submitted works will be evaluated by a professional jury:
Rudi Uran, President, F1 FZS
Branimir Ritonja, MF FZS
Maja Modrinjak
In case of unforeseen circumstances, the organizer reserves the right to change the jury composition.
The jury’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
7. AWARDS
The jury will award:
1st Prize: FZS Gold Medal
2nd Prize: FZS Silver Medal
3rd Prize: FZS Bronze Medal
5 Diplomas of Fotoklub Maribor
The jury will select 20 photographs for exhibition as part of the 2026 Photography Festival.
Awards and diplomas will be presented at the exhibition opening or sent by post.
By submitting their work, applicants agree that Fotoklub Maribor may use their email address to send club-related news.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time via the unsubscribe link in the email.
