r/PictureChallenge Jan 03 '26

👋 Welcome to r/PictureChallenge 2026 - Introduce Yourself and Read First!

9 Upvotes

I’ve updated some of the language to ensure the technical requirements (like EXIF data) are clear to new members.

Subject: Welcome to r/PictureChallenge 2026! Read this to get started 📸

Hey everyone!

This is our home for all things related to monthly photography challenges. Whether you are a pro with a DSLR or a hobbyist with a smartphone, we’re excited to have you join us!

What to Post The heart of this community is our monthly challenge. We want to see you get out there and capture something new! Feel free to share your challenge submissions, or post your thoughts, behind-the-scenes setups, and questions about composition, lighting, gear, or how to tackle this month's specific theme.

How the Challenges Work To keep the competition fair and focused on "getting out and shooting," we have a few specific rules:

  • Fresh Photos Only: Pictures must be taken within the current month (between the 1st and the 31st). No pulling from your archives!
  • Title Format: Post your pictures as links with the title: #<Challenge number>: <Picture Title>.
  • Verification (EXIF Data): To verify when the photo was taken, you must use a hosting site that does not strip EXIF data. Please note that Reddit’s native photo-hosting strips this data, so we cannot accept direct Reddit uploads for the contest. Please use external links like Flickr, 500px, Smugmug, or OneDrive.
  • No AI: This sub is for photography—no AI-generated images allowed.
  • Limit: One submission per person, per challenge.

Community Vibe We're all about being friendly, constructive, and inclusive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their work and connecting over a shared love of photography.

How to Get Started

  1. Introduce yourself in the comments below and let us know what gear you're shooting with!
  2. Check the pinned post for the current monthly challenge topic.
  3. Post something today! Even a question about this month's theme can spark a great conversation.
  4. Spread the word! If you know a fellow photographer who needs a reason to get out and shoot, invite them to join the challenge.

Interested in helping out? We're always looking for new moderators to help keep the gears turning, so feel free to reach out to me to apply.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/PictureChallenge amazing.

Be creative, and most importantly... Have Fun!


r/PictureChallenge 2d ago

Monthly Challenge The September Challenge 497:Patterns in Nature

1 Upvotes

The winner of the July challenge was Throwing Your Teammate pic | comment by eyeswydeshut

u/eyeswydeshut suggested Patterns in Nature for the September Challenge.


Also tell your friends about the subreddit, don't let it die!


Please bear in mind the following rules... Failure to follow any of them can result in your picture being disqualified:

  • This is a monthly challenge, so pictures can not be taken prior to Tuesday, September 1st or after Wednesday, September 30th. Submissions that were not taken between those dates will be removed.

  • Post your pictures as links with the title "#497: <Picture Title>".

  • Only one submission per challenge.

  • No AI Generated images, the point is to get out shooting!

  • In order to verify the photo was taken during the contest period you must upload to a site that does not strip the EXIF data. Because of that we only allow submissions from the following domains. [ OneDrive, Flickr, Picasa, Min.Us, Smugmug, 500px.Com, Deviantart.Com, Google Plus Or Playlookit.Com ] This will allow the mods to validate the photos qualifies. Please note that the new reddit photo-hosting system strips the EXIF data so we're not able to use mberit as a host.

Be creative, and most importantly...Have Fun!


r/PictureChallenge 3d ago

Monthly Challenge #496: In the Cathedral

Thumbnail
flic.kr
3 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge 3d ago

#496: Bull Hill x Hudson Valley

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
2 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge 4d ago

496: Buttermilk Falls Connecticut

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
6 Upvotes

prompt: spooky times.

alt prompt: dark


r/PictureChallenge 4d ago

496: trekking

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
3 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge 4d ago

#496: The Trail Ends at the lake

Thumbnail 500px.com
3 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge 4d ago

496: on a boat built for two

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
2 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Aug 02 '26

Monthly Challenge The August Challenge 496: Summer Hikes

2 Upvotes

The winner of the June Challenge was #: Steam in the woods pic | comment by raqros

u/raqrospicked Summer Hikes for the August Challenge.


*Also tell your friends about the subreddit, don't let it die! *


Please bear in mind the following rules... Failure to follow any of them can result in your picture being disqualified:

  • This is a monthly challenge, so pictures can not be taken prior to Saturday, August 1st or after Monday, August 31st. Submissions that were not taken between those dates will be removed.

  • Post your pictures as links with the title "#496: <Picture Title>".

  • Only one submission per challenge.

  • No AI Generated images, the point is to get out shooting!

  • In order to verify the photo was taken during the contest period you must upload to a site that does not strip the EXIF data. Because of that we only allow submissions from the following domains. [ OneDrive, Flickr, Picasa, Min.Us, Smugmug, 500px.Com, Deviantart.Com, Google Plus Or Playlookit.Com ] This will allow the mods to validate the photos qualifies. Please note that the new reddit photo-hosting system strips the EXIF data so we're not able to use mberit as a host.

Be creative, and most importantly...Have Fun!


r/PictureChallenge Aug 02 '26

Monthly Challenge Voting Thread for the July Challenge #495

1 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Aug 01 '26

#495: His and Hers

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
1 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Aug 01 '26

#495: Sprouting In The Grass

Thumbnail 500px.com
1 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Aug 01 '26

#495: Road Pony

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
1 Upvotes

Prompt: Point of View

Alt prompt: Colorful


r/PictureChallenge Jul 19 '26

#495: Throwing Your Teammate

Thumbnail 500px.com
1 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Jul 04 '26

Monthly Challenge The july Challenge 495: Black and White

5 Upvotes

The winner of the May Challenge was #: What The Track Racer Sees pic | comment by eyeswydeshut

eyeswydeshut picked Black and White for the July Challenge.


*Also tell your friends about the subreddit, don't let it die! *


Please bear in mind the following rules... Failure to follow any of them can result in your picture being disqualified:

  • This is a monthly challenge, so pictures can not be taken prior to Wednesday , July 1st or after Friday, July 31st. Submissions that were not taken between those dates will be removed.

  • Post your pictures as links with the title "#495: <Picture Title>".

  • Only one submission per challenge.

  • No AI Generated images, the point is to get out shooting!

  • In order to verify the photo was taken during the contest period you must upload to a site that does not strip the EXIF data. Because of that we only allow submissions from the following domains. [ OneDrive, Flickr, Picasa, Min.Us, Smugmug, 500px.Com, Deviantart.Com, Google Plus Or Playlookit.Com ] This will allow the mods to validate the photos qualifies. Please note that the new reddit photo-hosting system strips the EXIF data so we're not able to use mberit as a host.

Be creative, and most importantly...Have Fun!


r/PictureChallenge Jul 04 '26

Challenge Voting Thread for the June Challenge #494: Water

2 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Jul 01 '26

494 Steam in the woods

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
4 Upvotes

Prompt: Summer Hikes


r/PictureChallenge Jun 30 '26

494: Wet Dog?

Thumbnail 500px.com
4 Upvotes

Next challenge: The Beginning of The End


r/PictureChallenge Jun 30 '26

494: Burr Pond

Thumbnail 500px.com
1 Upvotes

Burr Pond in Connecticut.

August prompt: Summer Fare.

Alt prompt: Empty Spaces.


r/PictureChallenge Jun 01 '26

The June Challenge 494: Water

3 Upvotes

The winner of the April Challenge was Island Hopping pic | comment by Ajros02

Ajros02 did make a suggestion for June, so we went with the second place winners suggestion of Water. Thanks u/eyeswydeshut


*Also tell your friends about the subreddit, don't let it die! *


Please bear in mind the following rules... Failure to follow any of them can result in your picture being disqualified:

  • This is a monthly challenge, so pictures can not be taken prior to Monday, June 1st or after Tuesday, June 30th. Submissions that were not taken between those dates will be removed.

  • Post your pictures as links with the title "#494: <Picture Title>".

  • Only one submission per challenge.

  • No AI Generated images, the point is to get out shooting!

  • In order to verify the photo was taken during the contest period you must upload to a site that does not strip the EXIF data. Because of that we only allow submissions from the following domains. [ OneDrive, Flickr, Picasa, Min.Us, Smugmug, 500px.Com, Deviantart.Com, Google Plus Or Playlookit.Com ] This will allow the mods to validate the photos qualifies. Please note that the new reddit photo-hosting system strips the EXIF data so we're not able to use mberit as a host.

Be creative, and most importantly...Have Fun!


r/PictureChallenge Jun 01 '26

Challenge Voting Thread for the May Challenge #493:Reflection

3 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge Jun 01 '26

#493: One with Nature

Thumbnail
photos.app.goo.gl
1 Upvotes

July prompt: Summer Time; alternate: In the sun


r/PictureChallenge May 27 '26

#493: What The Track Racer Sees

Thumbnail 500px.com
1 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge May 02 '26

Challenge Voting Thread for the April Challenge #492: Blurred Motion

3 Upvotes

r/PictureChallenge May 02 '26

Monthly Challenge The May Challenge 493: Reflection

1 Upvotes

The winner of the March Challenge was Mud Bath pic | comment by u/jmoreno_pinete

jmoreno_pinete did make a suggestion for May, so we went with the second place winners suggestion of Reflection. Thanks u/eyeswydeshut


*Also tell your friends about the subreddit, don't let it die! *


Please bear in mind the following rules... Failure to follow any of them can result in your picture being disqualified:

  • This is a monthly challenge, so pictures can not be taken prior to Friday, May 1st or after Sunday, May 31th. Submissions that were not taken between those dates will be removed.

  • Post your pictures as links with the title "#493: <Picture Title>".

  • Only one submission per challenge.

  • No AI Generated images, the point is to get out shooting!

  • In order to verify the photo was taken during the contest period you must upload to a site that does not strip the EXIF data. Because of that we only allow submissions from the following domains. [ OneDrive, Flickr, Picasa, Min.Us, Smugmug, 500px.Com, Deviantart.Com, Google Plus Or Playlookit.Com ] This will allow the mods to validate the photos qualifies. Please note that the new reddit photo-hosting system strips the EXIF data so we're not able to use mberit as a host.

Be creative, and most importantly...Have Fun!