2024 Mono Award Submission

Here’s a question. You know those amazing cat photos you take? Seriously, have you ever considered entering one in a competition?

I am suggesting this not because it’s something to win (although that would be fun!), but to encourage you to imagine the thrill of sharing a shot you are pleased with, and seeing it in the spotlight!

How Good is Good Enough?

Let me give you an idea of what I mean. Then, you review your images and see which ones you think are really good. Yes, you will have some.

There is no magic or mystique in knowing which are your best photographs. You will develop a feeling for which of your images are successful, and that you like.

One clue is if you feel confident and pleased with your capture; if it touches your heart. This is how I judge if I ‘dare’ poke my head over the parapet and submit a photo to a contest.

My Submissions

Here are some personal examples from my own submissions.

I like to submit an image to the Mono Awards each year. This contest is now an established feature of the competition calendar which focuses on black and white (monochrome) images. Last year I submitted a shot of Miranda. It didn’t make the cut but I felt happy submitting it.

I was surprised and thrilled when I received a Commended Certificate for my Kuykendall Award winning portrait of ‘Pensive Chenzou’. Not quite an Honourable Mention, which gets published on their website, but I was encouraged.

Don’t compare your image to others. If you take a look at last year’s amateur Wildlife winners in the Mono awards, you will see that every image is really different so your submission could catch a judge’s eye. It’s not how good you are, there is more to it.

How Do I Take a Prize Winning Photo?

This year I have submitted this young charmer from a kitten photo shoot I was lucky enough to attend for Feral Nation. It feels right and he is such a magnetic personality.

Now, are you going to submit one of your best images to a photo competition? Check the rules (which include when the photo needs to have been taken) and press the SUBMIT button.

Suggested Competitions for Cat Photographers

• The Mono Awards are here – Open now.
• The Cat Writers’ Association Communications Contest, which includes photography opens soon.
• International Pet Photography Awards – Opens 18 May 2025