The Brandeis Luminary

Brandeis Luminary

The Brandeis Luminary Competition is Brandeis' most prestigious photography competition, giving all students and staff a chance to leave their mark on Brandeis by having their work preserved online, printed out, and celebrated.

Every Brandeis Luminary winner receives a 13 x 19 Inch framed print of their photograph. In addition, their work will be displayed across a wall in the Brandeis library for the academic year. At the end of each academic year, a new issue of the Brandeis Luminaries book will be published containing all finalist and winning photographs.

Competition Categories

The Brandeis Luminaries features four unique categories, focusing on visual art as a form of expression. We look for works of all types that break norms and make the viewer think.

Portrait

Photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backgrounds, and poses.

Submit Here!

Freeform

A category-less category that is open to all submissions.

Submit Here!

Landscape

Photography focusing on natural landscapes alongside the beauty of large scale scenes.

Submit Here!

Street

Photography that records everyday candid life in a public place.

Submit Here!

Grand Jury

*The following names are listed in no particular order

Daniel Oren Profile

Daniel Oren

Vice-President
Nusrat Khan Profile

Nusrat Khan

Darkroom Manager
Owen Chan Profile

Owen Chan

Treasurer
Tommy Wang Profile

Tommy Wang

Treasurer
David Zhou Profile

David Zhou

Coordinator
Miles Lloyd Profile

Miles Lloyd

Advisor
Mark Dellelo Profile

Mark Dellelo

Advisor
Xilei Chen Profile

Xilei Chen

Darkroom Manager

Timeline

Start of the Month

Submissions Open

10 Days Before the Month Ends

First Round Submissions Close & Grand Jury begins Review and Voting On Finalists

3 Days After Grand Jury Voting Starts

The Grand Jury concludes Voting and Announces Finalists

Last Day of the Month after Student Voting

Winners are Announced Online after Public Voting Concludes

Rules:

- Participants can submit work to all 4 categories: but can only win one category per competition round.

- Participants MUST be currently enrolled Brandeis Students or Staff. *Grand Jury aren't allowed to submit to the Brandeis Masters

- Once a photo has been submitted to a category, the same photo is NOT allowed to be submitted to another category.

- Winners will have up to 2 weeks to pick up their print.

- Winners will be contacted through email; if no response to is received within 5 business days, the other finalist will be crowned as the winner.

- All photos must be taken within the month of competition; any photograph that's taken before the month of competition will be disqualified.

- Any camera can be used: digital and film photographs are accepted.

- Film photographs must be submitted in the month they are DEVELOPED, not shot.

- By submitting a photograph you accept that if you are caught cheating, Brandeis Photo club reserves the right to make fun of your photograph online. (without disclosing personal information about it's creator)

- Photoshopped and edited Images are accepted: although you are required to disclose what application you used and what edits you made.

- AI 'art' will be rejected without appeal.

- Nude photographs aren't accepted at this time.

FAQ:

Q = If I don't own a camera, is there anywhere I can borrow one?

A = Yes! On the third floor in Brandeis' library is the Sound, Image, and Media Studio that has a variety of photographic and other equipment available for FREE rental to all Brandeis students and staff. You can use this link to take you to the booking website!

Q = Do I still have copyright over my work if I win?

A = Yes! You maintain full copyright over your work.

Q = When does the competition start and stop?

A = At the beginning of each month, the competition begins. First round submissions end 10 days before the month ends. Finalists are announced 7 days before the end of the month. On the last day of the month, public voting for the winner closes, and the winner is announced online & notified via email.

Q = What qualifies as a Photoshopped or Edited Image?

A = A photoshopped or edited image is any image that has been opened using any editing software. If so, participants are required to disclose what edits they made.