Poznań can change character within the space of a few streets. Historic façades give way to contemporary buildings, busy city squares sit close to quiet residential corners, and green spaces appear between the city's more familiar urban scenes.
Those everyday contrasts are the focus of September's FotoPortal photography competition, "Poznańskie kontrasty" (Poznań Contrasts).
Photographers have until 30 September 2026 to submit their entries, with a PLN 1,000 cash prize for the winning photograph and material prizes for selected entries.
Look beyond Poznań's familiar postcard views
The theme leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Rather than asking photographers to focus on one landmark or type of scene, the competition encourages them to find visual opposites across the city.
That could mean pairing old and new architecture, placing an urban scene against nature, or finding a quiet moment in an otherwise busy part of Poznań.
There is also scope for less obvious interpretations. A contrast might be found in colour, light, scale, atmosphere or the way people use a particular space.
For photographers who know the city well, that makes the competition an invitation to look at familiar surroundings differently.
PLN 1,000 for the winning photo
Each month, the FotoPortal jury selects a Photo of the Month and awards a Distinction of the Month.
For September's competition, the author of the winning photograph will receive PLN 1,000. Photographers whose work receives a distinction will receive material prizes.
The selected photographs will also be displayed on the FotoPortal homepage and will qualify for the competition for Photo of the Year. The year's overall winner will be chosen by a dedicated panel.
How to enter the FotoPortal competition
Photographers need to create an account on FotoPortal and submit their image through the competition form in the thematic category.
There are a few important rules to check before uploading:
The photograph must have been taken by the person submitting it.
The image must show Poznań.
Only JPG files can be uploaded.
Basic editing is permitted, including adjustments to brightness, contrast, white balance and saturation, as well as cropping.
Photomontages and edits that alter the content of the city's recorded image are not permitted.
AI-generated or AI-modified photographs cannot be entered.
Photographs featuring other people must comply with applicable image-rights and copyright rules.
The organisers can reject photographs that do not meet the competition rules.
A growing photographic record of Poznań
FotoPortal is run by the City of Poznań and brings together photographs made by both professional and amateur photographers.
The monthly competitions provide a changing prompt for contributors. Recent themes have included light and shadow, windows and movement, encouraging photographers to explore different aspects of the city rather than simply recording its best-known sights.
The September theme fits naturally with the character of Poznań. Its historic centre, expanding modern districts, parks, residential neighbourhoods and everyday street life provide plenty of opportunities to find two very different sides of the city in a single frame.
Alongside FotoPortal, the city is also home to the Poznań Photography Award, a nationwide documentary and reportage photography competition focused on creating a contemporary photographic archive of Poznań and the wider region.
September offers a simple challenge: look closely at the city you think you already know and find the two sides that sit within the same view.
Entries for "Poznańskie kontrasty" are open until 30 September 2026.
See more: A Weekend of Japanese Art and Music at Poznań's Royal Castle
Image credit: Aneta Pawska, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
