Youth category is for Singaporean citizen and/or currently resides in Singapore, aged between 13 to 25.
By showcasing powerful and thought-provoking practices through photography, capture images that depict acts of bravery, resilience, or determination in the face of challenges or adversity. Your entry should seek to inspire Singaporeans to step out of their comfort zones, take risks, and document courageous moments in their everyday lives or in the community.
Open category is for Singaporean citizen and/or currently resides in Singapore, aged 13 and above.
As we saw a new dawn through the darkness, our nation now embraces tomorrow with more compassion, perseverance, and courage. While the nerve to take a stride to the future is hitting all industries, attempt to use photography to raise awareness about the importance of making wise choices and taking a long-term view for the betterment of Singapore and its people. These moments could include photographs that highlight environmental conservation, resource management, financial prudence, or social responsibility.
Register Now
⦿ Complete the registration at bit.ly/montage2023
⦿ Each entry must include a write-up with no more than 100 words
⦿ Add either #Montage2023Youth or #Montage2023. Open your Instagram post according to the category you are submitting to.
⦿ Also, Include also the following hashtags in your post: #NUSPS, #Montage2023, #SonySingapore, #CathayPhoto, #nycsg, #ycmsg, and #youngchangemakers.
⦿ Ensure that you're following @NUSPS, @sonysingapore, @CathayPhoto on Instagram!
⦿ Ensure that your Instagram account is public!
⦿ Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for more information!
⦿ Youth category is for Singaporean citizen and/or currently resides in Singapore, aged between 13 to 25 and should use #Montage2023_Action_Youth.
⦿ Open category is for Singaporean citizen and/or currently resides in Singapore, aged 13 and above and should use #Montage2023_Stillness_Open.
⦿ No submission fees required
⦿ Each participant must submit 4 photographs in one entry for a single category
⦿ Each participant is allowed to submit for both categories unless overaged/underaged.
⦿ Must be residing in SINGAPORE during the duration of the event
⦿ Submissions are only valid if:
○ Participant follows NUSPS & Key sponsors on Instagram
○ Relevant hashtags are used
○ Chosen photographs are taken within the competition period
○ Both the photographs and accompanying caption align with the theme
She is a storyteller, Photographer, Filmmaker, traveled the world, and has worked with dancers, featured in Straits Times.
Mandy Tay is a seasoned storyteller and fine art photographer whose work has been collected by various institutions, including Deutsche Bank. With over 20 years of experience in major TV stations across Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Middle East, she has developed her skills in photography. She became interested in shooting dance after a work trip to Japan five years ago and has since collaborated with more than 30 dancers in 11 countries. Mandy's story of photographing dancers worldwide during the pandemic was featured in the cover story of Life on Straits Times in the previous year.
Interested in modernist architecture, conservation advocate, and Sony Alpha Professional since 2015.
“A sociologist by training, Darren Soh is an architectural and landscape photographer. Darren’s personal works are an extension of his curiosity about how we live and the spaces we create as well as leave behind. He has a particular interest in modernist architecture and is a founding member of the Singapore chapter of DOCOMOMO. In 2018, Darren published Before It All Goes, which was accompanied by an exhibition and documentary of the same name, championing for the conservation of Singapore’s modernist icons. Darren’s works are collected by the National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, various institutions and private collectors from around the world. Darren has been a Sony Alpha Professional since 2015.”
Self-taught photographer Rachel Tan creates captivating emotion-evoking images especially in the food industry.
Rachel Tan is a self-taught photographer from Singapore, known for her unique style that incorporates light, space, shapes, and color to create emotionally evocative images. She has a diverse portfolio that includes architecture, nature, and portraiture, but she is most recognized for her work in the food and beverage industry. Rachel works with a variety of brands and her photographs have been featured in newspapers and publications like The Business Times, Singapore Tatler, and Men's Folio. She was also a judge for Sony Alpha Creators 5.0 Photo and Video Contest. Rachel is a storyteller at heart, and she is passionate about creating unique perspectives and telling stories through her lens.
IT professional and travel documentary photographer, captures almost extinct cultures, brave explorer to challenging places.
Teh Han Lin is an IT professional by day and a passionate travel documentary photographer who captures the essence of almost extinct cultures. He has travelled to some of the most remote and challenging places on earth, including the coldest inhabited village on earth, Oymyakon, the Everest Base Camp, and the Dani tribe of Wamena, West Papua, Indonesia. He also documented the last tattooed face women of the Chin tribe in Mindat, Myanmar. Despite pandemic restrictions, he travelled to 8 European countries and explored 18 cities in 128 days.
His documentation of the Dani tribe, life in Oymyakon and the last tattooed face women of the Chin tribe was featured in prestigious publications such as BBC, National Geographic, The Sun, Metro.co.uk, and other news outlets. With a combination of technical expertise and artistic flair, Han Lin's work is a window into the fascinating world of different cultures, inspiring others to explore, learn, and appreciate the beauty of our diverse planet.
Award-winning commercial and editorial photographer. His images span Asia, North America and Europe.
Bryan van der Beek is an award-winning commercial and editorial photographer based in Singapore. His images span Asia, North America and Europe.
A former Executive Photojournalist with The Straits Times in Singapore, Bryan has also worked at The Herald, and The Beacon-Journal in the United States before returning to Singapore. His photographs have appeared in several international publications including: Time, Time Asia, Newsweek and The Washington Post. In addition, his photographs known for their artistic sensibility can be found in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Singapore. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism, he has lectured at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Temasek Polytechnic and the Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film.
Join us and learn from industry professionals such as Teh Han Lin, Mandy Tay, Bryan van der Beek and Rachel Tanon how to take your photography skills to the next level.
Stay tuned for more details.
*As a reminder, any food or drinks from the in-house bar will be allowed in the hall, and customer may purchase on their own and bring them in. Outside food and drinks will not be allowed.
Physical Workshop
Time:
1:30 PM - 3:45 PM
*Doors will open at 1 PM
Location:
The Projector @ PictureHouse
2 Handy Rd, #05-01, Singapore 229233
Discover the art of dance photography and learn how to capture beautiful images of movement and dance.
Stay tuned for more details.
Physical Workshop
**Priority given to NUSPS members.
Time:
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location:
UTown Auditorium 2, NUS
2 College Ave West, Level 1 Stephen Riady Centre, 138607
Learn and experience first-hand on using light to create stunning images and enhance your photography skills.
Stay tuned for more details.
Physical Workshop
**Priority given to NUSPS members.
Time:
1:15 PM - 3 PM
Location:
Cathay Photo
111 North Bridge Rd, #01-04 to 08 / 11 to 14 Peninsula Plaza, Singapore 179098
Join us for a photowalk at the Mandai Bird Paradise and capture stunning images of birds in their natural environment.
Stay tuned for more details.
Physical Workshop
**Priority given to NUSPS members.
Time:
9:30 AM - 12 PM
Location:
Mandai Bird Paradise
20 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729825
Submissions close and no entries past this point are considered eligible for the competition.
The winners are shortlisted by the judges according to the judging criteria.
Prizes will be given out to the winners.
Time:
1:30 PM - 3 PM
Location:
NUS UTown SR6
Since its inception in 1969, NUSPS has held an annual photography competition for the benefit of the local photographic community. Initially known as the International Photographic Salon, it transitioned to its current form, Montage in 1999.
Since then, Montage has gone from strength to strength, inspiring more aspiring and passionate photographers every year.
Founded in 1969, The Photographic Society of National University of Singapore (NUSPS) is one of the earliest photographic interests groups formed.
Our society is actively involved in connecting like-minded individuals with a passion for photography to meet and pursue photography together. We plan and organize many courses, workshops, and photo walks to keep members engaged.
In light of the qualitative and quantitative indicators as stated above, NUSPS has constructed a robust Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section as follows:
Click here to know more about the FAQs related to the Competition
1. Who can take part in the NUSPS Montage 2023 Competition?
Anyone who has registered through https://montage2023.github.io and submitted their entries via their Instagram accounts using all the respective hashtags will be considered for NUSPS’ Montage 2023 Competition.
2. What are the categories available?
Open Category (#Montage2023_Stillness_Open): Inclusive of and above 13 years old as of 1st Jan 2023.
Youth Category (#Montage2023_Action_Youth): Inclusive of and between 13 and 25 years old as of 1st Jan 2023.
3. Can I join both categories at the same time?
Yes, as long as your age qualifies, you may join both the Open and Youth categories. However, you may only win one prize.
4. Do I need to pay to join the Montage 2023 Competition?
No, participation in the Montage 2023 Competition is free of charge. Any publicity material that claims otherwise is fraudulent and should be treated as such; do also report such incidents to the Organisers if you come across them!
5. How do I register and qualify for the Montage 2023 Competition?
To qualify and have your entry considered valid for Montage 2023, participants must satisfy ALL of the below requirements:
6. What if I submit via Instagram but I didn’t register on the Montage website?
Your submission will not be valid. Please ensure that you register at https://2023.montage.sg/register before submitting on Instagram.
7. I can’t remember if I’ve registered for Montage yet, how do I check?
You will receive a verification email upon registering for the Montage Competition, please check your inbox or spam folder. If you have further questions, you can email us at secretary@nusps.org.sg.
8. When is the competition period?
The Competition is open for entry from 1st June 2023 00:00 hours (Singapore Time) to 30th June 2023 23:59 hours (Singapore Time). Only submissions posted during this period will be considered.
9. Can I tag my pre-existing Instagram posts?
If you wish to reuse pre-existing Instagram posts, please reupload the post with the appropriate caption and hashtags to be considered as an entry. Posts made outside the competition period will not be entertained.
10. What can I submit?
Only still images taken on any camera are allowed. Videos, GIFs, digital artwork, illustrations, animations, composite photographs or any other formats will not be accepted.
11. How many entries can I submit?
Each Instagram post is considered one entry. Each participant can only submit a maximum of one entry per category (i.e. up to two entries in total, one under Open category, and one under Youth category). The appropriate hashtags must be used (i.e. either #Montage2023_Stillness_Open or #Montage2023_Action_Youth ). All competition requirements (as stated on the registration page) must be fulfilled in order for the submission to be valid.
12. Can I submit multiple photographs per entry (post)?
Yes, in fact we recommend that participants submit multiple photos if they find it more effective in capturing the messages they want to convey. Determination of whether your entry fits the “storyline/message” criteria will be at the sole discretion of the judging panel.
13. What is the judging criteria for the Montage 2023 Competition?
Judging will be based primarily on the quality of the entries, the quality of the entry caption vis-a-vis its contribution to the understanding of the photograph, and its alignment to the theme, ‘Change’ will be taken into consideration. Judging will be conducted by a panel of professional judges who will score each photo based on a set scoring system to ensure fairness.
14. How do I hashtag?
15. Can I use the same entry for submission to both the Youth and Open category?
No. Entries submitted for each category must be different. Each entry can only be tagged with one category. Submissions tagging both Youth and Open categories in the same entry will be counted towards the Open Category by default.
16. What happens if I submit more than once in one category?
Please delete the incorrect submission. If you submit more than once in each category, only your first submission entry to each category will be taken into consideration.
17. Can I watermark the photos I submit?
No, all submitted entries should not be watermarked. This is to ensure that judging is unbiased and based solely on the quality of your work. If your photo is watermarked, your entry will be disqualified.
18. Can my entry photos be edited with Lightroom, Photoshop or any related photo editing software?
Yes, however, NUSPS requires participants to submit entries with minimal editing (including but not limited to exposure, color adjustments and cropping in reasonable amounts). This is a photography competition, hence, the focus is not in the editing but in the storytelling from both the photos and caption that is in line with the theme of The New Normal.
19. Can I submit photographs taken in the past?
All images submitted should be taken legally and in compliance with the health advisories issued in light of the COVID situation.
In light of this, entries submitted need not be taken during the period of competition. However, you must ensure that the original image files (e.g. camera RAW, DNG, JPEG/JPG file with EXIF data, etc.) and/or film negatives are retained and retrievable. If you are unable to submit these items for verification purposes upon request, your entry will be disqualified.
Please note that you are not allowed to submit entries that have won or been shortlisted for other photographic competitions. Such entries will be disqualified immediately upon discovery.
20. Can I submit drone photos?
All photographs submitted should be taken legally and in compliance with Singapore Law. You will be required to submit a proof of compliance with CAAS regulations regarding drone flight in Singapore airspace to secretary@nusps.org.sg, including, but not limited to the type of drone used, area where the photo was taken, maximum altitude achieved, date and time.
21. Can I still submit my entries on Instagram after the specified deadline of submission for Montage 2023?
Late submissions will not be recognized or entertained by NUSPS and all relevant parties. Please submit before the end of the competition.
22. How will I be contacted if I win the Montage 2023 competition?
Shortlisted Montage winners will be contacted anytime on 23rd July 2023. Take note that if you do not acknowledge your status as a Montage winner within THREE days of our notification, your winning entry will be voided.
If you are overseas or at ICT for servicemen, do ensure that you are still contactable via mobile, email or Instagram. Your original file should be readily available via Google Drive, DropBox, etc. or any other means whereby you are able to send it over to NUSPS for verification.
23. What if I cannot produce the original image files (e.g. RAW/DNG/negative) for my submitted photo upon request?
If you fail to submit it within THREE days of our notification, i.e by 26th July, your entry will be disqualified.
24. How many prizes can I win?
You can only win only one prize, either in the Youth (if your age qualifies and you have registered in this category) or the Open category.
25. Is NUSPS liable for any participants’ claims, loss and individual actions of any nature?
NUSPS is not liable for any loss incurred throughout the duration of the Montage 2023 event. NUSPS does kindly advise that all participants prioritize their safety, health, and the environment throughout the duration of Montage 2023. NUSPS will not be responsible for any negligence, irresponsible or illegal actions conducted by the registered participants and are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own actions. NUSPS is also not responsible for any loss of property or injuries incurred in the course of participation in Montage 2023.
During this COVID-19 period, participants are also reminded to adhere strictly to Ministry of Health guidelines regarding social distancing during this period. Please refer to https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19 for more information.
26. What happens if I plagiarize?
All photographs submitted should be taken legally and in compliance with intellectual property laws in the Republic of Singapore. If you are found to have plagiarised your submission, you will be immediately disqualified from the Montage 2023 competition and blacklisted from all future NUSPS events and Montage competitions.
27. Have any further questions?
You can contact us at secretary@nusps.org.sg.
Click here to learn about the FAQs relaed to the Workshops.
1. Who can join the Montage Workshops?
Montage Workshops are only open to Montage 2023 Photography Competition participants. Please sign up for the competition before registering for the workshops. There is no participant limit for the online Zoom Workshop but a limited number of slots are available for the practical workshops.
2. Can I join Montage Workshops if I am not a participant of the Montage Competition?
No, you must be a registered competition participant to join the Workshops.
3. Am I required to submit my Montage 2023 Competition entry to Instagram before joining the Montage Workshops?
No, as long as you have registered for the Montage 2023 Photography Competition, you can join the Montage Workshops. You are not required to have already submitted your entry on Instagram to join.
4. I’m a participant in the Montage 2023 Photography Competition, is it compulsory to join these Montage Workshops?
No, Montage Workshops are optional for all participants. Participation in Montage Workshops has no bearing on the judging process for the Montage 2023 Competition. However, you are highly encouraged to join as we have quite the exciting and enriching line up in store for you, including talks by famous photographers!
5. Do I need to pay to join the Montage 2023?
No, both the Montage Photography Competition and Montage workshops are free-of-charge. However you are required to sign up in order to participate. You can participate in all Montage Workshops as long as you sign up beforehand.
6. How will Montage Workshops be held?
7. What do I need to do before the Workshop?
You will require a Zoom account to join the online workshops. Please create one ahead of time. Refer to Workshop FAQ (9) on instructions to download Zoom. Please rename yourself to the name you have registered for the workshop or you might not be allowed entry to the session.
8. When should I log into the Workshop session?
To facilitate administrative processes and mitigate potential technical issues, please log in 15 minutes before the official start time.
9. How do you download Zoom?
Zoom is a free to download software/App, you can download Zoom here:
Zoom for PC (https://zoom.us/support/download)
Zoom for iOS ("Zoom Cloud Meeting" via App Store)
Zoom for Android ("Zoom Cloud Meeting" via Play Store)
10. How do I register for a Workshop?
Once you have registered for Montage 2023, a confirmation email will be sent to you with the links to sign up for all the workshops. Also, these links will be available on the webpage for the specific workshops. Emails promoting specific workshops will be sent to Montage participants containing the relevant sign-up links. Please be reminded to sign up for Montage 2023 first before registering for a workshop; we will check for this when determining whether your registration for a workshop is successful.
11. I have successfully registered for a Montage Workshop, how do I join the online workshop?
The Zoom meeting website link, meeting room ID and password will be sent to you via email. Click on the link and key in the Zoom meeting room ID and password to join the session. Upon entering the meeting room, your microphone and webcam will be disabled.
12. How long are the Montage Workshops?
The duration will vary according to the content. You may refer to the individual workshops’ webpages to check the duration.
13. I’ve registered for the Montage Workshop but I realised I can’t make it any more, what do I do?
Please ensure you are available during the workshop before registering as slots are limited. If extenuating circumstances arise, you can cancel your slot, by emailing us at secretary@nusps.org.sg.
14. How can I ask questions during the Workshop?
You can either unmute yourself or send any questions regarding the workshop through the Zoom chat. However, please save your questions for the Q&A section at the end of the session.
15. Will the Workshop be recorded?
For the safety of all participants and for legal reasons, all Montage Workshops will be recorded to ensure acceptable conduct by all parties involved. Also, a link to the recording will be made available for your viewing at your own time, subject to the consent of our guest speakers to protect their intellectual property rights. However, you will be asked to enter a password which must be entered upon request to watch it again. This password will only be made available to Montage participants and cannot be communicated to others.
We seek your understanding that releasing these videos for repeated viewing is a privilege reserved only to Montage participants to not only reward them for registering for the competition but also deter freeloaders. Anyone found transferring passwords to our online workshop videos to unauthorized people without NUSPS consent will be disqualified from the competition.
16. Can I join the workshop without registering first?
No, only successfully registered participants for Montage are allowed to join the session. Zoom-bombing is strictly prohibited. Please rename yourself to the name you have registered for the competition beforehand or you might not be allowed entry to the session.
17. What if I need to leave the Online Workshop early?
If you need to leave early due to extenuating circumstances, please drop a message to the Zoom host before doing so.
18. What happens if my connection is terminated due to a bad connection?
If you are disconnected from the session due to a dropped connection, please rejoin the meeting once you are back online. The Zoom host will permit you to reenter the session as long as you are a registered participant.
19. Will the presentation materials used by the guest photographer be published?
While we plan to make the workshop recording to Montage participants, as this entails the intellectual property of the guest photographers, the materials will not be made publicly available unless the guest photographers indicate otherwise.
20. When do signups for Montage Workshops close?
Signups for a Montage online workshop will close on SGT 23:59 TWO days before the workshop.
21. Is Montage 2023 related to Zoom?
Montage 2023 Workshops are not authorised, endorsed or sponsored by Zoom Video Communications Inc. As such, all Montage 2023 Workshops will receive the full protection of Zoom Video Communications Inc’s privacy policy and personal data protection agreement.
22. What if I need to leave the Workshop early?
If you need to leave early due to extenuating circumstances, please inform any NUSPS MC member before doing so. Otherwise, if you cannot make it for the full duration of the workshop, you can either cancel your slot (if you cannot make it for the start of the event) OR inform us the time you are you leaving (if you can make it for the start of the event but have to leave earlier) by emailing us at secretary@nusps.org.sg TWO days prior to the event.
The NUSPS Montage 2023 competition is organized by the Photographic Society of the National University of Singapore, NUSPS ("Organizer") and supported by SONY, Cathay Photo, National Youth Council (NYC), National University of Singapore, and National Library Board.
1. The document herein includes all the applicable terms and conditions for the participants as publicly postulated in this document
2. By submitting an Entry to NUSPS Montage 2023 Competition (The "Competition"):
3. The Organiser reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to:
Entry to the Competition
The Competition
Prizes
The Workshops
Publicity
Personal Data
Miscellaneous
General
Organizer's Data Policy:
Your entry into the Competition requires you to provide certain personal information (including, but not limited to, your full name and date of birth) (your "Data"). If you do not provide your Data as requested, your entry into the Competition will be invalid and you will not be able to participate in the Competition.
This data policy section under “Organiser’s Data Policy” describes how the Organiser will deal with your Data.
Retention of Data
Use of Data
Access to Data
Contacting the Organiser
To properly maintain and satisfy the qualitative and quantitative indicators as stated above, NUSPS has constructed a robust Rules and Regulations section which you can access by clicking here.
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page if you have any further queries.
Got any questions? Ask us here!