Welcome to the 5th annual Flash Photography competition!
At Portland Track, we believe that fostering artists in athletics helps to amplify the stories of our athletes, events, and ultimately the sport at large. What started as a running photography showcase in 2021 has evolved into one of the largest photo competitions in Athletics. We hope you’ll join us for another round of celebrating our sports iconic moments and the artists capturing them.
Entry & Selection Process
Submission Deadline: November 3rd
For categories & rules for submission, please see below.
Official Selection: November 18th
All shortlisted photographers will be notified via email. All shortlisted images will be printed for display at the Flash 2025 Gala.
Final Selection & Winners Announced: December 4th
All awards and Photo of the Year will be announced at the Flash 2025 Gala
The shortlist, finalists and winners will be chosen by a panel of experienced professionals working in and around the sports photography industry - more specifics to come!
We encourage all photographers to attend the event! We love to have you present!
Rules for Submission
Photographers are limited to one (1) entry per person.
Image must have been taken between October 21, 2024 and November 3, 2025.
Category preference will be considered, but final category placement will be determined by the jury
Name files as follows: CategoryPreference_LASTNAME_FirstName_ImageTitle (ie. Abstract_PREFONTAINE_Steve_WithoutLimits)
Images must have a connection to Track & Field, Road Racing, Ultras, Trail running, Cross Country, or Athletics.
NOTE: Photos do not need to be from Oregon! While we love the Pacific Northwest, we equally value photos that were taken around the world!
Stylistic CATEGORIES
ACTION: Photography of an athlete in motion.
PORTRAIT: Studio or candid portraiture of an athlete.
ABSTRACT: Alternative/innovative photography techniques (ie. panning, tilt shift, multiple exposure, etc) or photography incorporating mixed media artistry.
LANDSCAPE: Imagery that emphasizes an athlete’s relationship to their surrounding area.
elements for judging
Composition & Framing
Technical Proficiency
Emotion/Storytelling
Use of Light and Shadows
Significance of Moment
Use of Color
Talent Direction
etc.
AWARDS
Photo of The Year presented by Bandit Running - $500
Category Awards - $250 each
Action
Portrait
Abstract
Landscape
Community Awards - $250 each
Black Women Photographers Award
Track Town, U.S.A. Photo Award
Audience Choice Award presented by Shamrock Run
Athlete Choice Award presented by SportsLab
2025 Judges
Howard Lao
As an award-winning photographer and former D1 athlete, Howard Lao knows what it takes to capture the heartbeat of athletics. He's photographed everything from the US Olympic T&F Trials, to the NFL, NBA, March Madness and more. We welcome Howard back for his fourth year as head judge.
Polly Irungu
Polly Irungu is a former White House photographer and Photo Editor based in Washington, DC. She is the founder of Black Women Photographers, a global non-profit committed to dismantling the barriers that make it difficult to discover and commission Black creatives.
Amy Wolff
Amy Wolff is a photo director and producer whose experience includes ESPN, Runner's World, Bicycling, Fortune, and more. Amy brings deep experience in creative production for photo and video shoots across print and digital platforms, as well as events and exhibitions.
Doug Raschio
Doug Raschio is a seasoned marketing professional and Studio Director at Conscious Minds, with extensive experience in brand management and digital marketing. Doug has a strong background in the sports industry, having worked with Nike in various roles, including Senior Manager of Global Brand Creative.
Mark McCambridge
Mark is a creative director, writer, and photographer currently serving as VP of Global Brand Creative for Arc’teryx Equipment. He's led award-winning campaigns, retail concepts, editorial content, and physical and digital consumer experiences for Arc’teryx, Nike (Breaking2, Olympics) Salomon, and Patagonia.
LJ Rader
LJ is the curator behind @ArtButMakeltSports, social media accounts dedicated to finding works of art that closely resemble contemporary sports photographs. Since their creation in 2019, the accounts have become a viral phenomenon amassing hundreds of thousands of followers.
Cortney White
Cortney is a self-taught photographer, director, and producer behind the production company Gym Class. Known for her ability to capture raw emotion in sport, White has worked with brands such as Nike, Salomon, Adidas and more. A founding contributor of Flash, this is Cortney's 4th year on the jury.
Flash 2025 is made possible by…
Interested in being a corporate partner for flash?
Please reach out to matt@portlandtrack.com