SO WRONG, IT'S RIGHT.
A photography contest for the image no algorithm would choose.
Brought to you by Narrative and MODE Festival by Flickr.
Free to enter. US entries only. Closes 25th August 2026, 7 PM ET.
A photography contest for the image no algorithm would choose.
Brought to you by Narrative and MODE Festival by Flickr.
Free to enter. US entries only. Closes 25th August 2026, 7 PM ET.
Sharp focus, clean composition, perfect exposure. Not this time.
We’re celebrating the shots no algorithm would choose.
Blurred, askew, mid-blink, awkward. And better for it.
The moment only a human eye would recognise.
Four winners. All picked by human eyes.
A guest judge picks two. A photographer's eye on what makes an image worth keeping.
The community picks the other two. People's Choice, decided by your nominations on Instagram. One nomination per person.
Each winner takes home a MODE Festival ticket, plus a one-year Narrative license. $490 USD value.
Submit up to three images. Free to enter. US entries only. Age requirement 18+.
Entries open: 4th August 2026, 7 pm ET
Entries close: 25th August 2026, 7 pm ET
Instagram voting: 1st–3rd September 2026 (opens 7 pm ET, 48-hour window)
Winners announced: 8th September 2026, 7 pm ET
Winners are responsible for their own travel and accommodation to MODE Festival by Flickr.
Narrative gets photographers to their best images faster — without handing over creative control. MODE is a festival built on art, instinct and community, run by the team at Flickr.
Terms and conditions.
