A photograph can freeze truth, but can it also reveal what lies beneath it? The Roger Pic Prize 2026 dares to ask that question—celebrating photographers who use their lens not just to document reality, but to explore the very essence of what makes us human.
Applications are now open until November 30, 2025, inviting creators whose work captures moments that speak louder than words and perspectives that challenge how we see the world.
Every year, the Société Civile des Auteurs Multimédia (Scam) awards the €5,000 Roger Pic Prize (details: https://www.scam.fr/lessentiel/prix-et-etoiles/prix-photographiques/prix-roger-pic) to one photographer whose portfolio offers a bold and personal interpretation of our shared reality. This is more than just a photography award—it's a tribute to storytelling through imagery.
In collaboration with Fisheye magazine (https://fisheyemagazine.fr/), the prize honors the spirit of Roger Pic—a photographer, filmmaker, and passionate advocate for authors’ rights. His work championed both artistic freedom and social consciousness, reminding us that pictures can be acts of resistance as much as records of life. But here’s where it gets controversial: in an era saturated with images, what truly counts as truthful photography? Can a photo be both art and activism?
The jury, newly formed each year, reflects this blend of creativity and conscience. It includes:
- The president of the Scam-Vélasquez association.
- Members from the Scam’s still images commission.
- Acclaimed figures from across the photographic community—among them Véronique de Viguerie, last year’s award winner and renowned photojournalist.
So, if your camera captures not just what is visible, but what is felt, this is your moment to step forward. Will your images change how others see humanity—or even ignite a debate about what truth in photography really means? Share your thoughts below: do you believe a photograph can ever be purely objective, or is it always shaped by the eye—and heart—behind the lens?
