Challenge Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) created the Framing the Future: Industrial Technologies Photo Contest to document and communicate the innovative technologies, processes, and people that will help the United States achieve a decarbonized industrial sector and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.
America’s industrial sector creates materials and products critical to our daily lives—from the cement used to pave our roads to the steel and iron used to produce our buildings, railways, and appliances. However, this vital sector accounts for one-third of U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, making the decarbonization of industry a critical part of the nation’s climate goals. But decarbonization will require a full-scale industrial transformation with novel technologies and a skilled workforce ready to usher in a clean energy economy.
By participating in the contest, photographers of all proficiency levels will help capture the spirit of this ambitious transformation and the people and technologies that will make it happen.
The imagery resulting from the contest will be featured on IEDO’s website, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Flickr account, at manufacturing events and conferences, and in other outreach material with photographer credit noted.
Photo Categories and Prizes to Win
Participants in the Framing the Future: Industrial Technologies Photo Contest can win up to $2,000 for a photo in one of six categories. A panel of judges will review photographs for emotional appeal/impact, composition/content, technical quality, originality, and editing.
Entrants may submit up to 10 photos in the following six categories:
- Category 1: Decarbonizing Emissions-Intensive Industries:
- Iron and Steel
- Food and Beverage
- Cement and Concrete
- Paper and Forest Products
- Chemicals Sector
- Category 2: Cross-Sector Decarbonization Technologies
- Category 3: Onsite Energy
- Category 4: Improving Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Category 5: The People and Communities of the Industrial Sector
- Category 6: Creative Interpretation.
In category 1, IEDO will award a Grand Prize and will also select a Runner Up and Honorable Mention winner for each subcategory. In categories 2-6, IEDO will award winners a Grand Prize of $2,000, a Runner Up prize of $1,000, and an Honorable Mention award of $500.
All photos must be taken within the United States or U.S. territories or photograph U.S. technology in non-U.S. territory. View the official photo contest rules for complete details on submission requirements for each category.
All photos must be submitted as zip files and use this file naming convention:
PhotoTitle_LastName_CategoryNumber
Please use the category number outlined in the Resources tab.
Submission Guidelines
The competition is open to all amateur and professional photographers with original work, subject to the requirements detailed in the official Framing the Future photo contest rules.
If you want to subscribe to updates on the prize, click the Follow button at the top of the page.
If you have any questions, you may use the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message the photo contest administrators directly.
Important Dates
The submission deadline is November 21 at 11:59 p.m. MT. Please see the official timeline in HeroX for the most current dates and deadlines. All dates are subject to change, including deadlines and announcements.
View the timeline and sign up for updates on the HeroX page.
Ready to Get Started?
Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.
If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please subscribe by using the follow feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
