HamOnt One Shot 2026
Your photo
on the wall
during Supercrawl.
Submit up to five photographs. Every eligible entry gets professionally printed and hung at CoLodge for Supercrawl.
Then the public picks their favourite.
How It Works
Submit
Upload up to five photos via our submission form. Any subject, any style, any camera. $15 per photo. Submissions close August 16th.
Print & Hang
Every eligible submission gets professionally printed by 905 Print and hung at CoLodge on James Street.
Vote
Gallery visitors rank their top 5 photos. Votes are tallied and winners are announced at the closing ceremony on September 13th.
Guidelines for Submission
Accepted
- Up to five original photographs per entrant
- Any subject, any style
- Any camera: digital, film, phone
- Photographs with standard editing practices or minor AI-assisted cleanup (dust spots, small blemishes) only
Not Accepted
- AI-generated imagery or generative fill
- Cameraless photographic techniques (e.g. cyanotypes, photograms, radiographs, etc.)
- Collages or composite images that are not captured in camera (digital double exposures are acceptable)
- Images you don’t hold full rights to
- Hate speech, graphic violence, or explicit content
If you have any further questions about what will or will not be accepted, please feel free to reach out at hamontoneshot@gmail.com.
You always retain copyright. By submitting, you grant us a limited license to print your photo for the exhibition. Promotional use requires your separate opt-in consent.
Four Awards
Winners in each category receive four additional 8×10 prints of their work, a group show with the winning photos at Rooney’s, and prize packages from local vendors.
The People’s Choice
Voted by gallery visitors during Supercrawl. Anyone who attends can cast a ballot.
The Photographer’s Choice
Voted by participating photographers. If you submit, you vote in this category.
Best Film Photograph
The film photograph with the most gallery visitor votes. Not voted separately.
Best Black & White
The film photograph with the most gallery visitor votes. Not voted separately.
Additional prize packages from local vendors will be announced closer to the event.
Important Dates
Submissions Open
July 15, 2026
Submission Deadline
August 16, 2026
11:59 PM EDT. Late entries will not be accepted
Opening Night
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Opening night at CoLodge for photographers, family, and chosen family.
Exhibition & Voting
September 9–13, 2026
CoLodge, 288 James St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 2L3. Open to the public
Closing Ceremony
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Evening, time TBA; winners announced, prints available for pickup
Thanks to Our Sponsors & Community Partners
This competition exists because of the generosity of Hamilton’s business community.
Interested in supporting Hamont One Shot? Get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter?
The competition is open to both amateur and professional photographers aged 18 and over who are residents of Ontario, Canada.
How many photos can I submit?
Up to five photographs per entrant. Each photo is submitted and priced individually at $15 CAD.
How much does it cost to enter?
$15 CAD per photograph, non-refundable, paid via the submission form. Your entry fee covers professional printing of your photo for the exhibition, gallery costs, marketing, prizes, and administration.
There’s also an optional photo book add-on for $15: add all your submitted photos to the official show photo book and receive a copy. The book will be available for sale during the exhibition and at Rooney’s following the event.
Can I use a phone camera?
Yes! We fully believe that the quality of a photograph is not limited by the camera used to create it. If you have a photo that you love and that you think the people will love, please submit it!
Will every submission get printed?
Every eligible submission gets professionally printed by 905 Print and hung at CoLodge for the Supercrawl exhibition. Photos that violate the guidelines listed above and in the Terms and Conditions will be rejected.
How does voting work?
During gallery opening hours, every visitor will be able to rank their top three photos. 1st choice earns 3 points, 2nd choice earns 2 points, 3rd choice earns 1 point. Voting will end at 2pm on Sunday, September 13th, though the gallery will remain open through the day. The points are tallied and winners are announced at the closing ceremony on the evening of Sunday, September 13. (Time TBA)
Photographers who submitted work will vote with a separate ballot which will be tallied to determine the Photographer's Choice award.
I can’t visit the exhibition. Can I vote online?
No. Only actual visitors can cast a ballot.
Can I use AI editing tools?
Standard photo editing is fine. We understand that the tools for editing, like Lightroom and Photoshop, have evolved to include AI editing tools, and the use of those tools for minor cleanup and editing is acceptable.
What’s not accepted: AI-generated imagery, generative fill, or any tool that creates or substantially replaces content rather than editing it. The overwhelming majority of the image must be your original photography.
Do I keep the rights to my photos?
Yes. Copyright always stays with you. By submitting, you give us a limited license to print your photos for the exhibition and to handle them internally for administrative purposes.
Any use of your images for promotional materials, social media, press, or advertising requires your separate, explicit opt-in consent, collected at submission. You can decline and still have your work fully printed and displayed in the show.
Can I change a submitted photo?
Changing a photo after it has been submitted will not be permitted. If there is a technical problem with the file, we may ask for you to replace it with a higher-resolution or corrected version.
How do I collect my prints after the show?
Prints can be collected at the closing ceremony on Sunday, September 13, right after the winners are announced. You can also send someone on your behalf.
If you can’t make it that day, there will be additional pickup times at CoLodge during the week of September 14 (specific times to be announced). If you can’t pick up in person at all, postal delivery is available at your cost.
I live outside Hamilton. Can I participate?
Yes. The competition is open to all residents of Ontario, not just Hamilton. However, all of the awards for the competition are Hamilton specific and will only be redeemable in Hamilton.
Is it free to visit the exhibition?
Yes. The exhibition at CoLodge is open to the public, and anyone can attend and vote during Supercrawl. There is no admission fee.
Is the venue accessible?
Unfortunately no. There is a flight of stairs up to the exhibit space with two steep stairs at the top.
I have a question not answered here.
Drop us a line at hamontoneshot@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you.