Palette Photo Hunt Challenge

The winners have been announced.

This contest is now closed.

Thank you for your participation

Hello, and Happy Holi, everyone!

It's the Festival of Colours once again Holi heralds the arrival of Spring with all of its vitality and colour. And while it might be primarily an Indian celebration, it's observed in many parts of the world.

This year, we're celebrating Holi with a unique photo hunt challenge But don't worry, the rules are simple and everyone is welcome to participate!

Palette Photo Hunt Challenge

Create a photo collage inspired by a free-to-use colour palette.

How to participate?

• Select any free-to-use colour palette with at least 3 colours.

• Use your mobile phone camera to click a photo for each colour in the palette.

• Create a collage of the photos you take using any free app.

• Upload it to your gallery with the #Holi2026 tag and the chosen colour palette in the description.

• Submit it to the contest folder, and post your entry in the comments below.

Rules

• This is a photo hunt, so it is a photography only challenge. You do not need fancy equipment to participate; your mobile phone camera is more than enough.

• Your chosen palette should have at least 3 colours.

• Use #Holi2026 among your tags.

• Link the chosen colour palette with proper credit in the description of your submission.

• Submit your entry to the contest folder. Membership to the @Community group is required to submit to the folder. All membership requests are automatically accepted.

• Your work should be created specifically for this contest, which means no work submitted before March 03, 2026.

• You may submit as many entries as you like, but only one of them may win a prize.

• AI and AI-assisted images are not eligible for this challenge.

Dates to Remember

STARTS: March 03, 2026

ENDS: March 18, 2026 11:59 PM (UTC -07:00) (What time is that for me?)

Meet your Judges

Prizes

There will be 3 winners, each of whom will win:

• 1,000 from @Community

• Diamond badge from @morbidman187, @BeckyKidus, or @AlexanderPaupoff

• Hype badge from @KizukiTamura

• Quartz badge from @Olgola, @KizukiTamura, @morbidman187, and @AlexanderPaupoff

• Journal feature from @KizukiTamura

Would you like to contribute a prize? Drop a comment below or DM @AlexanderPaupoff

#community #challenge #photohunt #photography #holi2026 #holi #contest #news

Cover image: Canva

Frequently asked questions

What is Holi?

Holi is a Hindu festival. It celebrates Spring, love, colours, and the victory of good over evil. You can find out more about it here.

What is a photo hunt?

A photo hunt in the context of this challenge is a scavenger hunt. Once you pick a palette, you must take photographs that are focused on each of the colours of your chosen palette. For instance, if your palette is made up of 3 colours - blue, yellow, and black - you must look for objects (or subjects) to photograph that are of those colours and shades. Once you have a photograph for each of the colours of your palette, you must organise them into a collage and submit them per the rules of this challenge.

Do I have to use one of the palettes featured in this journal?

No. You can use any free-to-use palette available on DeviantArt.

Can I use any palette for this contest?

You can use any palette on DeviantArt that you have permission to use. Check for palettes that are marked 'free'/ 'free to use'/ 'F2U'/ 'FTU', etc.

Can I create my own palette for this contest?

Yes, provided it is uploaded separately as a free-to-use resource, in keeping with the spirit of the festival.

Where can I find palettes on DeviantArt?

You can search for 'free palettes' or check out dedicated groups, such as @Palettes and @Color-Palettes.

What kind of equipment will I need for this contest?

Your mobile phone camera is just fine.

How do I make a collage of the photos I click?

There are numerous dedicated collage maker apps and services available that you can use, like Picsart Collage Maker and Canva. You can also use InCollage (available on the Apple App Store) for your iOs device, or the built in collage tools on your android phone or Google Photos.

Can I upload the individual photographs?

Yes, of course! You can upload the individual photographs to your gallery or after your collage in a multi-image upload.

Are collaborations allowed?

Yes! But collaborators must decide who will submit to the contest and represent the submission.

Can I use AI to create my entry?

No, this challenge will not accept AI-generated or AI-assisted content. Entries made with AI-assistance will be summarily declined.

What if my entry is flagged as possibly AI-assisted?

All submissions to the contest folder will be carefully reviewed to ensure no AI-assisted work is accepted. If an entry raises concerns about possible AI involvement and doesn't pass review, it will not be accepted. All decisions are final; we don't have the bandwidth to accommodate discussions or appeals regarding declined entries.

Why has my submission to the contest folder not been accepted yet?

Since submissions are manually handled, there might be a delay. You submission request will not expire and will always be responded to before the contest is closed.

Is NSFW allowed?

No.

If you have any further queries/ doubts, please reach out in the comments below