Welcome to the GCCA’s 6th annual Concrete in Life photography competition, following the huge success of our 2023 competition! 21,000 of you entered and we received global recognition from the BBC, Forbes and Dezeen.
As one of the most widely used man-made products on the planet, concrete is essential to our lives: in our houses and offices; our roads and pavements; in the bridges that connect us; the wind farms that provide us with energy; and the sea barriers that protect us. As the sustainable building material of choice, it provides safe, durable and resilient structures as well as providing the basis for renewable energy infrastructure.
Concrete in Life is our annual photography competition, open to all photographers (or anyone with a camera phone) around the world. It tasks you to take photos of concrete in your life for a chance to win up to $10,000.
Entering the competition is simple. Just upload a photo of concrete using the hashtag #ConcreteInLife2425, the hashtag # of the category you are entering and the hashtag # of the country you took the photo in (full entry details below).
Entries will be judged by our judging panel – our shortlist will be revealed later this year and winners will be announced in early 2025.
We are also excited to have our People’s Choice award, where the public will vote for their favourite photo from our shortlist.
The competition closes on 30th November 2024
2024/25 Categories (4 Total)
Urban design and use
#UrbanConcrete – images of the city landscapes and buildings around us, both well-known and hidden away
Concrete Infrastructure
#ConcreteInfrastructure – photographs of our infrastructure, in our cities and rural, above and below ground.
Concrete in Daily Life
#ConcreteInDailyLife – the human side of concrete and how it’s used and interacted with daily.
Beauty and Design
#ConcreteBeautyAndDesign – showcasing beautiful uses concrete in the world around us – such as stunningly designed buildings, sculptures or landmarks.
How to Enter
Take a photo of concrete in your life and upload it to Instagram or X. Include the following information
- #ConcreteInLife2425
- The hashtag # of the category you are entering (one per photo)
- The hashtag # of the country where you took the photo
You can also email us your entry concreteinlife@gccassociation.org
You can enter as many photos as you like, but each one can only be considered for one category.
Remember to make your photo public on Instagram or we won’t be able to view your photos.
* There are no amateur or professional categories.
Prizes
Total prizes:
- Overall winner – $10,000
- Urban Concrete – $2,500
- Concrete Infrastructure – $2,500
- Concrete in Daily Life – $2,500
- Concrete Beauty and Design – $2,500
- People’s Choice – $5,000
The Judges
Diane Hoskins
Global Co‑Chair, Gensler
“The places and spaces where we spend our time shape our experience of the world. Concrete is one of the most versatile and ubiquitous building materials, opening up an incredible opportunity for innovation and creativity. As architects and designers, we strive to achieve beauty, function, and resilience in our work. This is the power and promise of the built environment and the materials that bring it to life.”
Tina Paillet
President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
“As the globally renowned professional body for the built and natural environment, RICS members know just how important concrete is to modern infrastructure and to meeting the world’s net zero targets via the circular economy. I’m looking forward to judging this year’s Concrete in Life competition and getting the chance to see many awe-inspiring photographs from around the world.”
Chris George
Content Director at Digital Camera World
“Concrete is all around us and has a beauty that might not always be obvious to some people. The Concrete in Life global photography competition continues to prove it is possible to take stunning shots of architecture and the manmade environment that show off the beauty of this universal building material.”
Thomas Guillot
Chief Executive, GCCA
“Concrete is a highly versatile material, offering the potential for beautiful design, as well as durability and strength. In our busy, modern world, we don’t always appreciate it, but if we didn’t have it, we’d certainly notice. Our Concrete in Life Competition gives every community across the globe a chance to show just how essential concrete is to our lives.”