How to Prepare for the 2026 AMB Photo Awards Presented by Shimano Australia
Entries open May 11, and now’s the time to sort through your best shots and get them ready for submission
Header photo by Jasper da Seymour: “Patience again aided in the vision of accomplishing this shot of Sascha Kim during a personal creative project. Re visiting old riding zones from his youth captured in a vert different light.”
The AMB Photo Awards are back again this year. Entries don’t open until May 11, but it’s worth getting onto it now rather than scrambling later. If you’ve been shooting over the past year, this is the time to go back through everything and be a bit ruthless with what actually holds up.
Learn more about AMB Photo Awards: photoawards.ambmag.com.au
What Actually Works
The photos that land in this comp aren’t always the flashiest ones. It’s usually the shots that feel real. A messy race moment. A rider deep in it halfway through a climb. Dust, mud, bad weather, whatever the day threw at you. Stuff that looks like riding, not just posing.
You don’t need a big trip or a World Cup pass either. Plenty of strong entries come from local trails, just shot well.
The Categories
Send it
This category is all about the raw speed, the full-send commitment, and the unbeatable stoke that comes with gravity-fueled riding. Downhill, dual slalom, enduro, freeride, dirt jumping, high-speed trail slashing, and those sketchy push runs—we want to see it all. Show us the grit, the flow, the breathtaking landscapes, and the sheer determination that comes with riding the fall line. Whether it’s a banger shot from your local enduro, a World Cup moment, or your buddy absolutely sending it down a gnarly chute, we’re looking for high-impact images that capture the essence of gravity riding—framed and composed to perfection.
Full Gas
The endurance side of mountain biking has evolved, and the Full Gas category is here to celebrate the heart and soul of it. Whether it’s the lung-busting grind of a club XC race, an all-day epic into the backcountry, the intensity of XCO World Cup action, a marathon sufferfest, or the relentless push of a stage race – we want to see what XC means to you. Show us the grit, the bar-to-bar battles, the technical features, and the landscapes that make XC riding so raw and real. We’re looking for images that tell a story, capture the essence of XC, and bring the race, the effort, and the adventure to life – with flawless composition and framing that make every detail count.
Venture Further
Far beyond the stacked loops and well-worn trails, adventure is limitless. A bike isn’t just a tool – it’s a ticket to the wild, a way to chase the horizon and disappear into the unknown. This category is all about the places your bike can take you, whether it be an epic bikepack or day exploring lesser-known gravel roads. Show us the vast nothingness of the outback, the razor-thin ridgelines that stretch forever, the remote, untamed landscapes where the only sound is your tires crunching over dirt. A winning shot will pull us into the moment, making us feel the scale, the solitude, and the sheer commitment it takes to be out there. Composition and framing matter, but above all, we want to be inspired. We want to see a photo that sparks something deep inside—a photo that makes us want to load up the bags, point the wheels into the unknown, and just ride.
Beyond Limits
This category is all about the breathtaking perspective of landscapes—the vastness of the outback, the sinuous trails slicing through the earth, the lone rider dwarfed by mountains, deserts, or endless forests. We want to see creativity and scale, whether it be via traditional photography or drone. Whether it’s a top-down view of a winding singletrack, a peloton carving through gravel roads, or a solo adventurer lost in the wild, a winning shot will make us stop, stare, and feel the pull of the ride. As always, composition and framing are key—but most of all, we want images that redefine how we see riding from above and beyond.
Raw Reels
The Raw Reels social media video category is looking for the best video that captures the fun and natural environment of MTB riding. Videos must be raw, under 60 seconds, have no music, and be optimised for social media. They will be judged by the panel and uploaded to AMB’s social media accounts. Submit cover and details via Photo Awards site, and send full reel to competitions@ambmag.com.au
Photographer of the Year
If you’re keen to take it seriously, this is the one.
Learn more about AMB Photo Awards: photoawards.ambmag.com.au
You need to enter a shot in each of the photography categories, so it’s not just about having one good image. You’ve got to show you can shoot across different situations.
It’s a high bar. The shots that win tend to have a bit of everything. Timing, composition, and something a bit different.
Young Photographer
There’s also a category for photographers under 20. You don’t need to do anything different. Just enter your shots and the judges will shortlist from there. Same deal, they’re looking for good timing, clean composition, and solid editing.
Judging
Matt Rousu is one of the judges again. He won Photographer of the Year in 2024 and shoots everything from local downhill races to World Cups.
His work usually leans a bit left of centre, which is probably a good cue. Safe shots don’t tend to stand out.
The Practical Stuff
You can enter as many photos as you like in each category. But more isn’t always better. You’re better off picking a few strong ones than dumping everything in. Photos don’t have to be from this year, but recent shots are preferred. Especially anything from the last 12 months that hasn’t already been seen.
If you entered last year:
- Winning or shortlisted shots won’t be considered again
- Other images can be re-entered, but new work has a better chance
Dates Worth Locking In
- Entries open: May 11
- Entries close: July 12
- Voting opens: July 13
- Voting closes: August 14
Learn more about AMB Photo Awards: photoawards.ambmag.com.au
Once entries close, it moves pretty quickly into voting, so don’t leave it to the last week.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve got a camera and you ride, you’ve probably already got something worth entering. The hard part is being honest about which shots are actually good.
Go through your photos now. Cut it down. Sit on it for a bit. The ones that still stand out are usually the ones to back. Then get them ready before May 11 rolls around.
