Announcing The Trellis Photo Contest
Show us what you've got. We'll show you the cash.
The Trellis is a platform for practicing art and storytelling with the goal of documenting and elevating Philly biking culture. 2025 has been an amazing year for biking in Philly and we want you to help us tell that story.
For the first time ever, The Trellis Photo Contest will offer cash prizes for photos that capture what makes our biking community the very best around.
Submit your photos by 11:59 pm on January 7 using the form below for a chance to win.
The Trellis Photo Contest Submission Form
Prizes
Best Overall: $100 cash
Second Place Overall: $75 cash
Third Place Overall: $50 cash
Category Winners - $25 cash each:
- Best photo taken while riding a bike
- Best photo highlighting athleticism
- Best photo highlighting adventure
- Best photo highlighting activism or urbanism
- Best photo highlighting everyday biking
Submission requirements
- Photo must be taken in 2025.
- Photo must be taken in Philadelphia or the immediate region.
- Photo must depict cycling or cycling culture in some meaningful way.
- Photo must be original content and high-resolution (no screenshots etc., mobile images are ok).
- Each entrant may submit up to 3 photos.
- By entering, you agree to allow The Trellis to feature your work (with credit) on our website, social media, and newsletter.
Judging Criteria
Photos will be evaluated based on:
- Visual impact
- Composition, clarity, image quality
- Creativity & originality
- Storytelling or emotion
- Philly-ness
- Connection to cycling
Thanks to Jay Shifman for partnering and contributing to the prize pool.
Judges
Introducing Jay Shifman (he, him), an award-winning photographer and writer who believes no one is free until we are all free. When he's not creating beauty on the page, he's photographing it in the world. He lives in South Philly with his primary partner/wife, Lauren, and their dogs Nell and Crash.
Introducing Dan Powers (he, him), founder of The Trellis, a website that seeks to document and elevate cycling culture in Philadelphia. He first combined photography and bikes while shooting photos of friend on BMX bikes about twenty years ago. While those photos are lost to time in discarded hard drives, his passion for bikes and creating art endures.
Introducing Chris Young (he, him), an artist and storyteller who has worked in transportation at the local government level for ten years, currently as the Comms Manager for the Philadelphia Streets Department. Catch Chris biking around to photograph City crews and project sites and please don't be too mean to the Streets social media accounts!
Introducing Make It Weird (they/them. Street artist making signs in South Philly, ranging from political to absurd. Does not drive, believes that a car free world is possible.
Introducing Linette Messina (she/ella), a Philly portrait photographer who loves riding her bike, seeing live music, and making photos that share stories and build communities.
More Judges will be announced on social media soon!
