DPReview just announced its latest community challenge, and this one is built for film shooters. Analog April invites photographers worldwide to submit their best analog photography — any format, any era, any stock — for a chance to be featured on one of the most-read photography sites on the planet. Submissions open April 12 and close April 18, 2026 (GMT). If you have a scanner and a roll worth sharing, this is your moment.
Any film format. Any film stock. Color or black and white. The only rule that matters: it has to be real film — no digital simulations allowed.
What Is Analog April?
Analog April is DPReview's dedicated film photography challenge for 2026. It follows their “Night Lights” challenge from March and continues the site's tradition of themed community events that spotlight different corners of the photographic world. This time, the focus is entirely on analog capture.
The premise is straightforward. Submit your best film photograph — one that was actually captured on photographic film, not digitally processed to look like it. DPReview's editors will review entries throughout the submission window, and their favorites will be featured on the DPReview homepage. No grand prize, no corporate sponsor — just the recognition of having your work selected by one of the largest photography editorial teams in the world.
The Rules
DPReview has kept the entry requirements refreshingly open. Here is what you need to know before submitting.
Any film format qualifies. 35mm, medium format, large format, instant — if light hit a chemical emulsion to make the image, it counts. There is no restriction on when the photo was taken, either. A shot from last weekend and a shot from ten years ago are equally eligible. The challenge is about the work, not the calendar.
Color and black and white are both welcome. Shoot Portra, shoot Tri-X, shoot a roll of expired Ektachrome you found in a thrift store. DPReview is not filtering by aesthetic — they want to see the full range of what analog photography looks like in 2026.
Authenticity matters. Entries must be genuine film captures. Digital simulations, film presets applied to digital files, and AI-generated images are all disqualified. Minimal post-processing is permitted — technical corrections for scanning artifacts or color balancing aged film are fine — but over-processed entries risk disqualification. The editors want to see the film, not the filter.
Tell the story. Every submission needs a title and a caption of at least 25 words. DPReview also encourages participants to share which film stock they used. This is not just a gallery — it is a conversation about process, materials, and intention.
Why This Challenge Matters
DPReview calling 2026 the “Year of Analogue” is not marketing fluff. It coincides with the 200th anniversary of photography, a milestone that has prompted institutions, manufacturers, and communities across the world to reflect on the medium's physical, chemical origins. Analog April fits squarely into that broader cultural moment.
It also matters because of where it lives. DPReview is not a niche film blog — it is one of the most visited photography sites in the world, read primarily by digital shooters. A film-only challenge on that platform puts analog photography in front of an audience that might otherwise never see it. Every featured image becomes an invitation for a digital shooter to ask, “What stock is that?” and fall down the same rabbit hole the rest of us already live in.
How to Submit
Head to the DPReview challenges page during the submission window (April 12–18, 2026 GMT). Upload your scan, add a title and caption of at least 25 words, and include your film stock if you know it. That last part — the stock identification — is where the community aspect gets interesting. Readers love learning what a particular emulsion looks like under specific conditions, and sharing that detail turns a submission into a resource.
Make Your Caption Count
The 25-word caption requirement is a gift, not a chore. A good caption gives context that elevates the image — where you shot it, what stock you used, whether you pushed or pulled the development, what drew you to the scene. The judges are photographers. They want to know the story behind the frame.
If you shoot with Pellica, this part is already done. The film roll tracker logs your film stock, camera body, and per-frame notes as you shoot — so when it comes time to write a caption, you are not guessing what stock was loaded or what settings you used three weeks ago. The data is there. Your caption practically writes itself.
The Bigger Picture
Analog April is one challenge on one site, but it represents something larger: mainstream photography media taking film seriously again. Not as a curiosity, not as a nostalgia piece, but as a living practice worth celebrating on the same stage as digital work.
If you have a frame you are proud of — something that shows what film can do when the light, the stock, and the moment align — this is a week worth clearing your schedule for. Scan your best shot, write the caption, and let the work speak for itself.
