The PicTours TY Phone Photography Competition Is Coming Back in January 2027

We have some exciting news for Transition Year students, teachers and schools across Ireland.

The PicTours TY Phone Photography Competition will be back in January 2027.

Following the success of our previous competition, we’re delighted to bring the event back for another year and give Transition Year students the chance to get creative with the camera they already have in their pocket.

The competition is all about encouraging students to look at Ireland differently, experiment with photography and showcase their creativity using their smartphone.

A Photography Competition Designed for Transition Year Students

Transition Year is all about trying something different, developing new skills and giving students opportunities to explore their interests outside the traditional classroom.

Our TY phone photography competition is designed with exactly that in mind.

Students don’t need expensive cameras or professional photography equipment to take part.

They simply need a smartphone, a good eye and a willingness to experiment.

Whether a student is already interested in photography or has never considered themselves a photographer, the competition is an opportunity to get outside, explore their surroundings and start seeing everyday places in a different way.

Your Phone Is Your Camera

Almost every student already carries a surprisingly powerful camera with them every day.

That means there is no need for specialist equipment to get involved.

Students can experiment with:

Composition
How they arrange different elements within the frame.

Light
Using sunshine, shadows, reflections and different times of day to create more interesting images.

Perspective
Changing their position to photograph something from a completely different angle.

Colour
Looking for strong, contrasting or complementary colours.

Storytelling
Using a single photograph to communicate a feeling, place, moment or idea.

The aim isn’t simply to take a technically perfect photograph.

It’s to create an image that makes someone stop and look.

Get Students Looking at Ireland Differently

One of the best things about smartphone photography is that it encourages students to pay attention to the world around them.

A familiar street can suddenly become a great photograph when the light changes.

A school building can look completely different from a low angle.

A rainy day can create incredible reflections.

A simple landscape can become much more interesting when a person is added to the frame.

The TY Phone Photography Competition 2027 will encourage students to find these moments and turn them into photographs.

A Great Transition Year Activity

For schools, the competition can also be a simple way to introduce photography and creativity into the TY programme.

It can be used as:

A classroom photography project
Teachers can introduce students to basic smartphone photography skills before asking them to create their competition entry.

An outdoor activity
Students can head outside and explore their school grounds, local area or town looking for photographs.

A creative challenge
Students can experiment with different styles and ideas before choosing their final image.

A way to showcase student creativity
The competition gives students the chance to have their work seen beyond the classroom.

And because every student already has access to a smartphone, there is no need for a large collection of cameras or specialist equipment.

You Have Plenty of Time to Start Practising

The competition officially returns in January 2027, but students don’t have to wait until then to start taking photographs.

In fact, now is a great time to start experimenting.

Try photographing the same subject from five different angles.

Take a photograph using only shadows.

Look for reflections after it rains.

Try photographing something familiar from a completely different perspective.

Use a doorway, tree or railing to frame your subject.

The more photographs students take, the more naturally good composition and creative ideas will start to develop.

Follow PicTours for the 2027 Competition Launch

We’ll be sharing more information about the PicTours TY Phone Photography Competition 2027 ahead of the January launch, including the competition details, how to enter and all the information students and teachers will need to get involved.

Schools interested in incorporating photography into their Transition Year programme can also discover our PicTours smartphone photography tours, which combine creativity, photography and exploring some of Ireland’s most interesting cities.

It’s a great way to give students practical photography experience before putting their skills to the test in the competition.

January 2027 Is Coming

A new year means a new opportunity to get creative.

So whether you’re a Transition Year student who loves photography, a teacher looking for an engaging creative activity, or a school interested in giving students something different to work towards, keep an eye out for the PicTours TY Phone Photography Competition 2027.

The competition is coming back in January 2027.

Start looking.

Start experimenting.

Start taking photographs.

And most importantly, start seeing Ireland through your lens.