Calling on TECNO CAMON users nationwide to capture real life moments under the theme “Seeing is Believing” — with global travel awards and filipino special prizes up for grabs
TECNO, the AI-powered technology brand, and Lonely Planet, the internationally renowned travel guide authority, have officially launched the co-hosted Shot On CAMON Contest 2026, marking the third installment of TECNO’s annual global photography competition.Built on a mutual passion for exploration and creativity, the partnership broadens the contest’s focus beyond technology to highlight the people, destinations, and stories captured in every photograph. Through collaborative judging, co-branded initiatives, and photo essay-inspired storytelling, TECNO and Lonely Planet hope to encourage users worldwide to discover more, connect more deeply, and create more compelling visual narratives.As part of the collaboration, three Lonely Planet photographers will showcase original images captured using the CAMON 50 Series, while one photographer from the travel brand will join TECNO’s imaging team on the final-round judging panel.
“Great photos are not just about equipment – they are about how deeply the photographer can immerse themselves in a destination,” said Melissa Killian, Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Lonely Planet. “TECNO’s technology makes that immersion easier, helping users stay present, observe more closely and capture meaningful moments as they happen. We are excited to partner on Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 and look forward to seeing how photographers around the world bring their journeys to life.”
Under the theme “Seeing is Believing,” this year’s contest runs from May 15 to October 11, 2026, inviting smartphone photographers worldwide to capture real, beautiful and unrepeatable moments using the TECNO CAMON 50 Series. In a year increasingly shaped by AI, the theme is TECNO’s call to celebrate the authenticity of real life through photography, honoring diverse skin tones, fleeting emotions, and real-world observations. Even the contest’s AI category starts with a real photograph, encouraging users to start from authentic observation and personal expression.
TECNO Philippines Welcomes Kelvinmarkulit as CAMON Photography Ambassador
To further ignite local passion for authentic mobile photography, TECNO Philippines has appointed Kelvinmarkulit – a highly respected Filipino visual storyteller known for his raw, unfiltered depictions of everyday Filipino life – as the official CAMON Photography Ambassador for the Philippine leg of the contest. Kelvin will play a multi-faceted role: from co-creating a call-out video that rallies Filipino creators to join the competition, to serving as a regional judge in selecting the country’s most compelling entries, and joining the exclusive winner’s journey. His partnership with TECNO goes beyond a celebrity endorsement; it is a powerful signal to Filipino photography enthusiasts that local stories, captured with honesty and heart, can stand on a global stage. Kelvin’s own journey – from shooting candid street moments to earning international recognition – inspires a new generation to believe that with observation, emotion, and the right tool, anyone can transform the ordinary into the unforgettable.
Five Creative Categories That Celebrate New Ways of Seeing
The five categories of Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 are designed to inspire different ways of seeing, encouraging participants to capture real moments, emotions and perspectives from everyday life and travel.
- FacesUnfiltered– This category celebrates authentic portraits that reflect people as they really are, capturing diverse skin tones and individuality in a quiet close-up, a candid street portrait, or a moment shared between friends.
- NightUnveiled– This category invites participants to capture the atmosphere, mystery and emotion that emerge after dark, from neon-lit streets and reflections after rain to still moonlit scenes and late-night city life.
- CultureUnscripted– This category focuses on capturing the rhythm of a place as it naturally unfolds, whether through festivals, crafts, food moments or unplanned interactions between people.
- SnapshotUnspotted (Telephoto Special)– Participants are invited to capture distant details that reveal something surprising, intimate or easily overlooked, from textures on far-off peaks to a fleeting expression within a crowd.
- AIUnimagined (AI Gallery Special)– First capture a real-world photo with a TECNO phone, then transform it into an artistic style using TECNO’s AI Gallery. Both the original photograph and the AI-styled image must be submitted together. This category is designed to explore how AI can extend creative expression while keeping real-world photography as the starting point.
“‘Seeing is Believing’ is both a creative brief for our contestants and a reminder that the most powerful images begin with real life,” said Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO. “Through Shot On CAMON Contest 2026, we hope to inspire users around the world to observe more closely, express themselves more freely and celebrate the beauty of authentic moments through photography.”
Awards, Honors and How to Enter
To recognize exceptional creativity, Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 will reward outstanding work across its major award tiers with both cash prizes and exclusive travel prizes sponsored by Lonely Planet. Selected winners will embark on a curated journey to explore the wonders — to experience is to believe, and only by witnessing can miracles truly be seen.
As rewards for the competition, one outstanding photographer will be awarded the TECNO Photography Master prize ($8,000). Additionally, there will be five winners for the Gold Prize ($3,000), five winners for the Silver Prize ($2,000), and five winners for the Bronze Prize ($1,000). Ten participants will also be selected as a TECNO Friend and will receive a CAMON 50 Series Smartphone. As an exclusive bonus, the TECNO Photography Master and the five Gold Prize winners will also be invited to a bespoke trip to the Philippines.
Special “Filipino Special Award” – Exclusive for Philippine Participants
In addition to the global prizes, TECNO Philippines is introducing the Filipino Special Award to recognize and reward local creative talent. Philippine users may submit either images (standard entry) or videos (via Instagram/Facebook Reels, and TikTok). While video submissions are considered informal entries and are not eligible for global awards, they will automatically be considered for the Filipino Special Award. A total of six additional winners will be chosen as CAMON Photography Endorsers in Philippines, each receiving a Lonely Planet Bespoke Trip and a CAMON 50 Series Smartphone. The breakdown is as follows: five winners from image submissions (across any of the five contest categories) and one winner from video submissions. This special award underscores TECNO Philippines’ commitment to celebrating homegrown visual storytellers, whether they freeze a moment in time or bring it to life through motion.
How to Enter
To join, participants must upload photos featuring a visible TECNO device watermark on Instagram with the hashtags #ShotOnCAMON2026, #TECNOCAMON50Series, and #TECNOPhilippines. They must also send high-resolution copies through email at [email protected] or upload them via the ShotOnCAMON Gallery on TECNO Philippines’ official website. All submissions must be original works, and duplicate entries will automatically be disqualified. Winning photos will be featured in global media exhibitions, TECNO’s annual photo book, and across the brand’s official platforms.
For the complete contest mechanics and additional information, visit the Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 page or follow @tecnomobileph on Instagram.
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