NYC Student Photography Project
SNAP THE SWEEP
A photography project celebrating the workers who keep New York City clean.
If you go to high school in New York City and have a camera or a phone, this contest is for you. We're looking for photos that capture NYC's sanitation workers doing what they do every day: keeping the city running.
THE Project
What Is Snap the Sweep?
Snap the Sweep: NYC at Work is a photography project open to high school students across all five boroughs.
The challenge is simple: Photograph New York City's sanitation workers doing their jobs and show us the city through their eyes.
This isn't about polished studio shots. It's about real moments, real streets, and the real people who keep New York running. Whether you shoot on your phone or a DSLR, your perspective counts.
TIMELINE
Project Dates and Deadlines
Submissions conclude on May 4, 2026.
Don't wait. Start shooting now and get your submissions in before the deadline.
📸 Submit Your Photos
Got your shot? Upload your photo(s) through our submission form before the deadline
Deadline:
Monday, May 4, 2026
🏆 Winners Announced
Finalists and winners will be notified by email and featured on this site
Announcement Date:
TBD
🎉 Win Recognition
Top photos will have the opportunity to be showcased at ICP and featured in an online exhibition
Prize:
TBH
THE STORY
Why Snap the Sweep?
Every morning, New York City's sanitation workers are already on the streets before most people wake up. They're sweeping curbs, collecting garbage, and keeping the city livable for millions of people. Most of us walk right past them.
Snap the Sweep asks high school students to stop and pay attention. To pick up a camera, find one of these workers, and capture what they see every day. The goal isn't just a great photo. It's a shift in perspective.
MEET THE FOUNDER
About Joseph Englander
Joseph Englander is a born-and-raised New Yorker and NYC high school student who's never leaving. The pandemic showed him what this city is really made of — and he's been paying attention ever since. Snap the Sweep is his project — and his way of paying attention to the people most of us overlook.
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Supported by ICP and the Sanitation Foundation
Snap the Sweep is made possible through a partnership with the International Center of Photography (ICP) and the Sanitation Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the NYC Department of Sanitation. Together, we're inviting the next generation of New York photographers to notice the people who make the city work.
Ready to Pick Up Your Camera?
The deadline is approaching. If you're a high school student in New York City, now is the time to get outside and start shooting. Have a question first? We're happy to help.