Race smarter, not faster
Practical advice from people who have raced UPR before and from jurors who have looked at thousands of submissions.
Six tips for the day, from what to pack to how to pace yourself.
Pack light
You walk about 15 km over the day. Every extra lens or accessory is something you carry, not something you use. One body, one or two lenses, water, snacks, spare battery or film. Sun and rain protection on top.
Charge everything the night before
Charge your batteries and bring one or two spares, and a power bank for your phone: checkpoints, themes and uploads all run through it. Back up your cards, format them, bring a spare, and check the card is in the camera before the start. Forgetting it happens more often than you think.
Read the theme before you shoot
Theme cards are short. Read them twice. The themes are broad on purpose: the jury rewards interpretation over literal illustration. Spend two minutes thinking about what the theme is not before you start shooting.
Three photos, one idea. The jury reads your three as one series, like Esther Gerritsen’s “In motion”, Best Theme in Brussels 2026.
Then save your energy for the rest of the day.
Edit between checkpoints
Use the walk to the next checkpoint to select your frames. When you arrive at the next theme, your previous theme should be set. Trying to edit twelve photos at the deadline is how people miss the submission window.
Comfortable shoes win races
It sounds small. It is not. By CP3 you are exhausted, and exhausted photographers shoot worse. The best portfolios usually come from racers who paced themselves all day.
Know the area
Look at the area on a map before race day, above all in a city that is new to you. A transport map helps if you would rather take a tram or a bus between checkpoints. Check the forecast and dress for it.