Visual comms company Getty Images, in collaboration with Instagram, has announced a call for entries for a new grant to support photographers using Instagram to document stories from underrepresented communities around the world.

Instagram has introduced new opportunities for emerging voices, outside the mainstream media, to create and share projects of social importance. The Getty Images Instagram grant provides financial support and mentorship to amplify their impact.

“Photographers in all corners of the world use the Instagram platform to share unique and authentic stories that otherwise rarely come into focus,” said Getty Images senior director of content partnerships Elodie Mailliet Storm.

“Getty Images is guided by our belief in the power of pictures to move the world and we are excited to collaborate with Instagram on this grant to support and amplify new and important voices.”

Three winners will be selected based on the existing body of work represented on their Instagram account, focusing on the quality of their imagery, their photographic skills and on the project and stories told through their photos.

“We are inspired every day by the work being shared on Instagram by both established and aspiring photographers,” said Amanda Kelso, director of community at Instagram. “Photographers everywhere are experimenting, stretching their creativity and offering diverse perspectives. This grant captures the global enthusiasm from photographers to continue to push their craft to new levels.”

Applications will be accepted until June 5, 2015, at 1:59 p.m. AEST. Entrants can apply online at www.gettyimages.com/grants, where they will be required to submit a biography, brief description of their approach, style, the stories they have covered and how they would benefit from the grant.

Instagram users can encourage photographers they follow or know to apply for the grant by using the hashtag #GettyImagesInstagramGrant. All entrants are required to complete the online application to be considered by the judges.

The judges are:

Kira Pollack – TIME, director of Photography

Malin Fezehai – World Press Photo-winning Swedish-Eritrean photographer

Maggie Steber – Award-winning American photojournalist and former Miami Herald Director of Photography

David Guttenfelder – National Geographic Photography Fellow

Ramin Talaie – Founder