What is the most prestigious or significant juried photo exhibition you know of?

I’m not sure if this can be achieved via a photography competition or exhibition (in fact I doubt it) but I think the highest honor a photographer could achieve would be to be selected to be a National Geographic photographer. National Geographic is world-renowned for their amazing photography, and in my mind I can’t picture another photography career that would be more rewarding or prestigious.

I also found this site that has an International Photographer Of The Year Award that comes with a $10,000 dollar prize.

The ICP in New York; a show at Witkin, or Light Gallery

There is also the Sony World Photography Awards, a international competition with an honorary jury panel made up of other world-renowned photographers.

Update: Click on the Galleries link —then 2010 galleries at the top of the page for some great photos. I’m rather fond of this one.

MOMA (Museum of Modern Art in NYC, e.g. http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/891 ; Art Institute of Chicago http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/photo to name but two. Many well-known, well-regarded, prestigious institutions have important exhibits & collections of art, including photography.

As already said by others, for certain kinds of photos the ultimate gig is publication in magazines known for their impeccable taste in photography.

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.

What about World Press Photo? http://www.worldpressphoto.org Depends on the kind of photography he is making.