Portraits as Visual Repositories

About

Open to photographers from across the world, this call invites submissions for images and projects that explore portraits as events that are driven by the relationships between the subject, the photographer and the viewer.

Can portraits be a visual repository for the lives, experiences, emotions and perspectives of photographed subjects? Can the arranging of oneself for a portrait be considered a performance? And what does that performance might reveal about the viewpoint of the photographer? Considering the relationships between one’s image and what it might reveal (or conceal) about their world, this open call regards portraits as an archive or a depository of the subject’s life, identity and points of views.

The Juror

Asha Iman Vealn is Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, where she recently presented the large-scale exhibitions Beautiful Diaspora / You Are Not the Lesser Part (2022) and LOVE: Still Not the Lesser (2023). She has curated significant exhibitions such as RAISIN (vol 1) at the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Veal is frequently invited as a guest lecturer or panelist at various cultural institutions, both local and international, including GRAIN Projects UK, Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has also served as a distinguished jury reviewer for awards and residencies such as the East African Photography Awards, Earth Photo Award by Forestry England and the Royal Geographical Society, Terra Foundation/American Academy in Rome, Visual Studies Workshop NY, University of Chicago Arts + Public Life, and Arts Work Fund Chicago. She has been an invited portfolio reviewer and crit panelist for the FORMAT International Photography Festival UK, Rencontres d’Arles France, FotoFest Houston, Belfast Photo Festival, University of Chicago Department of Visual Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, Chicago Artist Coalition, and others.

She serves on the board of Filter Photo (Chicago) and was recently a board member of Experimental Sound Studio and Audible Gallery. She is active in the ORACLE Conference of International Photography Curators, and the Independent Curators International – Curatorial Forum and Chicago Assembly (2023 cohorts). Veal holds a BA from New York University Gallatin School, an MFA from The New School, and an MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Eligibility and Guidelines

The exhibition is open internationally to photographers of all levels. The juror will select images based on creativity, originality, and quality. LACP invites photographers working in all mediums and styles to take part in the exhibition.

We do not accept images and texts created by AI for this open call.

Not an LACP Member? To become a Member, click HERE

The deadline to submit digital files through Submittable for consideration in this call is Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Midnight PST. No exceptions.

Acceptance Notice

The selection process will be blind. Once the juror has made selections, all entrants will be notified. Those selected will receive an email from LACP with a list of images and artists selected for the show. The selected images and artists’ names will be posted on LACP’s website.

LACP is not responsible for connecting the selected artists with the juror. In addition, LACP reserves the right not to use a particular selected image(s) for promotional purposes if the image(s) is deemed inappropriate for use on LACP’s social media, newsletter feed, and/or on in any other marketing material.

Entry Fee

$25 for 1 image ($18.75 for LACP Members)
$50 for 2-5 images ($37.50 for LACP Members)
$75 for 6-10 images ($56.25 for LACP Members)
$100 for 11-15 images ($75.00 for LACP Members)
$125 for 16-20 images ($93.75 for LACP Members)
$150 for 21-25 images ($112.50 for LACP Members)
$175 for 26-30 images ($131.25 for LACP Members)
$200 for 31-35 images ($150.00 for LACP Members)

Click HERE to enter and pay. You will be taken to Submittable.com. You will need  to create a FREE Submittable profile to submit your images.

NOTE: Please DO NOT watermark your images when submitting. Thank you.

Not an LACP Member? To become a Member, click HERE

Each photographer retains all copyrights to their images & works. Photographers whose submissions are chosen for the exhibition grant the Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP) the right to use their images for display on LACP’s website and for the purpose of promoting exhibitions, promoting LACP’s programs, and promoting the artist. Promotions and images may also be placed on social networks for LACP with artist credit. Artists grant the use of their image(s) as stated without further contact from LACP. The artist understands that LACP will not be held responsible for loss, theft or other damage, whether caused by the negligence of its officers, members, or others. Photographers are welcome to sell their photos during the online exhibit, with 50 percent commission to LACP. Submission of application will constitute an agreement to all these terms and conditions.

For questions please email info@lacphoto.org