SEC4P Competitions / Calls for Entry
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Art of Architecture
Architectural photography: The photographing of buildings and similar structures that are aesthetically pleasing and accurate representations of their subjects.Throughout the history of photography, buildings have been highly valued photographic subjects, mirroring society's appreciation for architecture and its cultural significance.
As building designs changed and broke with traditional forms, architectural photography also evolved. During the early-to-mid-20th century, architectural photography became more creative as photographers used lines and bold shadows in their compositions, and experimented with other techniques, resulting in architectural photography being viewed as more of an art form.
The SE Center is looking for all forms of architectural imagery, urban or rural, black-and-white and color, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations are welcome.
Our juror for Architecture is Michael Pannier. Michael Pannier is an internatiobally shown fine art and commercial photographer now located in Greenville, SC. Previously based in Maryland, Michael has spent 35 years in photography, 45 years in the gallery and art world. Relocating to South Carolina, The SE Center for Photography was born as an exhibition and education venue for fine photography. Through monthly exhibitions, photographers of all skill levels have the opportunity to have their work presented and the workshops, led by industry leaders, cover all aspects of photography and challenge, encourage and inspire. Michael is represented in galleries across the country, a frequent exhibition juror and curator, portfolio reviewer and speaker on the business of fine art photography. When not in South Carolina he can be found leading photographic expeditions in Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
The Abstract Vision
The SE Center for Photography is looking for non-representational imagery, though it can be from found objects in nature, man made or figurative works. We're seeking images that do not attempt to represent external reality, but seek to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and texture. Black-and-white or color, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations are welcome.
Our juror is Catherine Fairchild. Catherine Fairchild is a fine art photographer in Houston, Texas. She originally studied photography with David Alan Harvey and Raul Touzon under the auspicesof Santa Fe Workshops. She later did a four-year mentorship with Arthur Meyerson, and her works began to appear in major galleries worldwide. Despite her success as a street photographer, Catherine wanted to find a subject that would depend more on her imagination and inner vision. Her goal was to portray familiar objects as they had never been seen before. For inspiration, she began looking not only to great photographers but also to modern painters. Instead of going out searching for photo subjects, she challenged herself to successfully photograph whatever lay within arm’s reach. This led her to discover the aesthetic properties of sticky notes, which had previously been overlooked as a subject for fine art photography. Catherine’s favorite subject continues to be paper in all its forms. Her work is represented by Davis Cohen Art, which places her photographs in major public venues throughout the Houston area. You are invited to visit her website at https://catherinefairchild.com.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
The Abandoned Landscape
Rural or urban, desert or jungle, ancient to recent. The SE Center is looking for photographers who appreciate the ravages of time and create compelling images reflecting those effects around us. Color or BW, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations are welcome.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
The Figure as Art
The fine art nude has been a celebrated subject of photography since the beginning and played an important role in establishing photography as a fine art medium. Early on, both in history and most photographers experience, the nude has been featured in a classical pose and setting, maturing to illustrating the human body as a sculptural abstraction, and with some pushing boundaries.
Analog and digital manipulation in all its forms welcome. Monochrome or color, all subjects, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations where legal are welcome.
Our juror for The Modern Nude is Howard Schatz. The photographs of Howard Schatz are exhibited in museums and photography galleries internationally and are included in innumerable private collections. He has received international acclaim for his work and has won virtually every award in his field including numerous “Photographer of the Year” awards and Gold Medals in the most prestigious competitions. His work has been published in twenty-three monographs.
Schatz’s motivating passion is to explore and experiment, searching for images that surprise and delight. PAIRS, by Howard Schatz, and Beverly Ornstein, was published in October 2023. This remarkable new work is an exploration of the relationship between two subjects and the visual, graphic, emotional, social, physical and even spiritual dynamic that results from the pairing. The photographs in this book reveal the passionate and dynamic, subtle or obvious, and always compelling, mystery of relationship. This 23rd monograph is a photographic odyssey into the world of pairs. PAIRS
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
Magic of Light
It’s all about the light! Light and shadow have been the foundation of photography since the beginning. While illumination is important, darkness is an equally compelling component and, together, the elements of a successful photograph. Show us your best light!
Analog and digital manipulation in all its forms welcome. Monochrome or color, all subjects, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations are welcome.
Our juror is Wendi Schneider. Wendi Schneider is a Denver-based visual artist widely known for her ongoing series of hand-gilded photographs, States of Grace –– illuminated impressions of grace in the natural world. Drawn to the serenity she finds in the sinuous elegance of organic forms, she embraces photography to preserve vanishing moments of beauty in our vulnerable environment. Schneider’s gilding process creates images that seemingly dance on the paper’s surface amidst reflections of light on precious metals, creating a synthesis of technique and subject.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
Summer Days
Thoughts of Summer days, that time of year for family, friends, fun and food. The time for vacations, the beach and the mountains. Share your best images that celebrate summer.
Our jurors for the Thoughts of Summer are Lisa Woodward and Mia Dalglish, the Co-Curators at Pictura. Motivated by a desire to create meaningful experiences with photographic art, collaboratively, they produce the gallery’s year-round programming. They work to generate thoughtful and nuanced exhibits, showcasing projects with strong formal sensibilities and depth of content.
They serve as portfolio reviewers for conferences and festivals such as FotoFest, Review Santa Fe, Photolucida, and Les Rencontres d’Arles. They also serve as jurors for photographic competitions and as guest critics for university classrooms.
Lisa and Mia have been known to finish each other’s sentences. Mia would like to thank Lisa for always having an emergency supply of snacks on hand. While usually a fan of brevity and economy, Lisa asserts that in this instance, two curators are better than one.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
Color
The Color photograph. We want to celebrate Color in all its forms at the SE Center. Our juror would like to see creativity and self-expression. He have no preference subject, or style but would like to be able to see the photographer's mind at work, his or her use of visual composition and original thinking.
Our Juror is Michael Pannier. Pannier is an internationally shown fine art and commercial photographer now located in Greenville, SC. Previously based in Maryland, Michael has spent over 30 years in photography and 25 years in the gallery and art world, opening his first gallery in 1987.
Relocating to South Carolina, The SE Center for Photography was born as an exhibition and education venue for fine photography. With an emphasis on presenting the work of Southern photographers and themes, the SE Center has hosted more than 150 exhibitions.
Michael is represented in galleries across the country, a frequent exhibition juror and curator, portfolio reviewer, and speaker on the business of fine art photography. When not in South Carolina he can be found leading photographic expeditions in Death Valley and the Eastern Sierras.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
The Woman’s Gaze
The history of photography has a long tradition of representing women as subjects but has less to say about women as artists. Today, the roles of women in photography are both behind the camera and in front of it. Who understands women better than women? The female perspective offers an important view of the many facets of womanhood and women’s role in society. This exhibition seeks women photographers who explore and celebrate the myriad ways that they render female-identifying subjects.
35-40 selected images will hang in the SE Center’s Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.
Black, White, & Monochrome
Monochrome photography, images produced with a single hue, rather than recording the colors of the object that was photographed. The SE Center is looking for all forms of Monochrome imagery, black-and-white and toned photography- all subjects, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations are welcome.
Our juror for Black, White & Monochrome is Michael Foley. Michael Foley was born in Delaware and grew up in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. He opened his gallery in the fall of 2004 after fourteen years of working with notable photography galleries, including Fraenkel, Howard Greenberg, and Yancey Richardson.
Art and photography have been a passion since his high school days as a staff yearbook photographer. His personal art-making practice is equally inspired by collage, cut paper, and painting. In 2006, he brought artists within these disciplines to the list of exhibiting gallery artists.
35-40 selected images will hang in the SE Center’s Virtual gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slide show. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived.