Add phones, tablets, and other electronics equipped with cameras to more traditional equipment, and everybody’s a photographer, right? “Photography has become one of the most accessible art forms with the advent of smartphones and affordable digital cameras,” said Beth Reynolds, who founded the photographic arts program at the Morean Arts Center. A well-known Tampa Bay area photographer, Reynolds has joined the new nonprofit Saint Petersburg Month of Photography (SPMOP) as director of outreach. The 501(c)(3) organization is devoted to celebrating photography in St. Petersburg and the greater Tampa Bay area.
May is the International Month of Photography & SPMOP Is Looking for a Photo Laureate
During the International Month of Photography in May, SPMOP will launch with events and exhibitions, including naming a photo laureate. There is an open call for all photographers living in the Tampa Bay area to submit their portfolios; the deadline is March 17. A short list of finalists will be able to exhibit their work at the Morean Arts Center. A photo laureate will be announced at the opening of the show.
“There are hundreds of photo festivals all over the world, and St. Petersburg has the perfect location,” Reynolds said. “St. Pete is an arts hub with hundreds of talented artists, galleries, collectors, and museums.”
“By creating a photo laureate program for the Month of Photography, we are looking to get the local photographers involved and work with us to make the festival a collaborative effort.” founder and executive director Marieke van der Krabben said in a press release. A solo exhibition with the body of work produced by the photo laureate will be shown during Lumen Photo Fest, which SPMOP is organizing for May 2024.
To submit photos, for more information, or to suggest an event, create an exhibition, or volunteer, visit www.spmop.org
