History

For 30 years, photo l.a. has celebrated and brought together the photography and arts community. It is with this mission that we present a biannual photography competition with our partners to help provide emerging and mid-career artists/photographers a platform to broaden their career opportunities and promote their work on the photo l.a. network both nationally and internationally.

Arden Surdam - "Fascimile of a Rhino", Summer/Fall 2015 Grand Prize Winner

Arden Surdam, Fascimile of a Rhino, FOCUS photo l.a. Grand Prize Winner, Summer 2015

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FOCUS photo l.a.?

Through our long-established partnerships with world-renowned fine art photography galleries, dealers, art fairs, museums, and publications, FOCUS photo l.a. seeks to expand career opportunities for the winners of FOCUS photo l.a. and provide the winners an international platform that would not normally be within their reach.

What could I win?

For the Summer/Fall edition of FOCUS photo l.a. the work of the Top 20 Finalists will be professionally printed by our partners The Icon and expertly framed to be exhibited within FOCUS photo l.a. installation at Galerie XII Los Angeles in November 2023.

One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the Top 20 Finalists by the jury to receive a $1000 cash award!

Who is eligible to enter?

FOCUS photo l.a. is open to ALL Artists and Photographers working in all themes, types, and genres of photography. No original prints will be exhibited.

How are submitted photographs juried?

The panel of world-renowned art and photography experts judge all submissions individually and through a single-image rating system. However, we also strongly encourage you to enter photographs from a full series as the Artist Statements submitted are also present during the jurying process.

How do I enter?

To enter, simply Register. Upload a MAXIMUM of 10 images per submission, pay the nominal Registration Fee, and submit them into the competition. Note ~ only the first 10 images submitted per submission will be judged!

UPLOAD INSTRUCTIONS:  

JPG images only! Images must be less than 8mb in file size.  

All photographs must first be saved at 72 DPI before being uploaded (300 DPI will be requested and sent separately if selected a finalist)

Rename files before uploading so they do not contain any APOSTROPHES or SPECIAL CHARACTERS (" ' @ \ / | : < > *).

Once you have provided nominal entry fee ($60 for up to 10 images), your images will officially be entered into the current competition and you will receive a confirmation email. 

What are the file requirements for printing if I'm chosen as a finalist?

All finalists will need to provide an image file that is 24" on the longest side at 300 DPI in either a .JPEG or .TIFF file format.

All layers flattened. 8-bit RGB mode.

Embedded profile “Adobe RGB 1998” suggested.

Can I submit more than the maximum of 10 photos?

Only the first 10 images submitted per submission will be judged. You can submit multiple times, just fill out the form and pay the nominal entry fee again ($60 for maximum of 10 images).   

When does the competition open and close?

SUMMER /FALL EDITION 2023

OPENS - July 31, 2023

CLOSES - October 8, 2023 at Midnight PDT

Who are FOCUS photo l.a. and photo l.a.?

 For 30 years, photo l.a. has celebrated and brought together the photography and arts community. It is with this mission that we presented a biannual photography competition with our partners to help provide emerging and mid-career artists/photographers a platform to broaden their career opportunities and promote their work on the photo l.a. network both nationally and internationally.

Who determines the winners?

The finalists of each FOCUS photo l.a. biannual competition are determined by a rotating panel of world-renowned art and photography experts. Following their decisions for the Top 20 Finalists for each competition, the judges will move forward to determine who will be the Winner.

Who owns the rights to the images I submit? What happens to my print after exhibition?

You do. The artist/photographer retains all rights to submitted images. 

photo l.a. may only use digital images of finalists' works submitted to the organization for marketing, promoting, and executing FOCUS photo l.a. only. All winning works are printed, framed, and exhibited and then held indefinitely by photo l.a. for future potential promotional purposes after the terminus of the juried exhibition or destroyed at the request of finalist and/or at the discretion of photo l.a. fair organizers. Local exhibition print pickups may also be available only in Los Angeles at sole decision of photo l.a. fair Director; no delivery of exhibition prints will ever be arranged.

PLEASE NOTE *No original prints will be accepted for exhibition!

photo l.a. use of Finalists' digital images is non-exclusive and photo l.a. will never sell the framed exhibited work without a written mutual contract.

I have a question related to sponsorship, partnerships, media or press.

We would love to hear from you!