The Soldier's Lens - 2026 Call for Entries

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Each participant may submit up to 3 images.
- Title should be a descriptive title that could be used for Wall Labels and Digital Exhibition
- Submit your files named as: LastName_Title, using the descriptive title in your submission.
Images must reflect or relate to military life, service, or personal experiences connected to military culture.
Images must reflect the experience of military life of service members; whether on the front lines or in rear areas, during R&R, handling equipment and hardware, on or off base, and alongside fellow service members, officers, and support personnel.
- To help curators evaluate selections for the physical exhibition, please submit all photographs digitally as JPEGs via the official submission platform. You may upload images by photographing prints with your phone or by sending existing digital files. If your work is chosen, curators may request higher-resolution versions for use in the exhibition, the companion online gallery, and future curriculum or book projects.
- Basic editing is allowed (e.g., cropping, color correction), AI-generated images are not eligible.


ARCHIVAL IMAGES
If you're submitting archival photographs—such as older prints, scans of film photos, or historical family images, please ensure they are clear and legible when viewed digitally. It's okay if they show signs of age; we welcome the character and authenticity of these images. Just try to avoid major glare or blur that could obscure the subject.

OTHER CONDITIONS
The museum reserves the right to reject photos from inclusion in the exhibition (in person or online) if it is deemed obscene, violent, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate for public display.
The museum reserves the right to reject incomplete submissions.
Submissions must be received by August 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST).
The exhibition is void where prohibited by law.