Something Like Joy

Not the easy kind. Not the posed smile or the perfect moment. We're talking about the joy that surprises you — that shows up in an ordinary afternoon, in a stranger's face, in light falling just right on something nobody else noticed.

Something Like Joy invites photographers to submit work that finds delight, warmth, wonder, or beauty in the world as it actually is. Big celebrations and quiet moments are equally welcome. So is the complicated happiness that comes after hardship — the laugh through tears, the small victory, the unexpected gift.

If your photography looks for the good — in people, in places, in everyday life — this call is for you.

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Juror: Aline Smithson
Aline Smithson is an interdisciplinary artist, editor, filmmaker, and educator based in Los Angeles, California. She has exhibited widely including over 50 solo shows at a variety of international institutions and her work has been featured in publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and PDN.

Awards:
First Place: $500 + solo exhibition on the gallery website
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150
Two Honorable Mentions: $50
Human Presence award: Free entry to a future exhibition
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