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Could a single image redefine visual storytelling? Telling Tales by SE Center for Photography 2026 invites photographers everywhere to create a solitary photograph that stands on its own as a narrative. The current call closes October 15, 2026, welcoming both analog and digital photography. Whether you’re an established professional or exploring new creative terrain, this competition spotlights the power of one frame to ignite imagination.
In Telling Tales 2026, 25 to 35 selected images will be showcased in the SE Center’s virtual gallery, with the exhibition running from November 15 through December 31, 2026. Chosen works will also be highlighted across SE Center social media, included in an archived online slideshow and presented through a video walkthrough. Entry fees are $35 for up to five images, with $6 for each additional submission up to a total of 15. Like the top photography competitions listed on Deartline, the call combines a clear creative brief with professional jury selection and curated visibility.
For storytellers seeking a concise yet impactful platform, Telling Tales 2026 offers a distinctive intersection of creative freedom and curated exposure. Under the eye of juror Brian Clamp, entries are considered for their ability to stand alone and communicate a story without supporting images. The inclusive program welcomes photographers of all ages, skill levels and locations.
Deartline Review
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Contest Prizes
Selected works in Telling Tales 2026 will receive:
- Virtual Gallery Exhibition: 25–35 selected images displayed in the SE Center’s virtual gallery.
- Social Media Features: Selected images highlighted across the SE Center’s social media accounts.
- Archived Online Slideshow: An archived presentation of the selected photographs remains available online.
- Video Walkthrough: A walkthrough of the exhibition is created, featured and archived.
- Artwork Sales: The SE Center receives 0% commission on exhibition sales, meaning the photographer receives 100% of the sale price.
The principal opportunity is therefore a curated exhibition rather than a traditional cash award.
Related Photo Contests
Categories
Unlike many contests, Telling Tales 2026 does not impose conventional categories; every entry stands alone under the umbrella of narrative photography. The central idea is that a single photograph should be capable of telling or suggesting a story without relying on a supporting series.
This focus aligns it with other conceptual photography contests that encourage photographers to communicate ideas, emotions and narratives through individual images. All subjects are welcome, as are monochrome and color work, analog and digital photography, antique processes and manipulated imagery.
Dates and Entry Fees
Telling Tales 2026 follows a clear submission and exhibition schedule, with selections announced two weeks after the deadline and the virtual exhibition opening in mid-November.
| Submissions Open | August 15, 2026 |
| Submissions Close | October 15, 2026 |
| Selections Announced | October 30, 2026 |
| Exhibition Opens | November 15, 2026 |
| Exhibition Closes | December 31, 2026 |
Entry Fees:
- General Entry: $35 for up to five images.
- Additional Images: $6 each, up to a total of 15 images.
SE Center Members:
- Member Entry: $28 for up to five images.
- Additional Images: $5 each, up to a total of 15 images.
How to Enter
Upload images through the SmarterEntry platform. For best results, files should be JPEGs in the sRGB color space and sized to 1200 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi.
Files should follow the naming convention Tales.LastName.FirstInitial_Image#.jpg. Photographers may submit up to 15 images according to the dedicated Telling Tales prospectus. Late submissions are not accepted.
Images previously selected for exhibition at the SE Center for Photography within two years of the current exhibition are not eligible.
About the Jury
Brian Clamp serves as the juror for Telling Tales 2026. Clamp is the owner and director of ClampArt, a New York City gallery specializing in modern and contemporary art with a particular emphasis on photography. He founded the gallery in 2000 after completing a Master of Arts degree in Critical Studies in Modern Art at Columbia University.
Before opening ClampArt, he spent eight years as director of a Manhattan gallery specializing in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American painting. He has since curated numerous photography exhibitions at venues throughout the United States and participated in many portfolio review panels.
Why Enter Telling Tales 2026?
Participation in Telling Tales 2026 offers visibility through a juried virtual exhibition and continued online promotion, with the work reviewed by an established New York photography gallerist. The emphasis on standalone images also makes the call accessible to photographers who may have a particularly strong narrative photograph without needing to assemble a complete portfolio or series.
The SE Center for Photography was founded in 2015 to provide photographers with opportunities to reach collectors, curators, enthusiasts and fellow photographers through juried exhibitions. Its current exhibition program operates primarily through a virtual model, allowing photographers from around the world to participate without the logistical costs of shipping exhibition prints.
As one of the photography challenges and contests emphasizing narrative impact, Telling Tales provides a platform for both emerging and established photographers to strengthen their exhibition records and place their work before an experienced photography professional.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official Telling Tales prospectus to summarize the main participation requirements and image rights. Photographers considering an entry should also review the complete current information provided by the organizer.
Rules
- Submissions are open to photographers regardless of location, age or skill level.
- Monochrome and color photography are accepted.
- Analog, digital and antique photographic processes are eligible.
- Analog and digital manipulation are welcome.
- Images previously selected for an SE Center exhibition within two years of the current exhibition are not eligible.
- For best results, files should be JPEG, sRGB, 1200 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi.
- Files should follow the naming convention specified in the prospectus.
- No exceptions are made for late submissions.
- No specific policy regarding AI-generated or AI-assisted images is currently stated.
Copyright and Image Usage
Artists retain full copyright in their images. The permission to use photographs applies to artists whose work is chosen for exhibition inclusion.
Selected photographers grant the SE Center for Photography permission to use their images to promote the exhibition, the artist, the Center and its programs, including current and past exhibitions. Images may also be placed on social media for promotional purposes and features without additional compensation.
The published terms do not specify whether the permission is exclusive or non-exclusive, how long it remains in effect or whether sublicensing to third parties is permitted.
Sales are encouraged, and the SE Center receives no commission. If a print is sold during the exhibition, it is ordered from the photographer and the artist receives 100% of the sale price.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
