2026 Light & Lens Fall Photography Competition & Exhibition
November 6-8, 2026
Calling all photographers!
The Light & Lens Camera Club invites photographers of all ages to participate in the 2026 Light & Lens Photography Competition & Exhibition, November 6-8 at the Centralia Cultural Society Community Arts Building in Centralia, Illinois.
Whether you photograph landscapes, architecture, people, wildlife, flowers, black & white, or explore creative digital techniques, this annual exhibition is an opportunity to show your work compete for awards, receive feedback, and celebrate photography with fellow photographers and the community.
Event Schedule
October 24 Entry Deadline
November 2-5 Deliver Entries to Community Art Center Centralia Cultural Society 1250 E Rexford, Centralia, IL 10am-3pm
November 6 Judging 3p-6p Closed to the public.
November 6 opening reception 6pm Awards presentation 7pm
Nov 7-8 Exhibit open 1pm-3pm. Artwork should be picked up at the close of the exhibition on Sunday.
Awards
A $60 cash prize and ribbon will be awarded for Best of Show.
A $35 cash prize will be awarded for the First Place winner in each category
Ribbons will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as honorable mention.
Categories
The Natural World - Nature and Wildlife - subjects photographed in their wild, unaltered state.
Scenic Landscapes & Seascapes - The grandeur, character and atmosphere of the outdoors.
Architecture & Industrial - Man-made structures and the built environment.
People & Portraits - The human condition, character, and emotion.
Still Life & Macro - Deliberate arrangements, details, and small-scale wonders.
Black & White - Monochrome - Images emphasizing shape, texture, contrast, and light.
Altered Reality - Creative/Digital Manipulation - Photography where imagination and digital artistry take center stage.
Animals - Domestic & Captive - Animals that fall outside the Natural World category.
Flowers - The beauty, form, color, and intricate details of flowers and plant life.
Except for the Altered Reality category, photographs should not be substantially digitally altered. Basic cropping, resizing, and minor lighting adjustments are permitted. Judges will determine whether an image qualifies as a standard photograph or should be entered in the Altered Reality category.
Eligibility & Rules
The competition is open to photographers of all ages, and an entry fee is required. All photographs must have been completed within the last five years and my not have been previously entered in a Light & Lens Photography Exhibit.
All entries must:
Be submitted through the online entry form by October 24, 2026
Have a title. Untitled entries will be disqualified
Be labeled on the back with the photographer’s name, title, category, and price or NFS (not for sale)
Be properly framed and equipped with a wire hanger. Sawtooth hangers, tape, string, or other unsafe hanging methods will not be accepted.
Be no larger than 36 inches in any dimension. For larger works, the photographer must provide an appropriate display stand or easel
Meet all competition and exhibition requirements to be eligible for display
Photographs delivered without having been entered by the October 24 deadline will not be accepted or exhibited. A 10% commission will be charged on artwork sold during the exhibition. Entries should be picked up when the exhibition closed as 3pm on Sunday, November 8th. Special arrangements may be made for later pickup. Light & Lens and the Centralia Cultural Society cannot be responsible for entries or awards left longer than seven days.