The Lucie Foundation is proud to launch a new Open Call:
ON THE BLOCK
2ND EDITION
A Street Photography Competition
CATEGORIES
Landscape
Candid
Portrait
B/W
GRAND PRIZE / ONE WINNER:
Winner will be the photograph with the highest score overall in any category.
◦ Featured interview on the Lucie Foundation website
◦ Part of Lucie Foundation Online Exhibition for competition
◦ Cash prize $1,000
◦ 16×20″ print of the Winning Image from Paper and Ink Studio (printed and shipped worldwide)
◦ Pick of one (1) Lucie Honoree Poster (unsigned edition)
CATEGORY WINNERS / 3 WINNERS:
Winners will be the highest score in the remaining categories. Categories remaining will depend on Grand Prize winner.
◦ Part of Lucie Foundation Online Exhibition for competition
◦ Cash prize $250
◦ 16×20″ print of the Winning Image from Paper and Ink Studio (printed and shipped worldwide)
◦ Pick of one (1) Lucie Honoree poster (unsigned edition)
MEET THE JURY
Paris Chong
Gallery Director, Leica Gallery Los Angeles
Paris Chong is the Gallery Director of the prestigious Leica Gallery Los Angeles. With over two decades of experience as a Curator she has represented galleries and artists at events including Photo LA, Photo SF, Paris Photo, Paris Photo LA and The Palm Springs Photo Festival in addition to promoting Leica Gallery Los Angeles at international shows such as Art Basel and Photo Paris.
Ms. Chong has also served as a respected and sought-after portfolio reviewer for Recontres d’ Arles, Photoville, FotoFest, reFocus Awards, Photlucida, Women Street Photographers, PISPA, Rome Photo Lab and the ongoing Meet the Curator portfolio reviews for Leica Akademie USA.
With her extensive involvement in the art community, Ms. Chong’s duties over the many years have also seen her coordinating both intimate and large group events at Leica Camera’s flagship store in West Hollywood. Celebrated artists range from the legendary Henri Cartier Bresson and Sebastiao Salgado to contemporary powerhouse names such as Neal Preston, Julian Lennon, Lenny Kravitz, Maggie Steber, Mary Ellen Mark and Ralph Gibson to name a few.
Ms. Chong has also found time to give back to the community on multiple levels such as serving as a Board Member for The Foundation for The Aids Monument (FAM), a non-profit that formed a memorial monument in West Hollywood and The West Hollywood Design District (WHDD).
Further to her philanthropic side, Ms. Chong also Curates still life photography showings for The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) at its historic Hollywood headquarters.
Photo by Manfred Baumann
Arturo Soto
Photographer, Writer, and Educator
Arturo Soto is a Mexican photographer, writer and educator. He has published the photobooks In the Heat (2018), A Certain Logic of Expectations (2021), and Border Documents (2025). Soto holds a PhD in Fine Art from the University of Oxford, an MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York, an MA in Art History from University College London, and undergraduate degrees in Film and Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. He curated the exhibition Foreign Correspondence at London’s Architectural Association and participated in the first edition of Forecast Platform at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin. His work has been exhibited internationally and is included in the books Decolonization and Diversity in Contemporary Photography, Imaginaria and the Subjective Atlas of Mexico. Soto’s critical writing has been published in VII Insider, C4 Journal, Photo-Eye, Photomonitor, Elephant, Objektiv, and ASX. He lives in Los Angeles.
Matt Stuart
I am not sure which came first, being nosey or an interest in “street photography”, but a fascination with people and the way they live their lives is why I enjoy the business so much.
I can’t hide behind lights and technology, I am reliant on a small camera, patience and lots of optimism. But what I get in return is the chance to make an honest picture that people know immediately is a genuine moment and which hopefully burrows deep into their memories.
Lynn Johnson
Photojournalist and Educator
Lynn Johnson photographs the human condition. Johnson has worked for LIFE and Sports Illustrated and published 40 feature stories in National Geographic Magazine. She is known for finding beauty and meaning in elusive, difficult subjects—threatened languages, zoonotic disease, the gender spectrum, and the many mysteries of the brain—Science of Touch, Blast Force Injury and Profound Autism. Hate Kills, her master’s thesis as a Knight Fellow at Ohio University, probed the impact of hate crimes. And at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, she helped develop CORE— a program that challenged master’s students to push past their comfort levels. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the Robert F. Kennedy Award, the Chris Hondros Fund, and has been a Pulitzer finalist on two occasions.
FAQ
Who can apply?
Anyone can apply worldwide. All mediums of photography are acceptable. All submissions must be within the theme and loose framework of street photography. Street photography is a broad and encapsulating category and does not have to fit within the traditional concept of street photography. We encourage and accept experimental works.
Is there a limit to the number of Open Call submissions per artist?
No, you can submit as many images as you would like to however each image is a separate fee.
Is there a submission fee?
Yes, $20.00 per submission (single image), 20% discount to submit the same image in multiple categories. Discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
What images should I submit?
Submit the best images you feel represent the themes and ideals behind street photography within the category of your choosing.
Can I submit AI images?
At this time, we do not accept AI generated images as part of the competition.
How should I prepare my files?
Please prepare your files according to the specifications below:
JPG only (NO TIF, GIF, PNG, PDF files will be accepted.)
Can I send print materials, books or CD’s?
No, Lucie Foundation accepts online submissions only.
When will the prize winners and finalists be announced?
Winners and finalists will be announced by email in April 2026.
How will I know if I was selected?
If you were selected for the Open Call, you will be contacted directly through the email which you provided in the submission form. The finalists will also be announced via the Lucie Foundation newsletter, website, and social media. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions, we are not able to notify if you were not selected.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR
Ilford Photo
As one of the earliest adopters of digital imaging technology for the photographic and commercial wide format printing markets, ILFORD has been at the forefront of innovation in the industry, demonstrating the ability to design products in line with changing technologies.
Experience is paramount and ILFORD has used its knowledge to fine-tune its core competencies to excel in producing innovative products over the years.
As a result, ILFORD is one of the only companies in the world to offer its customers a ‘best in class’ solution for producing outstanding printed images and displays, regardless of their application.
Our team continues to develop technical building blocks to ensure that ILFORD can respond directly to any step change in technology.
The ILFORD name is well established in the history of imaging and today continues to be associated with cutting edge technology thanks to its strong links to the photographic and commercial wide format printing markets, research and development, technical know-how and manufacturing capabilities.
Paper & Ink Studio
Based in Missoula, Montana, Paper & Ink Studio is a fine-art print house that has been printing for artists and commercial clients since 2016. With over two decades of professional printing experience, exhibition presentation and artist mentoring, our goal is to help bring into the print form the creative vision and intention of our clients.
USE & OWNERSHIP:
The photographer must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of photos entered in to the competition. Copyright and all other rights remain that of the photographer. Any photograph used by Lucie Foundation shall carry the photographer’s credit line and will not be used for any other purposes other than the exhibition and promotional material for the exhibition including online and through social media and email newsletters. Images may be displayed on the Lucie Foundation website and social media platforms for promotion of the Open Call.
For additional questions, please contact: info@luciefoundation.org