Join us for the Golden Lens Exhibition and Voting!

Thursday January 15, 2026
at The Remington Garage

211 Market Street, Shreveport

Voting: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (In-Person Only)
Awards Ceremony: 8:00 p.m.

Welcome to year four of the Golden Lens Photography Competition. Submissions are close for this year’s competition, but please join us for the voting and awards ceremony!

For inquiries or assistance, please contact Jennifer Wasserman at jwasserman@bpcc.edu or message Golden Lens on Instagram.

Get amped by watching this year's Comedy Prize hype video!

Comedy Prize is a rising force in the comedy competition world, helping the next group of standup comedians reach new heights! You won’t want to miss this year’s competition.

Can you capture the perfect image?

Photo submissions will be open September 27 thru October 19, 2025

Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana

Welcome to year four of the Golden Lens Photography Competition! Check out the complete rules and how to compete below.

For inquiries or assistance, please contact Jennifer Wasserman at jwasserman@bpcc.edu or message Golden Lens on Instagram.

COMEDY PRIZE IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

Welcome to the Golden Lens!

Welcome to the fourth annual Golden Lens Photography Contest, proudly sponsored by the Bossier Parish Community College Foundation! This exciting photography competition invites photographers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, to capture the unique essence of Shreveport and Bossier City. Through your lens, we invite you to explore our vibrant community, iconic landmarks, and the spirit of our festivities.

This contest culminates in a captivating exhibition. A panel of expert judges will curate a showcase of outstanding photographs that will be on display for the community to view. During the Film Prize 2026 kick off event, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the Golden Lens reception and cast their votes for the coveted People’s Choice Award. Before the event concludes one photograph will be awarded with the Jurors Award for first place and the People’s Choice winning photograph will be announced.

Meet Our Judge: Joshua Mann Pailet

We are thrilled to introduce the distinguished judge for the Golden Lens Competition 2025, Joshua Mann Pailet! It’s a true honor to have such a passionate and influential figure from the world of photography joining us.

Joshua is the owner of A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans—the longest-surviving photography gallery in the world, representing iconic artists like Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Diane Arbus. His journey is a wonderful reminder of how a single moment can define a lifetime. What began as a fine art credit at Rice University blossomed into a lifelong passion for photography, eventually leading him to open his gallery in 1975.

Beyond his work as a gallerist, Joshua is a celebrated photographer in his own right. His powerful images, which capture everything from New Orleans culture to major historical events, reside in prestigious collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, New Orleans Museum of Art, Polk Museum of Art, Florida, Biblioteque Nationale, Paris, and the Library of Congress. His ability to find the honesty in a single moment is truly a gift.

The documentary, Chasing the Light: A Life Through Photographs, just premiered. The film is a beautiful journey through his life, highlighting his unique perspective and lasting contributions to the art world. We can’t think of a better way to get a deeper look into the heart of a master photographer! It’s such an exciting time to celebrate his work! 

We are delighted to have Joshua bring his immense expertise and discerning eye to the Golden Lens Competition. His life’s work is a testament to the power of photography, and we can’t wait for him to see the incredible talent of our entrants.

Prizes

Golden Lens Grand Prize Winner

A panel of expert judges will select photographs for the exhibition. From these, the judges will vote to award the prestigious Golden Lens to one photographer, who will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

People’s Choice Award

The same finalists will be presented to the public for consideration. Public exhibition and voting will take place during the Film Prize 2026 Kickoff Party in early 2026. Attendees will be able to vote and one image will be selected as the People’s Choice Award and win $500.00

Important Dates

Mark your calendars with these key dates for the contest:

  • Creation/Submission Period: Saturday, September 27 thru Sunday, October 19, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: October 19, 2025.
  • Exhibition and Public Voting: Film Prize 2026 Kick-off Event, TBD Early 2026.

Complete Competition Rules

Submission Eligibility

  • The contest is open to all photographers, both amateur and professional.
  • Participants must be at least 16 years old.
  • Photography must be generated during the dates of Saturday, September 27 thru Sunday, October 19, 2025.
  • Photographs must be original works created by the entrant.
  • Entrants may not be contracted to work for Prize Foundation during Prize Fest 2025, even if the photographs are taken on their own time.
  • Entrants are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions for photographing individuals, private property, or copyrighted material.


Geographic Eligibility

  • Photography must be taken in Caddo or Bossier Parish
  • Photographs must provide verifiable information to prove the date and time of the image entry.
  • Post-processing may take place anywhere in the world.
 

Qualifying Evidence

  • Images that do not include original, embedded EXIF data containing date/time/location are required qualifying evidence. Examples might be:
    1. Photos taken without a camera capable of capturing date/time/location information.
    2. Photographs captured using film or historic processes.
    3. Composite images.
  • Qualifying Evidence with the required date/time/location information can be provided separately by documenting your shoot.
    • Take photos of your shoot with a GPS enabled smartophone — selfies with your camera at the location of the photo during the shoot are a great way to do this.
    • Open your documentation photos on your smartphone and tap to reveal the location information. Then screenshot this information to include with your submission — example.
 

Submission Information

  1. Submit up to three (3) image files.
  2. Accepted file types are TIFF or JPEG.
  3. Each image must have a minimum resolution of 2200 pixels on the shortest side. Selected images will be printed and mounted for the exhibition.
  4. Files should either include original metadata (date/time) in the file – OR – should include supporting evidence that the photo was taken in the eligible geography and during the competition window. Entries without supporting metadata or evidence will not be eligible for the prize.
 

AI Content and Manipuluation Techniques

  • The use of AI generation tools or techniques to create photographs is strictly prohibited.
  • Composite images are allowed provided that all elements are taken following the competition rules.


Copyright and Usage Rights

  1. Entrants retain copyright and ownership of their photographs.
  2. By entering the competition, entrants grant the Prize Foundation a non-exclusive license to reproduce, publish, and display the submitted photographs for promotional and educational purposes, with proper attribution to the photographer.
  3. The Prize Foundation reserves the right to use the images for promotional purposes, including but not limited to, online and offline marketing materials, social media, and press releases, while giving proper credit to the photographer.
  4. The contest organizers will not sell or use the photographs for commercial gain without the photographer’s consent.
 

Submit Your Photos for Consideration

For inquiries or assistance, please contact Jennifer Wasserman at jwasserman@bpcc.edu or message Golden Lens on Instagram.