About the Open Call

We exist in a moment of visual acceleration, where images are born and buried in the same breath. Our culture of immediacy, the endless scroll, and the constant refresh have eroded our capacity for reflection. Instant film, though born of technological ambition, now offers resistance to that very acceleration. Its process, tactile and irreversible, creates room for doubt, failure, and revelation. Each image is an act of faith in what remains unseen until it slowly, imperfectly emerges into the world. Through this process, the photograph becomes not a record but a relic, a trace of communion between light, matter, and the artist’s hand. _Photographic Mysticism_ seeks artists who approach instant photography not as nostalgia, but as an invocation of mystery through chemistry, a meditation enacted in light and time, creating a contemporary practice of mysticism that resists the mechanization of vision. This call is open exclusively to instant film: Polaroid, Fuji Instax, or discontinued formats such as Impossible Project and New55. Subject matter is unrestricted; what matters is the spirit of inquiry, the tension between control and surrender, the evidence of touch and transcendence. Selected works will be exhibited online at A Smith Gallery from February 1 to March 31, 2026. JUROR | Michael Behlen will be the juror for _photographic mysticism_. Michael is an instant film addict and the founder and publisher of _Analog Forever Magazine_. SUBMISSION | Guidelines : Digital images should be up to 1800 pixels on the longest side saved in JPEG format at 72 ppi. Each image should be labeled with consecutive numbers followed by your name, i.e. 1FirstName_LastName.jpg. SUBMISSION | Online: Fill out our online application to apply, send images, and make payment with Paypal. You can also fill and submit the online application, print out your confirmation email, and mail it with a check for your fees to the address below. ELIGIBILITY | The competition is open to all photographers both professional and amateur working in all photographic mediums and styles. International entries are welcomed. Work that has been previously exhibited in an A Smith Gallery competition is not eligible. We prefer not to accept images created with Artificial Intelligence at the present time due to the lack of clarity concerning copyright issues and the ongoing litigation associated with them. ONLINE EXHIBITION and CATALOGUE | Jurors will be selecting up to 47 images in total. All artist included in the final selection of images will receive: feature on Facebook and Instagram, GalleryTalk discussion, online store listing, and an exhibition catalogue. The online exhibition and GalleryTalk will be permanently archived. 'THE 27' HARDBOUND EXHIBITION BOOK | 27 images from the total selected images will be selected for “The 27”, a hardbound fine art book of the exhibition. Both the Juror and Director Award recipients will receive the hardbound exhibition book. AWARDS | Jurors Award – an online solo exhibition, “The 27” exhibition book and GalleryTalk on the gallery blog. Directors Award – “The 27” exhibition book and a GalleryTalk on the gallery blog. Visitors Award (most Instagram likes) – $100. SALES | The gallery has an online store and will include all images from the exhibition. The gallery will retain 30% of the sales price. USE RIGHTS | Photographers retain full rights to their own images. The gallery will use the photographer’s images for publicity purposes as well as on line gallery, online store, exhibition catalogue and “The 27” exhibition book.

What is Offered

Online exhibition, feature on social media, online store listing, exhibition catalogue, hardbound exhibition book, Juror's Award (online solo exhibition, book, GalleryTalk), Director's Award (book, GalleryTalk), Visitors Award ($100).

Requirements

Open exclusively to instant film: Polaroid, Fuji Instax, or discontinued formats such as Impossible Project and New55. Digital images should be up to 1800 pixels on the longest side saved in JPEG format at 72 ppi, labeled 1FirstName_LastName.jpg. Work previously exhibited in an A Smith Gallery competition is not eligible. Images created with Artificial Intelligence are preferred not to be accepted.

How to Apply

Fill out our online application to apply, send images, and make payment with Paypal. You can also fill and submit the online application, print out your confirmation email, and mail it with a check for your fees to P O Box 175, Johnson City, TX 78636.