Captured Light 2026: Metered
A Juried Photography Exhibition
The Hamilton County Artist Association (HCAA) and its sponsors, proudly present the annual Captured Light Photography Exhibit & Competition at the Birdie Gallery located at 195 S. 5th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060. The Captured Light Photography Exhibit and Competition is open to all photographers in the Hamilton County and all contiguous counties. If you wish to be included for the 2026 show, please complete the application below. The application must be received by the HCAA Captured Light committee NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 8th 2026. We encourage you to read the rules and register below.
Guest Juror: Nick Carver
Nick Carver is a large format photographer and educator known for his technical mastery and contemplative approach to the craft. Working primarily with large format cameras, his work emphasizes deliberate process, meticulous composition, and the discipline required to make meaningful photographs. Through his YouTube channel and workshops, Nick has become a respected voice in the analog photography community, teaching the fundamentals of large format technique and the philosophical underpinnings of intentional image-making.
Learn more at https://www.nickcarverphotography.com/
Important Dates
Submissions Due: February 8, 2026
Artist Notifications: February 13, 2026
Artwork Drop-off: February 28, 2026 | 10am–6pm
Opening Reception & Awards: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 6–9pm
Gallery Hours: Saturdays, March 8, 15, 22 | 10am–1pm
People's Choice Announced: March 27, 2026
Artist Pickup: March 28, 2026 | Time TBD
Submission Requirements
Eligibility Open to all photographers working in analog or digital formats. Artists may submit up to three images, either three individual works or one cohesive series of up to three images. You cannot submit both individual works and a series; choose one approach.
All entries must be the original work of the photographer submitting.
Entry Fee $10 per image or $25 for three images, payable to Hamilton County Artists' Association. Payment must be completed at time of submission.
Entry fee is waived for all HCAA juried members.
Technical Specifications Files must be JPEG format, sRGB color space, maximum 3000 pixels on the longest edge, under 5MB per file. Submissions that do not meet these specs will not be juried.
Artist Statement Each submission requires a written statement (maximum 150 words) explaining your intent behind the work. This is not a description of the subject. It's an explanation of why you made the photograph and what you were trying to achieve. Statements will be used during jurying and as wall text if your work is accepted.
Size Restrictions Maximum 32 inches on the longest outside dimension of the framed piece.
Presentation Standards All accepted work must be gallery-ready. No exceptions.
This means:
Properly framed with clean glass or acrylic (matted photographs in frames, or gallery-wrapped prints). No loose prints or clip frames.
Securely wired for hanging using D-rings and picture wire (no sawtooth hangers)
Clean edges, no damage to frame or matting
At drop-off on February 28, you will be required to demonstrate proper hanging of your work. If your piece does not meet presentation standards and cannot be corrected on-site, it will be excluded from the exhibition with no refund of your entry fee.
Labeling Requirements On the back of your framed piece, upper left corner, clearly label:
Your name
Phone number
Image title
Price or NFS
No photographer-identifying information may appear on the front of the work. If your name or signature is visible, mask it with tape during drop-off.
Exhibition Commitment Work must remain in the exhibition through the March 28 pickup date. Depending on total submissions and space constraints, not all accepted images may be hung.
Community Showcase Artists not selected for the main juried exhibition will have one or more pieces (depending on space available) displayed in a dedicated Community Showcase area. This work must meet the same presentation standards but is not eligible for awards.
Sales & Commission All work may be offered for sale or marked NFS (not for sale). HCAA will handle all sales transactions and charge a 20% commission to HCAA members and 25% to non-HCAA members for images sold at the exhibit. Checks will be mailed within 2 weeks of the conclusion of the show.
Awards Juried by Nick Carver:
Awards will be announced at the opening reception on March 6. People's Choice winner will be announced March 27.
