Critical Mass was created in order to help photographers get their work into the conversation. They sought to establish an online platform that would make it more efficient and easier for photographers to promote their work to a wide selection of professionals in the field. Critical Mass makes it possible for photographers to get their work in front of 200 top museum curators, gallerists, editors, publishers, and media producers.

For individual photographers, it can be difficult to make connections with professionals at this level, much less with 200 of them. With Critical Mass, photographers from anywhere in the world submit a 10-image portfolio. 200 finalists who make it through the first pre-screening round have their work reviewed and voted on by the full panel of 200 jurors. This is now the 16th year Critical Mass has been part of Photolucida's programming.

All photographers submitting their imagery retain the right to their work. Photolucida only uses imagery submitted to Critical Mass to illustrate aspects of Critical Mass programming. Photolucida distributes submitted work (a series of ten images plus artist statement plus print information) to the jurors. The intent of the Critical Mass program is to put the work of submitting photographers in front of jurors with the hope that connections will be made and opportunities will happen. They do not use the imagery in any way except to illustrate marketing information, and we do so with the permission of the photographer. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit the Photolucida website.

This year they are offering a selection of amazing awards which include: a solo show at Blue Sky Gallery during Portland Photo Month, the Rauschenberg Residency Award, a Top 50 Exhibition at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, CA curated by Elizabeth Avedon, and (new this year!) publication in issue #63 of GUP Magazine for a selection of finalists.

All finalists will also get this special issue of GUP after it is published!

For more information about this opportunity for photographers, please click here.