New Submission Categories for Hal Prize in Photography

By Grace Johnson, Peninsula Pulse – April 14th, 2023

“Rhino on Lake, Lake Nakuru” by Nick Brandt.

The contest is also using a new submission platform

There’s less than one month until submissions open for the 2023 Hal Prize, and as we move toward the opening, my excitement continues to grow.

We have some changes this year that will make the contest even better, including new photography categories selected by our partners at Peninsula School of Art. A few popular categories from last year are returning, and a few have been added under the expertise of this year’s photography judge, Allen Morris, whom Peninsula School of Art selected.

The categories for this year are Analog Alternative Processes, Digital Manipulation, Landscape and Nature, People and Portraits, and Animals. You can learn more about these categories below.

When the Hal Prize began in 1998, all submissions were physical. Then, with the advent of the internet and more online accessibility, we switched to using an online platform. This year, we’re switching that platform to Zealous, which works well for both writers and visual artists. Zealous is easy to use when submitting work, and it has a very active help center and live chat, should any questions arise.

Photography Categories

Analog Alternative Processes

This image is by Christina Z. Anderson, who teaches at Montana State University. She is a world-renowned resource for alternative process photography and has published books on the subject.

Share your historical process photo: cyanotype, Van Dyke brown, gum bichromate, lumen prints and more. If it’s old school and analog based, it fits this category.

More example work: Christina Z. Anderson, Mary West Quin, Joseph Minek and Eric William Carroll.

Digital Manipulation

Work by Jenna Marti. “Her work displays such care and has such a poetry to it that it was an absolute must-share.” — Allen Morris

Pixels are meant to be pushed around, and a whole new world can be created using digital-manipulation techniques. Show us your composites, collages and all photographs that are digitally augmented.

More example work: Jenna Marti, Josh Passon, Brooke Shaden and Maggie Taylor.

Landscape and Nature

Photo by Camden Hardy from his body of work The Wayfinder’s Dilemma.

These are the subjects that always surround us. No matter where you go, there is a vista to behold, beautiful plant life to explore or fungi to focus on. This category invites you to share your images of the beauty you find in the natural world.

More example work: Terry Evans, Camden Hardy, Mark Brautigam and Laura McPhee.

People and Portraits

Photo by Lois Bielefeld of Milwaukee, from her series ‘Androgyny.’

It’s easy to forget that a portrait is just as much about the artist as it is about the subject or sitter. Share your photography of other humans in this category to help us understand who they are and who you are!

More example work: Lois Bielefeld, Kurt Simonson, Richard Renaldi and Hillerbrand and Magsamen.

Animals

“Rhino on Lake, Lake Nakuru” by Nick Brandt. “The reflection is so beautiful, and his work is beautiful on its worst days, transcendent on its best.” — Allen Morris

Whether domestic or wild, scaly or furry, slithery or on Hoff, animals have been favorite subjects for the camera lens since the beginning of photo history. Show us the majesty – or whimsy – of the animal kingdom through photos in this category.

More example work: Joel Sartore, Nick Brandt, Mary Lee Agnew and Karine Aigner.

8142 Review, Vol. 1 and 2 are available for purchase at doorcountypulse.com/shop. The publications feature the winners of the 2021 and 2022 contests, respectively.

Peninsula School of Art & Guenzel Gallery