Grain in the Frame

Description

Call for Entry: Grain in the Frame
Celebrating the Vitality of Contemporary Film Photography

Grain in the Frame is a juried exhibition of contemporary film photography, presented at Frame 1A Gallery in Alameda, California, February 7–28, 2026.
This exhibition celebrates the vitality of film-based photographic practice across the extended San Francisco Bay Area, showcasing the creativity of both emerging and established photographers.

THEME & ACCEPTED MEDIA
This is an open-theme exhibition — all subject matter is welcome, as long as it is appropriate for a public gallery setting. All submissions must originate on film-based media.
We welcome:

Traditional darkroom prints (b&w, color, silver gelatin, etc.)
Alternative processes (cyanotype, platinum/palladium, lumen, chemigram, etc.)
Hybrid analog–digital workflows (film capture scanned + printed as pigment/inkjet)
Experimental approaches rooted in film photography

⚠️ Important: This is a call for film photography.

Digital-origin and AI-generated works are not eligible.
Pigment/inkjet prints are accepted only if the original source was shot on film.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility: Open to emerging + established photographers in the nine Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma).
Medium: Film-based work only (any format or type).
When: Work must be created within the past year.
Presentation: Accepted works must be printed, framed, and ready to hang professionally.
Exhibition Format: Due to the intimate size of Frame 1A, selected works (approx. 20–25) will be shown salon-style. Maximum frame size: 20 x 24 inches.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Artists may submit up to 3 images for review.
Entry fee: $25 flat, nonrefundable.
Please review eligibility + file requirements carefully; incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Entry fees help support gallery installation, promotion, and materials.
All works must be original and created by the submitting artist.

IMAGE AND FILE REQUIREMENTS
Please upload digital files of your work for the jury process. Files must meet these specs:

Format: JPG only
Color: sRGB
Size: Minimum 2000px on the longest side
Resolution: 72 DPI
Quality: Save at “High” (≈80%)
Max File Size: 3 MB
Naming: LastName_Title.jpg (example: Shaw_YellowStitch.jpg)

For more information about submission policies, liability, and criteria please visit our Terms & Conditions.

EXHIBITIONS DETAILS TIMELINE

Entry deadline: October 4, 2025Notification of jury results: October 18, 2025Artwork delivery windows:January 10–11, 2026January 17–18, 2026Exhibition dates: February 7–28, 2026Reception: February 7, 2026

SALES & COMMISSION
Artists may choose to offer their work for sale during the exhibition. The gallery retains a 40% commission on all sales, with the remaining 60% paid to the artist.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to seeing your work!

Click the "Register & Apply" Button at the top of this page to begin the registration process.
Click the  "Login"  button at the top of this page if you have already registered, but have yet to submit. 

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