The Lenscratch Student Prize seeks to support the next generation of photographers by offering monetary awards and professional networking opportunities to artists creating innovative and compelling work.
Students currently enrolled in any bachelors or masters degree program in photography are encouraged to apply. This award is open to international applicants.
DUE DATE IS JUNE 2nd….NO late submissions accepted
AWARDS
FIRST PRIZE
a $1500 Cash Award and a feature on Lenscratch
a $250 cash prize and a seat at the New England Portfolio Reviews from The Griffin Museum of Photography
a $750 Gift Certificate toward portfolio printing at The Image Flow
a $500 Gift Certificate from Freestyle Photo Supplies
a seat at the Exposure Reviews and a membership from the Los Angeles Center of Photography
a mini exhibition on the Curated Fridge
a collection of books from St.Lucy Books
a collection of books from Kris Graves Projects
a collection of books from Zatara Press
a one year subscription to Aperture Magazine
a review session with Hamidah Glasgow, Executive Director of the Center for Fine Art Photography
a year long mentorship with Aline Smithson
a Lenscratch T-Shirt and tote
SECOND PRIZE
a $750 Cash Award
a feature on Lenscratch
a mini exhibition on the Curated Fridge
a Lenscratch T-shirt and Tote
THIRD PRIZE
a $500 Cash Award
a feature on Lenscratch
a mini exhibition on the Curated Fridge
a Lenscratch T-shirt and Tote
4 HONORABLE MENTIONS
$250 Cash Award
a feature on Lenscratch
a Lenscratch tote
JURORS
Aline Smithson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Lenscratch, Educator and Artist
Daniel George, Submissions Editor of Lenscratch, Educator and Artist
Linda Alterwitz, Art + Science Editor of Lenscratch and Artist
Kellye Eisworth, Managing Editor of Lenscratch, Educator and Artist
Alexa Dilworth, publishing director, senior editor, and awards director at the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University
Kris Graves, Director of Kris Graves Projects, photographer and publisher based in New York and London
Elizabeth Cheng Krist, former Senior Photo Editor with National Geographic magazine and founding member of the Visual Thinking Collective
Yorgos Efthymiadis, Founder of the Curated Fridge, photographer
Hamidah Glasgow, Director of the Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO
Drew Leventhal, Artist and Publisher, winner of the 2022 Lenscratch Student Prize
Allie Tsubota, Artist and winner of the 2021 Lenscratch Student Prize
Raymond Thompson, Jr., Artist and Educator, winner of the 2020 Lenscratch Student Prize
Guanyu Xu, Artist and Educator, winner of the 2019 Lenscratch Student Prize
Shawn Bush, Artist and Educator, winner of the 2017 Lenscratch Student Prize
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2023 Christian K. Lee
2022 Drew Leventhal
2021 Allie Tsubota
2020 Raymond Thompson Jr.
2019 Guanyu Xu
2018 Zora J. Murff
2017 Shawn Bush
2016 Drew Nikonowicz
2015 Lauren Kelly
2014 Frances F. Denny
2013 Elizabeth Moran
“The Lenscratch Student Prize has opened a world of connections and opportunities, and most meaningfully, it’s offered a network of support through Aline Smithson and the Lenscratch community. The exposure afforded to me through the prize has been invaluable as I begin my career, and mentorship with Aline has helped me to navigate an expansive and unfamiliar art world. This award year has been instrumental in allowing me to build a rich foundation for my creative work to come.” – Allie Tsubota, 2021 Lenscratch Student Prize Winner
“The Lenscratch Student Prize has opened up a whole new line of connections, opportunities and exposure. The mentorship with Aline Smithson helped me learn to navigate an art world that was foreign to me. Our conversations filled in a gap that was missing in my art school education and will be invaluable as I move forward in my career. I believe the seeds that I planted in this award year are going to bear fruit well into the future.” –Raymond Thompson Jr, 2020 Lenscratch Student Prize Winner
