When I started Lenscratch twenty years ago, I never imagined it would grow into the vibrant community it is today. What began as a way to understand the community I was part of, has become a platform dedicated to celebrating photographic artists, sharing ideas and opportunities, partnering with organizations, and creating meaningful resources for photographers around the world.

Everything we do is driven by a simple belief: photographers deserve a place where their work can be seen, their stories shared, and opportunities remain accessible to everyone. Every writer, editor, and contributor volunteers their time because they believe in giving back to the photographic community. No one is paid for their work on the site.

It has always been important to me that programs like the Student Prize,  the Art and Science Awards, and our Exhibitions remain free to enter, ensuring that financial circumstances are never a barrier to participation. That commitment has not changed.

A few of our recent initiatives:

Beyond the Photograph

Publisher’s Spotlight

In Focus: The MFA Review

The Female Gaze

2026 Guggenheim Recipients

On The Shelf

Educator of the Month

A few of our longtime initiatives:

The Lenscratch Student Prize Awards

The Art and Science Awards

Monthly Exhibitions

Photographers on Photographers

Book Talk with Caleb Cain Marcus

Mixtapes

The States Project

What has changed is the scale of Lenscratch. After twenty years of publishing, the site has grown so much that it now requires its own dedicated server, along with the resources needed to maintain the archive, support our awards, and keep everything running smoothly. Advertising helps cover a portion of these expenses, but it isn’t enough.

If Lenscratch has introduced you to a new artist, helped you discover an opportunity, inspired your own work, or simply become part of your photographic life, I hope you’ll consider making a donation. Your support helps keep Lenscratch free, independent, and accessible, and ensures that we can continue championing photographers and building this community for years to come.

Thank you for reading, for participating, and for believing in what Lenscratch has become. I couldn’t have done it without you.

At the end of 2022, we joined forces with the Moonridge Foundation in Nevada, as our Fiscal Sponsor. They can provide tax write offs for your donations.

Please consider donating HERE.