MISSION STATEMENT
LENSCRATCH is an online platform dedicated to supporting and celebrating the photographic arts and photographic artists through exposure, discussion, community collaboration, and education. Our goal is to provide a forum for rich critical and cultural discourse on the complex role this medium plays in the world, always aiming to reflect the vast array of voices and perspectives within our photographic community. Through grants, awards, exhibitions, and dedicated features, LENSCRATCH also seeks to uplift emerging and student artists who will be the next generation shaping the power and purpose of this wonderful medium.
We are committed to being an anti-racist organization providing an equitable, inclusive representation of this incredibly diverse community and the wide aesthetic, personal, technical, and conceptual considerations being explored. We set no barriers for submissions as all our programming is free to engage with and submit to. We seek to highlight work addressing important subjects including race, gender, immigration, aging, mental health, and more, as well as innovative approaches to the photographic medium, sharing projects that speak to the power of photography.
Since its inception in 2007, LENSCRATCH has featured the work of thousands of photographers and has provided a platform to launch portfolios, books, and exhibitions serving as a is a rich resource for educators and photographers. LENSCRATCH is a media partner to numerous photography festivals and organizations such as CENTER, Filter Photo Festival, Medium Photo Festival, and Blue Earth Alliance.
ABOUT
Founded by artist and educator Aline Smithson in 2007, LENSCRATCH began as an individual pursuit to provide broad exposure to other photographers by actively seeking out and engaging with their work. Since then, other artists have joined the LENSCRATCH staff as volunteers to sustain and expand the platform, in addition to a host of contributing editors and writers who contribute engaging content.
As we continue to grow, we strive to be a resource for other artists, students, and educators to learn about and connect with fellow members of the photographic community. We also provide an ever expanding database of information about opportunities for artists and useful information about both creating and promoting their work.
A Note to Our Readers
We recognize the importance of transparency in regards to the structure of our organization. Since its inception, LENSCRATCH has been committed to providing free submission to our calls for entry and Awards in the belief that opportunities should be accessible to everyone. Instead, our revenue is generated solely through advertisements and donations which fund our grants and cover operating expenses. While all of our staff currently work on a volunteer basis, we are actively developing the infrastructure necessary to access more sources of revenue.
Staff
Aline Smithson, Founder and Editor
Brennan Booker, Director of Special Programs
Kellye Eisworth, Director of Marketing
Clay Lipsky, Art Director
Jonas Yip, Digital Architect
Brian Van de Wetering, Technical Director
Val Patterson, Social Media Editor
Julia Bennett, Visual Media Editor and Contributing Writer
Daniel George, Submissions Editor and Contributing Writer
Wendi Schneider, Copy Editor
Content Editors:
Macaulay Lerman
Carlos Barradas
Erick Jonathan Guzman
Erica Cheung
Kat Davis
Yazmeen P. Loaiza
Michael Honegger
Art + Science Editor: Linda Alterwitz
Books Editor: Lisa McCarty
Collaborations Editors: Barbara Ciurej and Lindsay Lochman
Contributing Editors: Donna Garcia, Ann-Laure Autin, Eleonora Ronconi, Jacqueline Roberts, Rita Lombardi, Matthew Moore, Cristina Fontsare, Amanda Musick, Hye-Ryoung Min, Yijun (Pixy) Liao
Contributing Writers: Megan Ross, Dana Stirling, Amanda Dahlgren, Virginia Wilcox, Daniel George, Polly Gaillard, Alexandros Lambrovassilis, Ann Mitchell, Douglas Ethridge, Marian Crostic, Neal Rantoul, James Friedman, Tom Leininger, Aaron Hobson, Kristen Hoving, Jane Fulton Alt, Clay Lipsky, Kurt Simonson, Jeremias Paul, Amanda Thackray, Greer Muldowney, Rebecca Senf, Alexa Dilworth, Hamidah Glasgow, Tsuyoshi Ito, Eliza Lamb, Sarah LaVigne, Ken Weingart, Lisa Volpe, Olaf Willoughby, Egypt Robinson, Reuben Radding, Dale Niles, Zak Dimitrov, Sal Taylor Kydd, Meghan L. Kirwood Heidi Romano, Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin, Dan Shepherd, Yoichi Nagata, Mariela Sancari, Kat Kiernan,
States Project Guest Editors: Ben huff (Alaska), Marf Dorf (New York), Carson Sanders (Georgia), Eliot Dudik (Virginia), Jeremy Chandler (Florida), Jonathan Gitelson (Vermont), Jeff Rich (Iowa), Linda Alterwitz (Nevada), Caitlin Peterson (Alabama), Jean Laughton (South Dakota), Peter Happel Christian (Minnesota), Heidi Kirkpatrick (Oregon), Kevin Miyazaki (Wisconsin), Bradley Peters (Nebraska), Jennifer Schlesinger (New Mexico), DeAnn Desilets (Pennsylvania), Vanessa Brown (Louisiana), Jacinda Russell (Indiana), Adam Neese (Texas), Jerry Atnip (Tennessee), McNair Evans (California), David Emitt Adams (Arizona), Daniel Coburn (Kansas), Susana Raab (District of Columbia), Betty Press (Mississippi), Jess Dugan (Missouri), Jon Feinstein, (Washington), Jay Gould, (Maryland), Greer Muldowney (Massachusetts), Amy Jorgensen (Utah), Angela Franks Wells (North Carolina), Lisa Emelah (West Virginia), Ashley Craig (Maine), Alexis Pike (Montana), Meg Griffiths (South Carolina), Tara Cronin (Hawaii), Meghan Kirwood (North Dakota)
Photographers on Photographers Contributors:
Lydia Panas, Lori Vrba, Paul Matzner, Ben Marcin, Benjamin Dimmit, Emily Laux, Ashley Krauschinger, Meg Griffiths, Kat Kiernan, Christa Bowden, Ashley Craig, Michael Kirchoff, Daniel George, Kevin J. Miyazaki, Sanitago Vanegas, Carolyn Russo, R.J. Kern, Amanda Dahlgren, Dan Shepherd,
Creative Director (alumni): Grant Gill
Head Writer (alumni): Sarah J. Stankey
Resource Editor (alumni): Paula Riff
Resource Editor (alumni): Patty Lemke
Copy Editor (almuni): Noelle Swan
Managing Editor (alumni): Pauline Gola
Director of Marketing (alumni): Kate Harwood