SAAC hosts Awards Reception for The Viewfinder 2026 Photography Competition • Feb 12

The Viewfinder Photography Competition Exhibit, sponsored by The El Dorado Insider and The Diamond Agency, will be on view in SAAC’s Price and Merkle Galleries from February 2 through March 1, 2026. SAAC invites the public to a special artist reception on Thursday, February 12, from 5:30–7:00 PM, celebrating exhibitions hosted by the SAAC Visual Arts Committee. The reception is free and open to everyone.

This year’s exhibition highlights a wide range of photographic approaches from across the region. More than 65 photographs by 44 photographers have been submitted, featuring works created with everything from camera phones and 35mm film cameras to modern digital equipment. The exhibition includes diverse processes and presentation styles, including paper prints, canvas prints, darkroom prints, tintypes, and more, displaying the expansive possibilities of contemporary photography.

Acclaimed documentary and architectural photographer Philip Gould of Lafayette, Louisiana, serves as this year’s juror.  Gould will announce the award winners at 6:00 PM during the reception. A total of $1,250 in prize money will be awarded for Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place. In addition, the “America 250” Sponsors Purchase Award recipient will receive prize money as well. All winners will be featured in an upcoming issue of The El Dorado Insider.

Gould brings to SAAC a five-decade career shaped by curiosity, persistence, and a profound sense of place. Across decades, Gould’s artistry has remained rooted in a profound spiritual and emotional bond with Louisiana’s landscapes and people. For him, Louisiana is more than a subject. It is muse, home, and the wellspring of his most enduring creative inspiration. His long-form projects have resulted in more than twenty published books, and his most recent project, “Louisiana from the Sky,” showcases his aerial photography. His body of work ranges from massive events like the explosive demolition of the Savanna-Sabula Bridge in Illinois to intimate moments such as a quiet prayer beneath the Crescent City Connection.  more about the judge