The essence of great photographic portraiture goes beyond technical proficiency; it involves capturing the subject in a way that is emotionally resonant, visually compelling, and communicates a deeper understanding of the individual.

In her book, Portraits and Persons, writer Cynthia Freeland describes three essential elements that constitute a portrait: “(1) a recognizable physical body (2) an inner life, i.e., some sort of psychological or mental states and (3) self-presentation, or the "posing.”

Praxis Gallery seeks the submission of photographs that celebrate the aesthetic and conceptual considerations involved in the creation of the portrait: revealing personal narratives or new anthologies through the artistic representation of the subject. All genres, capture types, black & white and color, traditional and non-traditional photographic and digital post-production processes are welcome for submission.

Juror | Layne Kennedy Layne Kennedy is known for his editorial photography that conveys a strong sense of people and place. His images are featured in magazines worldwide on subjects as varied as the streets of Havana to the Pink Dolphins of the Amazon River. Layne has published numerous books of his photography and his work is featured in Smithsonian, LIFE, Audubon, Islands, Sports Illustrated, Terre Sauvage, Nature Conservancy, Newsweek , National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, Outdoor Explorer, and other magazines. A frequent speaker at events and workshops, Layne has been teaching photography for more than 25 years. He currently teaches with the Worldwide Mentor Treks, North House Folk School, Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge and his own worldwide photo tours - including tours to Italy, Iceland and Kenya. More about Layne Kennedy here: https://www.laynekennedy.com