SEEN / UNSEEN — the visible and the implied

 Some photographs reveal. Others withhold.

Seen / Unseen invites work that engages with what is visible and what remains hidden—within the frame, within the subject, or within the photograph itself. This may take the form of portraiture, or images where meaning is suggested rather than stated.

We are interested in photographs that hold tension: between presence and absence, clarity and ambiguity, exposure and concealment. What is shown is only part of the image. What is implied, obscured, or left unresolved carries equal weight.

Juried by Ann M. Jastrab

First Place: $500 plus a solo exhibition on the gallery's website
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150

Two Honorable Mentions: $50 each
Human Presence Nomination: Free entry to one future Open Call of the photographer’s choice

Entry Fee:
$25 for 4 photographs
$5 for each additional photograph

Time Line:
Deadline for Entry: June 11
Announcement of Selected Entries: June 18
Exhibition Launch: June 20 — August 20

SEEN / UNSEEN — the visible and the implied

Call Type: Photography
Eligibility: International
Exhibition Type: Online
Entry Fee: $25 up to 4 entries, $5 each additional entry
Deadline: July 11, 2026
Notification Date: July 18
Exhibition Dates: July 27 – September 27

Juror: Ann M. Jastrab
 

Seen / Unseen invites work that engages with what is visible and what remains hidden—within the frame, within the subject, or within the photograph itself. This may take the form of portraiture, or images where meaning is suggested rather than stated.

​We are interested in photographs that hold tension: between presence and absence, clarity and ambiguity, exposure and concealment. What is shown is only part of the image. What is implied, obscured, or left unresolved carries equal weight.

​Submission Details:

Open to all photographers worldwide
All photographic styles and processes welcome
Maximum 8 images per submission

Please submit jpg files at 2100 pixels, or more, on the long side without any text, watermarks, borders, or frames. We want the work to be seen as it is, without any added elements that might distract from the image itself.

What Selected Photographers Receive

First Place: $500 plus a solo exhibition on the gallery's website
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150

Two Honorable Mentions: $50 each
Human Presence Nomination: Free entry to one future Open Call of the photographer’s choice

• Inclusion in the curated online exhibition
• Permanent exhibition page on Decagon Gallery
• Feature on Decagon’s Instagram
• Inclusion in the exhibition catalog

Juror​: Ann M. Jastrab

Ann M. Jastrab, MFA, is the Executive Director at the Center for Photographic Art (CPA) in Carmel, California. CPA strives to advance photography through education, exhibition and publication. These regional traditions—including mastery of craft, the concept of mentorship, and dedication to the photographic arts—evolved out of CPA's predecessor, the renowned Friends of Photography established in 1967. While respecting these West Coast traditions, CPA is also at the vanguard of the future of photographic imagery.douglasstockdale.com

• Work: Submit up to images that you believe capture the essence of the "SEEN/UNSEEN" theme.
• Format: JPEG or JPG, minimum size 2100 px on the longest side.
• Entry Fee: $25 for 4 images, $5 for each additional image.
• Deadline: All entries must be received by JULY 11
• Online Exhibition Dates: JULY 27 through SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 then archived on our gallery

About the Gallery

Decagon Gallery is an online photography gallery dedicated to thoughtful, contemporary photographic work by artists worldwide. The gallery emphasizes strong curatorial vision, professional presentation, and meaningful engagement with photographers at all stages of their careers.

Open to photographers worldwide, 18 years and older.