Focus: Three exhibits at Ybor’s photography museum

More than 25,000 submissions were received for the 2025 International Photography competition, representing work from 55 nations in categories including portraiture and landscape to abstract and conceptual photography.

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, one of just two museums statewide dedicated solely to this art form, created the competition and is exhibiting the winners through Aug. 24. There was an opening reception Thursday at the Ybor City museum, 1630 E 7th Avenue.

The judges were Jessica Jarl (Sweden), Director of Global Exhibitions at Fotografiska International; Elena Paraskeva (Cypress), International Conceptual Photographer, Art Director and official ADOBE instructor; Suzie Katz (USA), Founder and Director, Photowings; Bärbel Reinhard (Italy), Photographer, Curator and Educator; Hiromi Nakamura (Japan), Curator at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography; Kristen Roles (USA), Photography Instructor at the University of Tampa and University of South Florida; Moshe Rosenzveig (Australia), Founder, Head on Photo Festival; Niyatee Shinde (India), Director, Zalor India International Photography Foundation, Mumbai; Marieke van der Krabben (USA), Director, St. Pete Month of Photography; and Keir Magoulas (USA), Creative Director, Visit Tampa Bay.

Tehran photographer Maho* took First Place in People/Portraits for pray Eid al-Fitr:  “While Muslim women pray Eid al-Fitr facing the Qibla (towards the House of God) in the city’s mosque, a playful little boy, dressed in stylish new clothes, plays behind his mother.”

This work was also chosen as Best of Competition.

Another Maho* photograph, The Flow of Life, won First Place in the Places/Landscape category: “People sit on the steps of the 400-year-old Khaju Bridge, in the historic city of Isfahan, enjoying themselves by the Zayandeh Rood River, which has flowed again after months of drought.”

From the city of Isfahan, Iran, photographer Armin Amiria’s “Rebel-01” was awarded First Place in the Conceptual category.

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is also exhibiting, through Oct. 5, the group exhibition Here For Now, which the museum describes thusly:

“The featured artists share personal stories and observations about how people navigate place, identity, and community. Whether moving to a new country, living between cultures, or reflecting on life in public spaces, these works capture the emotional and social experiences of people living ‘in between’ moments.”

The photographic artists represented are Eyakem Gulilat, Martha Rosler, Jackson Adair, Adam Davis and Le’Andra LeSeur.

Work by Eyakem Gulilat is featured in the exhibit “Here For Now.”

Through Aug. 15, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is soliciting photos active-duty service members, veterans and their families for The Soldier’s Lens, an exhibition to debut in October.

“Our goal is to connect with the men and women who have served our country – and love photography – to submit images that bring a deeper understanding of their experiences throughout any active theater of conflict,” said Alexis Muellner, the exhibition co-creator and co-curator.

Find specifics about submitting material for A Soldier’s Lens at this link.

“Cruise 1” from American photographer Steven White (Second Place, People/Portaits). “This photo was part of a story for Taxi Magazine, and the original concept was about an actress on holiday aboard a cruise ship. Upon arrival at the ship, White noticed these elderly men dressed as they are in this photograph and decided to incorporate them into the shoot. Each one said, “You’ll have to ask my wife.” With unanimous approval from the wives, these men became a very important part of the photo shoot for the next two days. “