Saint Petersburg Month of Photography May 2026

Saint Petersburg Month of Photography Returns for its Fourth Edition in May 2026
Celebrating the Art of Photography Across Tampa Bay
Saint Petersburg Month of Photography (SPMOP) is back this May for its anticipated fourth
edition, offering a month-long celebration of the art of photography across the Tampa Bay area.
The festival will feature an exciting lineup of exhibitions, events, and development opportunities
for photographers- including ALT TAMPA, a solo exhibition by the current Photo Laureate,
Jessi Cason, as well as a special showcase of the five finalists for the prestigious 2026 Photo
Laureate award.
“With the Saint Petersburg Month of Photography, we aim to create a platform where
photography is not only exhibited, but truly engaged with, connecting artists and audiences
while reflecting the depth and diversity of our community.
“The Photo Laureate program is at the heart of SPMOP , supporting artists in developing
meaningful, community-driven work. ALT TAMP A by Jesi Cason is a powerful example of how
photography can give visibility to voices and cultures that exist just beneath the surface,”-says
Marieke Van Der Krabben, executive director of SPMOP.
The recently announced finalists of the 2026 Photo Laureate competition are Becca McCoy, Jon
Mishner, Yahyma Tamayo, Juan Manuel Barrero, and Anthony Coletti. The finalists have
well-established artistic backgrounds and display a unique photographic language. Their works
will be on display at the Morean Arts Center. The winner will be announced on Saturday, May
9th
, 2026, at 7 pm, during a special reception.
In addition to these signature, fully produced exhibitions by SPMOP, the organization is pleased
to collaborate in other exhibitions with the James Museum, Crislip Café, and the Museum of
Motherhood; (add event Sip and Snap at FloridaRAMA) photo walks at Sunken Gardens,
Florida Botanical Gardens and Disney Parks, a Photo Book Night at OXH Gallery, and the
annual photographic edition of Keep St Pete Lit’s open mic. We will close the month with an
Artist Persentation by Jesi Cason at FMoPA. Please see the program below. Updates and more
events will be added in the upcoming days on our website: https://spmop.org/2026-programming
Saint Petersburg Month of Photography (SPMOP) is the first 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in
Tampa Bay exclusively devoted to promoting and celebrating the lens-based arts in Saint
Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Area. SPMOP was founded by local photography professionals to
create a local platform for lens-based artists and art-loving audiences to connect, learn, and get
inspired through the medium of photography.
FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND IMAGES BELOW
EXHIBITIONS
* PRODUCED BY SPMOP
*April 29 – June 14 – ALT TAMPA
Beneath Tampa Bay’s polished, tourist-facing identity lies a vibrant underground shaped by
decades of music, creativity, and subculture. Long considered a global hub for death metal, the
region has fostered a network of communities (goths, punks, ravers, and others) who have built a
city within a city grounded in self-expression and belonging.
With ALT TAMPA, 2025 Photo Laureate Jesi Cason captures this largely unseen world through
bold, expressive portraits. Her work honors individuals who embody an alternative history of the
region while confronting the growing pressures of development that threaten these spaces. Vivid,
expressive, and deeply personal, Cason’s images celebrate the courage to live authentically and
to define identity on one’s own terms. On view April 29 – June 14 – with the opening on May
2, 5-7 pm. Jesi Cason will be doing an Artist’s Presentation on May 31st from 1-3 pm
atFlorida Museum of Photographic Arts.
Being chosen as the SPMOP Photo Laureate has been such an honor, and creating the photos for
my solo exhibition at the FMoP A has been one of the greatest challenges in my photography
journey. The Alt Tampa portrait collection is my way of highlighting the people who make
Tampa Bay such a unique and interesting place to live. I hope everyone sees these photos and
recognizes how diverse the alt community is, and how vital we are to the fabric of this part of
Florida. – Jesi Cason, 2025 Photo Laureate.
*May 9-30 – SPMOP 2026 Photo Laureate Finalists Show
For the fourth time, the Saint Petersburg Month of Photography has selected five outstanding
nominees for the 2026 Photo Laureate, each representing a distinct voice within the region’s
photographic community.
The nominated photographers are Becca McCoy, Jon Mishner, Yahyma Tamayo, Juan
Manuel Barrero Bueno, and Anthony Coletti.
The 2026 Photo Laureate will be announced at the Morean Arts Center on May 10 at 7
pm.
*May 1-30 – Heather Whitten-This is what abortion looks like
This exhibition presents the photographic journey of photographer Heather Whitten documenting
medical abortions in collaboration with the Museum of Motherhood.
This project was born from a need to make the unseen visible. To witness what medication
abortion actually looks like in real bodies, real spaces. These images offer a more honest, human
understanding of abortion, says Whitten.
The Museum of Motherhood will host a gallery talk with Heather Whitten on Saturday,
May 23rd, at 6pm.
*April 30 – SIP & SNAP: A Photo Social and Contest at FloridaRAMA
In a collaboration between FloridaRAMA and the SPMOP, we are inviting 50 photographers of
all ages and experience levels to take part in a free photo competition, with a special photo
contest launch party on April 30th from 5-7pm. Participants will have the chance to win a
year-long membership and have their work featured inside FloridaRAMA.
To enter, post your FloridaRAMA picture(s) on Facebook or Instagram
using #RAMAxSPMOP, tag @FloridaRAMA and @SPMOP and choose FloridaRAMA as the
location. Hashtag, tags and location are required for entry.
The contest runs until May 11th, and the winner will be announced live on Instagram on May
15th at 4 pm.
April 20 – May 31 – The Instant Photo Show
This year’s Instant Photo Show will once again be at the Crislip Café / The Merchant St. Pete and
will run throughout May to coincide with the St. Petersburg Month of Photography festival.
Additionally, the Opening will coincide with World Collage Day on Saturday, May 9
Opening RECEPTION & WORLD COLLAGE DAY MEET-UP: SATURDAY, MAY 9TH, 5-8
pm.
*May 6th
– 7 pm – 9 pm, St. Pete Lit at Studio 620
Photography meets poetry for a fourth time with this popular event in a collaboration between
Keep St.Pete Lit’s Open Mic and SPMOP. Poetry and photography lovers are invited to create
and share their own poems inspired by a photo. The late SPMOP’s first photo laureate and
extensively awarded poet Thomas Sayers Ellis will receive a special tribute as we celebrate his
vast legacy. Studio @620. Saint Petersburg.
May 9 – Sept 7 – Wolves: Photographed by Ronan Donovan
Created by the National Geographic Society and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, this
exhibition at the James Museum will present stunning photography and videos by National
Geographic Photographer Ronan Donovan of wild wolves living in two very different
environments: the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the American West and Ellesmere Island in
the Canadian Arctic. Opens on May 9 at the James Museum.
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
*May 17, 10 am – SPMOP Photo Walk – Florida Botanical Gardens
Join us for a two-hour photo walk at Florida Botanical Gardens led by Derrick Buckner. Come
walk the gardens and get beautiful pictures of the flora and fauna on May 17th at 10am.
April 21 – Disney Photo Walk
Photographer Nick Ribera, with his Annual Pass in hand, loves photographing the Disney Parks.
Join him and his wife Leslie on April 21st as they enjoy the park, snacks, and photograph the
beauty of Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival.
May 12, 5-7 pm – Sunken Gardens After-Hours Photography Walk
An opportunity to learn beginner-friendly tips for taking memorable photos of flora, fauna, and
landscapes at beautiful Sunken Gardens.
Limited space—pre-registration required. Call 727-892-5708 to register with payment. Cost:
$8/members, $10/not-yet-members (in addition to standard admission).
*May 27, 7-9 pm, Night of the Photo Book at OXH Gallery
In collaboration with the Saint Petersburg Month of Photography, OXH Gallery, Hyde Park,
Tampa, invites local artists, photographers, and enthusiasts to an engaging Night of the Photo
Book
Attendees are invited to dive into conversations around editing, sequencing, and production; and
connect with others over the enduring significance of the photobook as an artistic medium.
Guest speakers include Odetta Xheka (moderator), Marieke van der Krabben, and Emma Heald.
More information will be coming soon about other events.