See the world through a different lens with the Exploring the Light Photo Exhibit at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Local photographers come together to create a visual collage of different styles, subjects and sentiments. 

2025 Categories
·  Landscape

·  Leading Lines

·  Motion

·  Portraits

·  Wild Life 

**IF APPLYING FOR MULTIPLE CATEGORIES, YOU WILL NEED TO PUT IN 3 SEPARATE APPLICATIONS

Jurying and Awards

Individual images submitted via CaFE TM are juried by a blind jury review process. Invited images are juried for awards based on final presentation of artwork including the image quality, content, frame, mat, and tile.  Photographer identification will be hidden from view when jurying.  Total cash awards are estimated at $3,350.  Best of Show as well as first and second place winners in each category will be awarded gallery space for several weeks after the show at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Awards include first, second, and third place in each category, along with Best of Show and People's Choice.  

Entry and Fees

Photographers must apply via CaFE TM by the entry deadline of Thursday, February 13th, 2025. Up to 3 entries may be submitted by an individual.  A non-refundable $36 entry fee is required.  Fees may be paid via credit card on CaFE TM or check made payable to the City of Lone Tree and mailed to: Lone Tree Arts Center, c/o Photo Show, 10075 Commons Street, Lone Tree, CO. 80124. 

Presentation 

All images must be delivered gallery ready (ie. canvas wrap, metal, acrylic, wood, floating or other frame) and ready to hang. Framing must meet gallery quality standards - no large imperfections, no sagging canvas. Any work printed on paper, must be matted and covered with clean plexiglass or glass, museum quality is recommended.  

Images must be undamaged and reinforced with hardware AND picture hanging wire.  If you provide a piece of artwork with no wire, it will be turned away as it will not be suitable to hang with our Arakawa Hanging System.  D-rings should be installed 1/3 of the overall height from the top edge, picture wire should then be strung through taut, not loose, and adequately secured. Glass clips, sawtooth hangers, shadow mounts, and French cleats are NOT acceptable and will be turned away. Finished images must not weigh more than 35lbs or exceed 48x48 framed.  A label must be attached to the back of the image, identifying artist, title, and price. Entries not meeting specifications will be turned away.  

Sales and Bin Work

All images invited to the show must be for sale.  The Lone Tree Arts Center will conduct sales at the Box Office and retain 20% commission on all sales. Accepted photographers may sell bin work at the opening reception ONLY.  You may bring your own bin or use one of ours, they will be made available on a first come first serve basis. A digital catalogue listing artist contact and sales information will be available to the public throughout the photo show on the Lone Tree Arts Center website. Images may not be removed before the end of the Photo Show.
 
2025 Juror

Cheryl Opperman

Her bold images provide a vivid bridge directly into the heart of countries, indigenous peoples, wildlife, and landscapes spanning the globe.  

Cheryl’s esthetic compositions, artistic use of light, and exquisite detail have been honored with several prestigious awards including the Grand Prize in the professional category of the “Ultimate Image of Earth” international contest for Earth Day 2000, the “People in Nature” Category Winner in the 2003 Nature’s Best International Photography Awards, First Place for Travel/Tourism photography in the 2004 International Photography Awards, First Place “Birds” in the professional category of the 2006 National Wildlife Photography Awards, and the “Wildlife” Category Winner in the 2015 Windland Smith Rice International Awards.

Her photographs have been displayed in solo and group exhibitions across the country at notable venues including the Temple Hoyne Buell Theater, Boettcher Concert Hall, and Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

Employing the power of photography to inspire interest in the environment and other cultures, she has presented slide shows or classes on various topics to schools, camera clubs, the Intermountain Regional Headquarters of the National Park Service, the North American Nature Photography Association, the Colorado Environmental Film Festival, Denver Audubon, and the Crane Trust. Cheryl is a 1992 honors graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial/Scientific photography.

Questions and Information

Please contact Allissa Dailey at  Allissa.Dailey@cityoflonetree.com
or 720.509.1011, if additional questions about this call are required.  
 
Important Dates

January 9th - Call for Entry opens
February 13th - Deadline / Entry closed
February 17th – February 21st - Jurying
February 24th - Notification
March 25th - Drop-off Images: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
March 29th - Opening Reception: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
June 23rd - Pick-up Images: 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Viewing Hours for Show

The exhibit will be open for viewing from March 27th – June 22nd.  Currently our hours are Monday through Friday, 10am - 4pm and 2 hours prior to any performance at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Check the calendar on the website for dates outside of Monday through Friday or call our Box Office to confirm at 720.509.1000.

Application Requirements

Entry Requirements

• Eligible photographers may enter up to 3 images. NOTE: You will need to put in 3 separate applications if you would like to apply to different categories.  
• Images must be originals executed and altered by the photographer only.
• Images must not be of someone else’s artwork that constitutes copyright infringement.
• Images should be non-offensive to a general audience of all ages.
• Images must be for sale.
• Images must have been completed within the last 3 years (2022-2025) and not shown in a previous Lone Tree Photo Show.
• Juror may transfer entries from one category to another if deemed more appropriate.
• Accepted images must remain on display through the duration of this exhibit.  They cannot be picked up earlier than the arranged date below.
• Images must be delivered and retrieved during the designated drop-off and pick-up times ONLY. If you or someone you have designated are unable to make these dates and times work, please do not apply for the show.
  • Drop-off March 25th from 3:00pm-6:00pm
  • Pick-up June 23rd from 3:00pm-6:00pm
• Images must include a finished frame size and sales price on the application.  This information will be printed.
• Images uploaded for the application cannot display the artists name or any identifying mark on the front of the image.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

Photographers of all ages who can deliver and pick-up their work in person at the Lone Tree Arts Center.  Images will not be accepted by any other means (UPS, FEDEX, USPS, etc.).