Call Description

THEME

The Denver Architecture Foundation (DAF) and the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC) are pleased to announce Y/OUR Denver 2025 Photo Competition: Architecture and Nature in Harmony.

Doors Open Denver 2025 will celebrate the places and the people of our city that best represent this year’s theme “Architecture and Nature in Harmony.” Photographers of all skill levels are invited to submit new or older images of architectural spaces in Denver for this juried competition. With this concept in mind, we encourage exploration of the vital relationship between the built environment and the natural world in Denver’s unique setting. All forms of architectural imagery are welcome: black & white, color, exterior, interiors, landscape architecture, and detail images. Thirty images will be showcased in an online exhibition on the DAF and CPAC websites, along with an exhibition at the Chancery during the opening evening of Doors Open Denver on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

DEADLINES & INFORMATION
Call for Entry opens: Friday, June 6, 2025

Applicant submission deadline: Friday, July 11, 2025 midnight MST

Notice of Acceptance: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Online Exhibition dates: September 25 – December 31, 2025

Exhibition of all work at The Chancery, 1120 Lincoln Street, Denver: September 25 – October 3, 2025 with a reception on Thursday, September 25, 2025

Exhibition juror: David Lauer

Fees: $14 for 3 images

If the cost of entry is a barrier to your participation in this contest, please let us know at info@cpacphoto.org. 

AWARDS
Winners will be notified in a separate email after selection notifications are sent out (see Liability & Agreement below). 

Best in Show will receive:

• CPAC individual membership
• 30-minute portfolio review with Juror
• Denver Architecture Foundation family membership
• Copy of Guide to Denver Architecture
• Denver Architecture Foundation T-shirt
• Featured on Denver Architecture Holiday 2025 digital and printed card

One prize will be awarded in each of the following categories: Exterior, Interior, Nature Based Design, & Landscape Architecture

• CPAC individual membership
• Denver Architecture Foundation family membership
• Copy of Guide to Denver Architecture
• Denver Architecture Foundation T-shirt

JUROR BIO
With a foundation in visual storytelling honed over two decades in the film industry—including the role of Co-Visual Effects Supervisor on the Academy Award-winning Life of Pi—David Lauer brings a cinematic eye to the art of architectural photography. Since relocating to Denver in 2012, Lauer has worked with the region's most celebrated architects and designers, whose award-winning projects have often been showcased through his lens. Lauer’s work has been featured in books and publications around the globe, driven by a deep commitment to capturing not only structures but also the stories they embody.

ABOUT THE COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS CENTER
The Colorado Photographic Arts Center is dedicated to fostering the understanding and appreciation of excellent photography in all forms and concepts through exhibitions, education and community outreach. Learn more at cpacphoto.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

ABOUT THE DENVER ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
The mission of the Denver Architecture Foundation is to inspire people to explore our dynamic city, experience the importance of design to our quality of life and envision an exceptional future for Denver. Learn more at denverarchitecture.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Application Requirements

ELIGIBILITY
Entry is open to regional and national photographers, age 18 or older. The following media are eligible: film; scanner; screen-capture; digital camera; and any means of mobile photography. No video submissions allowed.  

Photos are not limited to Doors Open Denver 2025 sites, but must be architecture within Denver. Please be aware that some sites have restrictions on interior and/or exterior photography, so please ask first. In the title of your submission please list the location of the photograph in Denver.

Eligibility Criteria

ENTRY GUIDELINES
Please submit through CAFÉ and use the Call for Entry Media Prep for image upload guidelines. If you have any questions about the guidelines, please call 303-837-1341 or email info@cpacphoto.org.