APA LA - 2025 Off The Clock - Call for Entries

APA LA OFF THE CLOCK 2025

CALL FOR ENTRIES OPENS: April 1, 2025

CALL FOR ENTRIES FINAL DEADLINE: April 30, 2025

APA LA is pleased to announce the fourteenth annual OFF THE CLOCK curated photo competition. OFF THE CLOCK is the pre-eminent opportunity to present your inspired personal photography to the world. Each year APA LA invites a well-respected, influential visionary from the international photo community to contribute their talent towards curating this prestigious exhibition. This year we are honored that Karen Marks, Director of Howard Greenberg Gallery, has accepted our invitation to apply her unique vision in carefully selecting her top one hundred images from all submissions.

Exceptional Exposure

Once our curator has chosen her 100 favorite images, the winners' work begins to gain exceptional exposure through our beautifully printed and PDF catalog which will be sent to each winner as well as key influencers in the advertising, corporate and fine-art sectors. The winners’ images will also gain exposure through our online gallery and artist features on our social media and web platforms. Through the APA global network, your finest personal work will be available for viewing by thousands of potential clients, gallerists and curators throughout the world.

PLUS – All selected work will be matted, framed and featured during the much-anticipated industry-wide gala opening reception celebrating all the winners. Invitations to the gala will be sent to top creatives in the Southern California region.

Show Your Finest Personal Work

OFF THE CLOCK is easy to enter with no confusing categories, no image series restrictions, and no creation date restrictions. The most important parameter is that your submitted work should be strong, original, creative and truly personal. Entries may be black and white, duotone, or color, and should be self-commissioned and must represent what you consider to be your finest personal work. Our easy-to-use online submission interface allows you to enter as many images as you like! What are you waiting for? Give it your best shot. Show the world your personal vision.

The curator will limit the number of selects from any one entrant to a maximum of four.

Note: Alternative print processes (copper plate, tin type, etc.) are acceptable with an additional framing fee.

All printing and framing costs will be winners’ responsibility.

Entry Fees

• APA Member Entry Fee: $20 per image
• Non-Member Entry Fees: $40 per image

Not an APA member? Now is a great time to join APA and receive up to a 50% discount on each image submission.

Submission Guidelines

1. Only digital images are accepted through our online submission process.
2. Image size no smaller than 800 pixels on the long side and at most 1280 pixels, 72 dpi, sRGB color profile, with no visible identifying text/symbols.
3. Image files need no unique title by the entrant. Image files are assigned an arbitrary ID for the "blind" judging.
4. A single entry is one image.
5. Sorry, no panoramas, diptychs or triptychs will be accepted.
6. While there is no limit to the number of single entries submitted, we recommend uploading no more than 10 images at a time (Check out, before submitting additional images).
7. You may not enter an image that has won OFF THE CLOCK in previous years.
8. You may not enter substantially similar images that have won OFF THE CLOCK in previous years.
9. There is no restriction on when the entry image was created.
10. The curator for OFF THE CLOCK may select a maximum of four images by the same artist.
11. You do not need to be an APA member to enter the contest, but members receive a discount on entry fees.
12. Anyone claiming APA membership must be current in their dues at the time of entry and when winners are announced.

Please Note: APA is unable to accept any submission(s) containing significant elements created by Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology.

Questions? Please email: director@apa-la.com

Upload Guidelines

• All files must be jpgs with a file size limit of 2MB.
• Simple file naming conventions please do not use special characters like ©, @, #. The title name is not seen by the judge, so it is ok to use your name in the title.
• Image size no smaller than 800 pixels on the long side and at most 1280 pixels.
• Color profile is sRGB, image resolution 72ppi.
• Images should have no visible identifying text/symbols; entries are assigned an arbitrary ID for the "blind" judging.
• Single image entries only.

Please read contest rules

About APA

American Photographic Artists (APA) is celebrating its 43rd year as a leading national trade organization run by and for professional photographers. With a culture that promotes a spirit of mutual cooperation, sharing and support, APA offers outstanding benefits, educational programs and essential business resources to help its members achieve their professional and artistic goals. With chapters in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Charlotte and Washington, DC, APA strives to improve the environment for photographic artists and clear the pathways to success in the industry. Recognized for its broad industry reach, APA continues to expand benefits for its members and works to champion the rights of photographers and image-makers worldwide.

https://la.apanational.org

About The Curator

Karen Marks has been the Director of Howard Greenberg Gallery in New York City for the past 23 years. Recognized as a leader in the field, Howard Greenberg Gallery is one of the largest photographic galleries the world. Karen has curated and overseen hundreds of exhibitions—many receiving high-praise from esteemed publications such as in the New York Times, among others. In addition, Karen has placed many photographs with museum and private collections internationally. As a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, as well as a professional in her field for more than 40 years, Karen understands photography and has a strong interest in looking, viewing, and finding intriguing new work.

Website | Instagram

APA Los Angeles is honored and humbled that Karen Marks will join us to curate OFF THE CLOCK 2025.

Questions? Please email director@apa-la.com.

Categories

• Personal Work