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Open Call, Protest, Everything's Connected with Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith
Open Call: Protest, Everything’s Connected
Presented by The Photobook UK & Rapid Eye Darkrooms in Partnership with UNCLE
Theme
Protest is one of photography's most enduring subjects. It is visible in the streets, in our homes, online, in landscapes, within communities and in the everyday choices we make. It can be loud or quiet, public or deeply personal, collective or individual. This open call explores protest in all its forms, asking how photography can document, challenge, and reimagine acts of resistance, solidarity, and social change. We invite submissions from photographers around the world, featuring work that is either newly created or drawn from personal archives, which engages with the broad theme of protest. We welcome diverse perspectives and interpretations, whether your work addresses climate and environmental action, social justice and equality, anti-war and peace movements, Indigenous rights, feminist, LGBTQIA+, or disability rights activism, or any other movement advocating for change.
We are interested in documentary photography, conceptual work, portraiture, landscape, still life, archival material, and experimental image-making. Whether your work records events directly or reflects on protest through metaphor, personal narrative or visual research. We particularly welcome submissions that move beyond simply documenting protest as an event. We encourage work that considers the emotional, social and political complexities surrounding acts of resistance; projects that examine the people behind movements, the spaces they occupy, the lasting effects of activism, or the quieter forms of protest that often go unseen. We are looking for work that is visually engaging, intellectually curious and driven by a clear photographic voice.
Guest Judges
Rebecca Zephyr Thomas is a photographer whose interdisciplinary practice explores identity, community, social experience and the ways images shape our understanding of people and place. Working across social documentary, portraiture and subcultures, her work is rooted in feminism, egalitarianism and a questioning of social hierarchies. She has photographed LGBTQ+ activists for Dazed, Ukrainian protesters for Elephant, and worked with the Green Party and Extinction Rebellion, alongside longer-term projects documenting communities and alternative cultures. Her practice is interested in how people come together, challenge dominant structures and create spaces of solidarity and belonging.
Jade Smith is a director, photographer and filmmaker whose practice centres on protest, community and social documentary. Working across photography, film and moving image, Jade explores collective identity, activism and the stories of communities often overlooked by mainstream narratives. Their work combines a documentary perspective with a strong visual and artistic approach, creating photographic essays and films that respond to issues and communities that matter to them.
Submission Portal
Once you have completed payment for your submission, please upload your images and details via the submission form:
Submission Details
Head to: photobookuk.org - What’s On - Open Call - Protest, Everything’s Connected - Submission Form and Payment both can be made on the same page
Fee: £25 per submission 1-10 images per submission
Accessibility: Please email info@photobookuk.org if you need assistance with your submission or have any questions, we’re happy to help!
General Guidelines
Read our press release here
Entry fee: £25 per submission (10 images per entry)
The entry fee is non-refundable and supports The Photobook Cafe Public Programme with a select portion donated to select organisations, chosen by our guest judges
If selected, there are no additional costs to exhibit
The work must respond to the theme Protest, Everything’s Connected
Analogue, digital and alternative methods of photography are all accepted
Images may be taken anywhere in the world
Works containing discriminatory or offensive content will not be accepted
All exhibition prints will be produced by Rapid Eye Darkrooms on digital C-Type matte/gloss paper
You can submit as many times you like, £25 per 10 entries
Anyone can submit, emerging, established or amateur photographer. Any age, background and identity from anywhere in the world
Submission deadline: October 26th midnight
Selection Process & Prizes
Rebecca and Jade will select the 35 exhibiting photographers, who will be celebrated on November 11th with an exhibition opening and group zine launch.
Within these 35 10 photographers will receive a 30-minute one-to-one mentoring session, providing an opportunity to discuss portfolio development, project direction, professional practice and future opportunities.
In addition, 3 Best in Show photographers will be invited to present work in a future Photobook UK Public Programme group exhibition in 2027, with select printing supported by Rapid Eye Darkrooms.
As well as 10 select photographers will have their work featured in a street gallery with UNCLE across London, bringing the Top 10 out of the exhibitions space and into the public realm through a curated outdoor display.
What does my submission fee go towards?
A portion of the proceeds from this open call will be donated to Not A Phase and Just Stop Oil, selected by our guest judges.
The remaining proceeds will be reinvested directly into The Photobook UK Public Programme, helping to ensure our Photobook Collection continues to be free and open to everyone, our gallery programme can continue to support emerging photographers, and our youth engagement programmes provide meaningful opportunities for young people to experience photography and self publishing.
By submitting work, you are not only contributing to this exhibition but also supporting an independent photography space committed to education, accessibility and collective learning.
Exhibition Opening
The opening is free and open to everyone, with no RSVP required. Join us for an evening celebrating the selected photographers, the projection of all submitted works, conversations around photography and protest, and the announcement of the Best in Show awards.
Exhibition Opening:
November 11th
18:00 – late
During the evening, our guest judges Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith will announce our Best in Show winners at 19:30.
Access
Please note that our gallery space does not currently have step-free access and is accessible via 25 steps.
Thank You
As part of The Photobook Cafe Public Programme
Generously supported by Rapid Eye Darkrooms
In Partnership with UNCLE
Guest Judge: Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith
Poster images courtesy of Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith
Open Call: Protest, Everything’s Connected
Presented by The Photobook UK & Rapid Eye Darkrooms in Partnership with UNCLE
Theme
Protest is one of photography's most enduring subjects. It is visible in the streets, in our homes, online, in landscapes, within communities and in the everyday choices we make. It can be loud or quiet, public or deeply personal, collective or individual. This open call explores protest in all its forms, asking how photography can document, challenge, and reimagine acts of resistance, solidarity, and social change. We invite submissions from photographers around the world, featuring work that is either newly created or drawn from personal archives, which engages with the broad theme of protest. We welcome diverse perspectives and interpretations, whether your work addresses climate and environmental action, social justice and equality, anti-war and peace movements, Indigenous rights, feminist, LGBTQIA+, or disability rights activism, or any other movement advocating for change.
We are interested in documentary photography, conceptual work, portraiture, landscape, still life, archival material, and experimental image-making. Whether your work records events directly or reflects on protest through metaphor, personal narrative or visual research. We particularly welcome submissions that move beyond simply documenting protest as an event. We encourage work that considers the emotional, social and political complexities surrounding acts of resistance; projects that examine the people behind movements, the spaces they occupy, the lasting effects of activism, or the quieter forms of protest that often go unseen. We are looking for work that is visually engaging, intellectually curious and driven by a clear photographic voice.
Guest Judges
Rebecca Zephyr Thomas is a photographer whose interdisciplinary practice explores identity, community, social experience and the ways images shape our understanding of people and place. Working across social documentary, portraiture and subcultures, her work is rooted in feminism, egalitarianism and a questioning of social hierarchies. She has photographed LGBTQ+ activists for Dazed, Ukrainian protesters for Elephant, and worked with the Green Party and Extinction Rebellion, alongside longer-term projects documenting communities and alternative cultures. Her practice is interested in how people come together, challenge dominant structures and create spaces of solidarity and belonging.
Jade Smith is a director, photographer and filmmaker whose practice centres on protest, community and social documentary. Working across photography, film and moving image, Jade explores collective identity, activism and the stories of communities often overlooked by mainstream narratives. Their work combines a documentary perspective with a strong visual and artistic approach, creating photographic essays and films that respond to issues and communities that matter to them.
Submission Portal
Once you have completed payment for your submission, please upload your images and details via the submission form:
Submission Details
Head to: photobookuk.org - What’s On - Open Call - Protest, Everything’s Connected - Submission Form and Payment both can be made on the same page
Fee: £25 per submission 1-10 images per submission
Accessibility: Please email info@photobookuk.org if you need assistance with your submission or have any questions, we’re happy to help!
General Guidelines
Read our press release here
Entry fee: £25 per submission (10 images per entry)
The entry fee is non-refundable and supports The Photobook Cafe Public Programme with a select portion donated to select organisations, chosen by our guest judges
If selected, there are no additional costs to exhibit
The work must respond to the theme Protest, Everything’s Connected
Analogue, digital and alternative methods of photography are all accepted
Images may be taken anywhere in the world
Works containing discriminatory or offensive content will not be accepted
All exhibition prints will be produced by Rapid Eye Darkrooms on digital C-Type matte/gloss paper
You can submit as many times you like, £25 per 10 entries
Anyone can submit, emerging, established or amateur photographer. Any age, background and identity from anywhere in the world
Submission deadline: October 26th midnight
Selection Process & Prizes
Rebecca and Jade will select the 35 exhibiting photographers, who will be celebrated on November 11th with an exhibition opening and group zine launch.
Within these 35 10 photographers will receive a 30-minute one-to-one mentoring session, providing an opportunity to discuss portfolio development, project direction, professional practice and future opportunities.
In addition, 3 Best in Show photographers will be invited to present work in a future Photobook UK Public Programme group exhibition in 2027, with select printing supported by Rapid Eye Darkrooms.
As well as 10 select photographers will have their work featured in a street gallery with UNCLE across London, bringing the Top 10 out of the exhibitions space and into the public realm through a curated outdoor display.
What does my submission fee go towards?
A portion of the proceeds from this open call will be donated to Not A Phase and Just Stop Oil, selected by our guest judges.
The remaining proceeds will be reinvested directly into The Photobook UK Public Programme, helping to ensure our Photobook Collection continues to be free and open to everyone, our gallery programme can continue to support emerging photographers, and our youth engagement programmes provide meaningful opportunities for young people to experience photography and self publishing.
By submitting work, you are not only contributing to this exhibition but also supporting an independent photography space committed to education, accessibility and collective learning.
Exhibition Opening
The opening is free and open to everyone, with no RSVP required. Join us for an evening celebrating the selected photographers, the projection of all submitted works, conversations around photography and protest, and the announcement of the Best in Show awards.
Exhibition Opening:
November 11th
18:00 – late
During the evening, our guest judges Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith will announce our Best in Show winners at 19:30.
Access
Please note that our gallery space does not currently have step-free access and is accessible via 25 steps.
Thank You
As part of The Photobook Cafe Public Programme
Generously supported by Rapid Eye Darkrooms
In Partnership with UNCLE
Guest Judge: Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith
Poster images courtesy of Rebecca Zephyr Thomas and Jade Smith