Photographic Society of America
YOUTH SHOWCASE – 2012

Youth Showcase, an Updated Opportunity

Annually since the late 1990s, the Photographic Society of America (PSA) has sponsored an April competition for the prints of high school-aged photographers, sponsored by PSA member-clubs, PSA Chapters, and PSA –member camera club councils. Only sponsored photographers' images are eligible but any teacher may enquire of the chairman and a sponsoring group can be located (contact pkzbraun@aol.com if enquiring for a sponsor).

With a deadline of April 30th each year to the PSA chairman Kathy Braun, APSA, in Wisconsin, sponsoring organizations around the country begin working with their area schools, 4-H groups and similar, around the beginning of the schools' semesters or quarters. Given the final national deadline, each local sponsor must set its own deadline to allow time for an area competition or "run-off" and must then finally send up to six prints from each teacher's students. The PSA competition of Youth Showcase finalists is judged by three qualified photographers in a different geographical area each year.

The competition allows one print each in four categories (Architecture, People and/or Animals, 'Scapes, Photojournalism) plus two images in the Photographer's Choice category for a total of six print images. Rules are clear that pictures will not be returned without postage being provided to the national competition chairman.
Now with updated opportunities, a sponsoring group may instead or may also offer a Digital Projected Image section to schools! These will be two separate competitions. Not all sponsors will choose to manage two sections although they may make both available to schools in their respective areas. (Subject categories will be the same for digital images)

Cash prizes are offered, plus annual PSA memberships, to the makers of winning and honorable mention images. In addition to the winners and honorable mention images, an additional 25% approximately of the finalists' print images will hang at the annual PSA International Conference somewhere in North America (San Francisco area in 2012).
http://psa-photo.org/service/psa-youth-showcase/

Jean Timmermeister, Hon PSA, FPSA, FCAPA
Chairman, Inland Empire Chapter;
Chairman, Youth Showcase for Inland Empire chapter