Alpine Bank Youth Photography Showcase
Deadline to enter: October 15, 2026
The Alpine Bank Youth Photography Showcase is open to all Colorado middle and high school students, providing an opportunity to exhibit their photography in a professional gallery setting. Up to 100 student photographs will be selected for a week-long exhibition during Colorado Photography Week. Selected students may also offer their photographs for sale, have their work featured in the online gallery, and be recognized during the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown.
Because the Youth Photography Showcase is open to students statewide, entries will close once the first 200 eligible submissions have been received.
Each selected student photographer will receive one complimentary ticket (a $35 value) to attend the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Fort Lewis College. To claim the complimentary ticket, students must confirm their intent to attend no later than November 17, 2026. Unclaimed tickets will be released for public sale.
Parents, family members, and guests are encouraged to attend the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown and may purchase tickets separately. Please note that complimentary student ticket holders will be seated in a reserved student section, and accompanying guests will be seated in reserved audience seating.
A few of the student photographers on stage at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College photographed with the professionals.
Student photographs on exhibit and for sale at the Durango Arts Center.
Durango City Lifestyle Magazine Cover Award
Durango City Lifestyle Magazine will select one student photograph from the 2026 Youth Photography Showcase to be featured on the cover of its February 2027 issue. The selected student will also receive a $500 professional photography payment, earning the distinction as one of Colorado Photography Week’s newest paid professional photographers!
The publisher of Durango City Lifestyle will have sole discretion in selecting the cover photograph based on image quality, composition, orientation, and suitability for publication, and reserves the right not to select a photograph if none meet the magazine’s editorial standards.
Before the award is finalized, the selected student and a parent or legal guardian must sign the required publication permission and liability release.
Rules & Regulations
Only one entry is accepted per student. Multiple entries will result in disqualification of all entries submitted by that student.
All High School and Middle School students in Colorado are eligible to participate whether in public, charter, private, or home-schooled programs.
It is required to read and agree to the “Youth Photography Showcase Rules.”
Rules:
- Entry is FREE
- One entry per student
- Photograph must be taken by the student
- Entry deadline: October 15, 2026
- Parental permission required for students under 18
- Political or inappropriate photos are prohibited at the sole discretion of the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown.
Photograph specifications:
- Submit digital JPG or PNG files only (no prints or other file types accepted).
- All photographs will be printed at 8″ × 10″ (portrait or landscape) for gallery display.
- Aspect ratio: 4:5 (portrait) or 0.8:1 (landscape).
- Minimum resolution: 1200 × 1500 pixels at 150 DPI.
Submit Your Photo
Student Photo Gallery
Click on any image to enlarge and learn about the Student Photographer