18th Annual High School Photography Contest Runs Through Oct. 29

Bousquet Holstein PLLC invites high school students in grades 9-12 who reside in Onondaga or Tompkins counties to enter its 18th annual High School Photography Contest now through Oct. 29. The firm launched the contest as part of its ongoing commitment to education and the arts in Central New York. This year’s theme, “Life in Focus: Capturing the Human Story,” encourages students to develop their creative voice while exploring the power of photography to tell stories.

The 2026 theme was inspired by the Everson Museum of Art’s exhibit Life: Six Women Photographers. Six pioneering women used their cameras to document life in all its complexity, from global events to intimate, everyday experiences. Their images reveal not only what was happening, but how it felt to witness it. Bousquet Holstein invites students to explore the quiet or powerful moments that define what it means to be human. Through their lenses, students are encouraged to capture the emotions, connections, and experiences that often go unnoticed in everyday life.

“The Everson exists to champion artists, and that includes the ones just discovering their voice,” said Elizabeth Dunbar, director and CEO, Everson Museum of Art. “Photography teaches young people to see the world with curiosity and empathy, and this contest gives them a reason to pick up a camera and create. We’re thrilled to partner with Bousquet Holstein in inspiring the next generation of artists.”