SAAC welcomes famend photographer Philip Gould as choose for the 2026 “Viewfinder” Competition

The South Arkansas Arts Center (SAAC) will welcome celebrated documentary and architectural photographer Philip Gould, of Lafayette, Louisiana, because the choose for this yr’s “Viewfinder” images competitors.

Sponsored by The El Dorado Insider and The Diamond Agency, the exhibition might be on show in SAAC’s Price and Merkle Galleries from Feb. 2 to Feb. 27, with an entry deadline of Jan. 27.

Gould brings to SAAC a five-decade profession formed by curiosity, persistence, and a profound sense of place. Reflecting on his method to judging, he defined, “I look forward to the chance to engage with a wide range of subject matter, and I am continually impressed by the artistic quality of the photographs submitted. While much of judging a competition is objective, there are always subjective nuances to consider. I pay close attention to an artist’s technique and vision, as well as the overall eloquence of the image.”

A local of the San Francisco Bay Area, Gould found images at age 20 after receiving a digital camera from his mom in 1971. His ardour rapidly grew from passion to vocation, main him to earn a level in photojournalism from San Jose State University. Soon after, his path took a defining flip southward.

Fresh out of faculty in 1974, Gould accepted a place at The Daily Iberian in New Iberia, Louisiana–an alternative he remembers as “the best first job a photographer could hope for.” In a city with restricted breaking information, he was granted uncommon artistic freedom to {photograph} something readers would love, an expertise that formed his inventive voice and solidified his long-term dedication to immersive, multi-year documentary initiatives.

After a short interval working on the Dallas Times Herald, Louisiana’s wealthy cultural panorama known as him again. In 1978, drawn by Acadiana’s sprawling oak bushes, French-speaking heritage, and deeply rooted communities, he returned to Louisiana to make it his everlasting house. Gould has since photographed extensively throughout Louisiana, all through the United States, throughout Europe, and into Mexico and the Caribbean.

His long-form initiatives have resulted in additional than twenty revealed books, and his

most up-to-date undertaking, “Louisiana from the Sky,” showcases his aerial images. His physique of labor ranges from huge occasions just like the explosive demolition of the Savanna-Sabula Bridge in Illinois to intimate moments comparable to a quiet prayer beneath the Crescent City Connection.

Across a long time, Gould’s artistry has remained rooted in a profound religious and emotional bond with Louisiana’s landscapes and folks. For him, Louisiana is greater than a topic. It is muse, house, and the wellspring of his most enduring artistic inspiration.

SAAC is honored to welcome Philip Gould because the 2026 “Viewfinder” choose and appears ahead to celebrating photographers who, like Gould, see the world in ever-changing mild.

For extra details about submitting work to the Viewfinder Competition, go to www.saac-arts.org or contact the South Arkansas Arts Center at 870-862-5474.