WHO

The event is open to EVERYONE! ASMP, NANPA and OPPA members, non-members, professionals, students and aspiring photographers welcome.

COST

$89 - ASMP/NANPA/OPPA Members
$119 - Non-Members
$39 - Students

Non-Contestant
$10 - Live Judging Only

Registration Includes:

• Contest entry

• Beer, wine and outdoor cookout!

• Discounted gear rental

• Live judging

• Prizes for each category and craft awards

WHAT

100 Photographers

100  Randomly assigned locations

5  Wild Card Squares

24  Hours of shooting time

6  Categories

4  Craft Categories

3  Judges

WHEN

May 15th-16th, 2026

WHERE

POLARA STUDIO

1309 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

Categories 

• PORTRAIT:
A photograph of a person in a real environment.
(What we mean: Think of this as non-fiction. These are portraits of actual people in their own life. For example, if you find a butcher shop and take a portrait of the butcher, the picture belongs here. If you photograph that butcher on a river bank and put a fishing pole in his hand posed as an awesome looking fisherman, it belongs in Crafted Image.)

• CRAFTED IMAGE: 
A conceptualized, produced photograph of a created scene or tableaux.
(What we mean: In this scenario you might be bringing models, lighting, props, or other elements into a location to create a fictional story. )

• DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY: 
A photograph that truthfully portrays people, places or things. 
(What we mean: This is about documenting and telling stories visually as an observer. This includes traditional street photography, photojournalism, news gathering, editorial and taking pictures at events. See NPPA rules.)

• URBAN LANDSCAPE:
A photograph of or relating to the man-made environment.
(What we mean: Photographing the built environment where the predominant elements and subject are man-made. If you take an amazing picture of a bridge or a building it belongs here. If you are taking a picture of a rally that also has a bridge or building in the background it belongs in DOCUMENTARY.)

• NATURAL WORLD: 
A photograph of or relating to the natural environment.
(What we mean: Photographing subjects in the natural environment where the predominant elements and subject are naturally occurring. Trees, flowers, bees, and birds go here. If the bird is made of felt and is on a cowboy hat, that belongs in PORTLANDIA.)

• PORTLANDIA: 
Keep Portland Weird - A photograph that shows the uniqueness of Portland.
(What we mean: Portland is a wonderful and unique place. The elements that make our city different are hard to define, but you know it when you see it. We are weird, but weird with purpose. We are weird with story. We are weird with meaning. This category is a place to celebrate our story of diversity and strangeness.)

The Craft Awards

The Craft Awards were created to reward excellence in photographic craft and technique. These awards are about the use of a specific photographic tool or principle to create a successful image. You can't submit images for these awards, the judges nominate them during live judging. Winners will be announced during the 2nd intermission.

BEST USE OF...
• Light  
• Composition
• Black & White  
• In-Camera Time & Motion (Blur or Stop-action)  

We’re not going to forget about our amazing help, we want to encourage them to step out and take some pictures too!
• Volunteers Awards  

On Assignment: Portland Squared 2026

On May 15th, 100 photographers will be turned loose in the City of Portland. With Portland Squared, you can capture documentary photography or you can create something yourself. We have 6 Category Awards and 4 Craft Awards. We created The Craft Awards to reward excellence in photographic craft and technique. These Awards are about the use of a specific photographic tool or principle to create a successful image.

1. We want you to think of the Categories and Craft Awards as loose assignments. You don’t have to shoot to these, but they may give you more focus. You can, of course, go out and shoot whatever you find and come back to edit and decide where the images fit best. We have found that shooting for a Category gives you direction and may lead to better photographs.

2. Images may only be entered into a single Category.

3. All images are judged anonymously.

4. Images will be judged on their overall impact, and on the basic elements of merit, including - Emotion, Creativity, Composition & Design, Color Balance, Center of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, and Story-Telling.

5. Images for the Craft Awards will be selected by the Judges.

Live Judging

An exciting benefit for Portland Squared participants is the opportunity to listen and watch the judging in action.  Judges will be candidly reviewing and selecting images with comments on favorable and less than optimal characteristics and quality of the submitted images.  The emphasis will be on picking the best images in each category with the added educational value of constructive criticism from which everyone can benefit.  For all of us, becoming the best photographer that we can be inevitably is a work in progress, so don't miss this outstanding opportunity to learn from your own images and those of others as seen through the eyes of our outstanding panel of judges.  

The Map

This year each participant will be assigned one of 100 squares. For 2026 we have five wild card squares open to all photographers.

What To Bring

• A camera (or rent one on Friday from Pro Photo Supply at a discount).

•  A laptop with your favorite editing software. Or email asmp.events@gmail.com to make alternate arrangements.

• A water bottle. Filtered water will be available for refills.

• A sense of adventure.

FAQ's

You've got questions, we've got answers. Head over to the FAQ page and get all your ????? answered.