Surface Tone - Open Call
We are calling for submissions from analogue photographers and artists working with silver gelatin materials to be part of our curated group show Surface Tone, happening over a weekend in Sydney in March 2026 at The Corner Gallery in Stanmore.
We are looking for a variety of images that foreground analogue and darkroom workflows, materials, and processes. We will be prioritising prints that show experimentation and testing in the darkroom or at other stages of processing. The show will be a collection of these “working” prints from different practitioners, so we encourage digging back through your archives and finding prints that may have felt like tests, failures, or accidents at the time of making.
The call out is open to both lens-based and camera-less works. We want to highlight works where the photographic surface is a site of experimentation and play.
Key Dates:
Call out open: 26th November 2025- 4th January 2026
Selected artists notified: 9th January 2026
Selected work to arrive to us (via drop off or post) by: 13th February 2026
Gallery open: 7th & 8th March 2026 (opening event on 7th)
Work to be returned to artists (via collection or post): week of 9th March 2026
submission questions:
Does the print need to be a silver gelatin/darkroom print?
Yes - for this show we are asking for wet prints and silver gelatin to be submitted, not digital reproductions of film scans, etc.
Can I submit more than one image?
Yes! You can submit multiple times using the google form. We may select multiple images from one artist, or we may only choose one work. Due to our plans for curating the show, we are prioritising single images rather than a series of works. If more than one of your images is selected, it is unlikely they will be hung together in the show.
Is this for black and white images only, or can I submit a colour darkroom print?
Colour darkroom prints are welcome too!
Is there a fee to submit?
Nope - it’s free to submit.
Can I submit framed work, or prints only?
We are happy to accept submissions for both framed and unframed works. Please note, the delivery and return of the works will be at cost to the artist - so keep this in mind if that is a factor.
How will you hang my work?
Unframed prints will be installed with magnets and will not be pinned through. Framed prints will be hung using the gallery’s wire hanging system.
Will work be for sale?
TDS won’t be selling work directly for this show. There will be an online catalogue for the show with contact details for each artist, and people interested in buying work will be encouraged to reach out directly to the artist. Any sales will be managed directly between the artist and the buyer.
I work in alternative photographic processes, can I submit one of my images?
We would love to showcase some alternative photo work in this show! As long as your work foregrounds analogue processes and silver gelatin or other silver-based image-making materials, you can submit to this call out. If you are still not sure, please feel free to contact us directly to discuss.
I don’t live near Sydney (either interstate or overseas) - can I still submit?
Yes absolutely, we welcome submissions from interstate and overseas artists. Once the artists have been selected and notified for the show, it will be your responsibility to post your work to us. This postage (and return postage of the work) is to be organised and paid for by the artist.
Will there be an opening, and how long will the show be up for?
The gallery will be open to the public for viewing on 7th & 8th March, with an opening event on the 7th.