Creative: RAW PHOTO FEST 2026

You know I love me some RAW Society. They don’t just talk, they do. I can’t even remember the first time I spoke with Christelle and Jorge, the dynamic duo behind this organization. (There are three others behind the scenes, too. Mei, Micah, and Kayla.) It might have been a Blurb-related call, or it might have been a photography-related call. No matter. It was instant, “I like these people.” They work, they teach, they host, and they build. Their online community portal is one of the best I’ve seen, and their workshops are top-notch. In addition, they are both good photographers. I had the pleasure of seeing one of their exhibition catalogs as it was being designed, and I remember the distinct feeling of “Damnit, wish I had shot those pictures.” Jealousy is a sure sign you have made it as a photographer.

Anyone who tries to pull off a festival in this day and age is certifiable, but thankfully, these people fit the bill. As some of you may know, I co-taught a workshop with RAW in Menorca in 2024. Believe me, you want to go there. I know some of you will hold out for that trip to Gary, Indiana, or Bakersfield, California, but trust me, those places can wait. They are awesome, no doubt, but Menorca is better. Also, have a look at the lineup. You have legendary photographers, exhibitions, a book fair, talks, and even a magic show, which makes perfect sense, at least to me, because I’ve been making magic my entire life! Boom, take that high school guidance counselor. (True story: I never once met with a guidance counselor during my high school years. Some of you might be thinking this explains a lot.)(Martin Parr, yes, I know.)

As I mentioned before, this is the event’s first year, so it’s a bit of a wildcard. Even more reason to go, and it looks to be a real festival. I need to say this because I’ve encountered more than a few photographers who have attended something like this, thinking it’s a tradeshow. It’s not. Very different experience. This is about photography, not widgets and gear. I’ve also seen some of the venues, which are hard to fathom until you are looking at them. Dig around on the site to find more detail.

They also have an open call for work, which you can see in the screengrab above. For those of you who fancy yourself a photographer, well, no better time than now to throw your hat in the ring. I’ve submitted to two festivals over the years. Well, one festival and one enormous party in a field attended by about a hundred of the best photographers around, and my work was shown both times. Did I mention I make magic? (The field party was the night William Albert Allard looked at me from the darkness and said, “Boy, you can sure put space together.”)

If all goes as planned, I will be in Menorca for the event. This makes me very, very happy. Festivals like this are a chance to see things, yes, but they also present us with challenges and moments of reflection. You might find yourself questioning your life. You might discover you aren’t the photographer you thought you were, only to find a new path into photographic glory. Personally, I’ve had career-shifting moments at events like this. I’ve had gallerists edit my work in ways I never imagined. I’ve had art directors offer me work I wasn’t even looking for, and I’ve seen photographs that stained my memory still to this day.