Creative: RAW PHOTO FESTIVAL

Any reason to return to Menorca is a good reason. Yes, I said “Menorca,” not “Mallorca,” thank you very much, Americans who don’t know their geography. How many times have I had to correct my fellow Americanos in the dark about the far reaches? Albania is NOT in Russia. Borneo is a real place. Yes, these are the things I’ve had to explain. The ember of hope grows dim. Luckily, we have Raw Society to pull us from the darkness with their first-ever RAW PHOTO FESTIVAL.

Many of the best photography events are gone.

The great slide began in 2008 with the economic collapse. Thank you, greed, credit default swaps, and high frequency trading. Then along came COVID, and anything on shaky ground found itself turning to dust. Here in the US, most of the best photography gatherings came to an unfortunate end: Palm Springs, Look3, Photo Plus, and more. So, what I’m saying is there is a need. A need to gather, talk, share, and learn, and in a way that shows we’ve advanced.

Many of you are already familiar with Raw Society, which Christelle Enquist and Jorge Delgado-Ureña founded in 2016. There are others involved. Mei, Micah, and Kayla. They built a real community. This is far from easy and takes fortitude to maintain. Their online portal is one of the best I’ve seen. If you are serious about photography and haven’t yet become a member, I advise you to do so. Here are a few words about the festival.

Raw Photo Fest is not just another photography festival. It’s a revolution in how we experience images, and it happens to take place in paradise.

For the first time, the island of Menorca, Spain, will transform into a living stage where photography breaks free of white walls and floods into streets, convents, cafés, private homes, and open landscapes. Every space becomes an experience. Every image, a story that moves, awakens, and connects.

From May 7–10, 2026, the town of Alaior will host an international gathering of photographers, artists, and image lovers for four days of pure creative energy.  

And because at The Raw Society we like to dream big, Raw Photo Fest intends to be the new meeting point for documentary, street, and travel photography worldwide: a space to share, to learn, to be inspired, and to feel part of something bigger.

This isn’t just about seeing photography.

It’s about living it.

What’s the best part of this entire thing? I will be attending. Yes, please alert the Spanish media. The YouTube darling will make an appearance. I kid, but I will be attending, and frankly, I’m trying NOT to think about it, because I know how cool it’s going to be. Menorca is one of those places that makes you curse your parents for choosing to birth you in the United States instead of Menorca. What were they thinking? My parents were borderline hillbillies, so they did have a good excuse. They might have thought Spain was in Australia. We will never know. If you are anywhere in the region, or any other region for that matter, this is worth the plane ticket. Come get a taste of modern photography, and come say hello. You can’t miss me. I’ll be in the mesh, high-rise Speedo, sandals, and black socks.

On a serious note. Pulling off an event like this is at least a year of full-time planning, fundraising, and all-out tenacity. I’ve spoken to other festival directors about the severity of the lift, and it’s no joke. That’s why I’m so excited to attend this event. Photography is a strange thing. It’s consumed most of my life. It attracts interesting, driven people. It influences culture, society, and policy, and it’s worth taking time to appreciate in a truly beautiful location.