We are happy to announce that the West Chapter of the Society for Photographic Education (SPE) has a new leadership team. The team consists of Yvette Marthell (Chair), Joaquín Palting (Vice Chair), Lisette Bourne (Treasurer), and Kayla Hargrove (Social Media Manager). Together, we look forward to fostering SPE’s mission of promoting the practice, teaching, scholarship, and critical analysis of photography through interdisciplinary programs, publications, and community.
In the coming months, we are excited to bring you engaging social and educational programming, including our West Chapter regional conference, to be held November 5th-8th, 2026, and hosted by Sacramento State University. That’s right! We just announced our regional conference, and we will soon be seeking proposals for participation and presentations. If you have a new project or paper that you think would be suitable, be prepared to send it our way.
The theme of this year’s conference is:
Shared (Un)realities: Photography, Truth, and Meaning in 2026.
Photography has long claimed proximity to truth. Today, that claim is unstable.
Generative AI produces plausible fictions. Political discourse normalizes visible falsehoods. Social media platforms distribute images through opaque algorithmic systems. Audiences increasingly inhabit distinct visual and informational environments, with diminishing shared reference points.
Formats may include:
* 20–40-minute presentations
* 60–90 minute panels (3–4 presenters)
* Roundtable discussions
Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged.
Proposal Guidelines
Individual Presentations:
* Title
* Abstract (300–500 words)
* 5–8 images
* Brief bio (150 words max)
* Headshot
Panels:
* Panel title
* 500-word overview
* Individual abstracts (250 words each)
* Bios for all participants
Eligibility
Proposals are open to both SPE members and non-members. All accepted presenters must be current SPE members in order to present at the conference.
Submissions will be evaluated on conceptual rigor, clarity of argument, and relevance to the conference theme.
Review Process
All proposals are reviewed by the SPE West conference committee.
If you haven’t been to an SPE regional or national conference as of late, you are missing out on great opportunities to engage with colleagues, stay abreast of current pedagogy, expand your photographic knowledge and practice, and view new photographic projects and research.
To find out more information about becoming an SPE rmember or attending an SPE conference or event please visit www.spenational.org We look forward to seeing you at an SPE West Chapter event soon! Keep an eye out for updates…
Sincerely,
Joaquín, Yvette, Lisette, and Kayla
Leave a Reply