Student Photography Contest
In Memory of Jacob Ari Kamis
THROUGH THEIR LENS:
A JOURNEY OF SELF-EXPLORATION
OPEN TO TAMPA BAY AREA 6TH - 12TH GRADERS
CHECK BACK IN FALL 2026 FOR THE FOURTH ANNUAL CONTEST DETAILS
Jacob Ari Kamis developed his love and passion for photography in middle school. He continued to expand his skills and eye for photography in high school as he documented his travels and love of cars. Jacob’s many interests included dancing, volleyball, baking, traveling, and flying planes. Jacob was a fashionista with a wonderful personality and sense of humor; his smile lit up the room. We honor his memory with this photography contest by engaging the community while uniting to recognize and celebrate Jacob’s passion for photography.
2024 High School 3rd place winning photograph of Jacob Ari Kamis by Viannee Rosa-Arroyo, 12th grade“Everyone Has a Story”
2026 Winners
Best in Show
Emina Wallace, "Grow With Respect"
High School Winners
First Place
Henry Peter, "Hurricane Daze"
Second Place
Michael Labeau, "More Than One Face"
Third Place
Nishant Shah, "One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy"
Honorable Mention
Tucker Williams, "Inner Enlightenment"
Jade Perkins, "Some Sunny Day"
Aubrey Parker, "Facets of Me"
Carson Forer, "Hidden Warmth"
2026 Best in Show winning photograph
Emina Wallace, 10th grade “Grow with Respect”
Middle School Winners
First Place
Declan NeSmith, "The Extravagant Sky is the Limit"
Second Place
Lea Moscovich, "A Quiet Escape From Reality"
Third Place
Brady Rich, "My Place... in This World"
Honorable Mention
Maya Kessler, "Power Outage"
Alexy Abergel, "Paris at its Finest"
Category Winners (middle and high school)
Josie Sanders, "Beauty"
Gavin Wallace, "The Light in Oneself"
Sophie Deson, "American Made"
Olivia Sonberg, "Ballad of the Unheard"
Sofia Brustik, "Depression"
Jacob Carlson, "Sensing Your Ancestors"
Bailey Fitzgerald, "Coastal Calm"
Clara Gillin. "Dreamy"
Kaleigh Breivis, "Upbringing"
Max Konovalov, "Just a Second to Breathe"
Cora Bowen, "Priority Seating"
Samantha Jensen, "Night Flowers"
How to Participate:
Submit 1-3 (no more than 3) high-resolution photos of 300 dpi with a title and a 300 maximum word description for each piece reflecting on one or more of these concepts:
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Photographic Art and Well Being
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Capture moments of Discovery, Growth and Self Reflection
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My Story: Document your personal journey
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How travel and exploration impacts mental well being
Deadline: 2026 Contest Closed
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2024 High School 1st place winning photograph by
Aditya Nair, 11th grade “Midnight Leap”
More details:
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Contest Closed for 2026
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More than $3,000 in prizes will be awarded!
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Open to Tampa Bay area 6th through 12th Graders
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2024 Winners with Katherine Alano & Jeffrey Kamis (Jacob’s Parents)
Photo Credit:
Dave Decker & The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Instructions for Photographs and Criteria for Judging
This is a contest for Middle and High School students and is open to all levels of photography skills.
The judging will NOT depend upon the type of equipment used or formal training. Photos may be in black and white OR color.
Click the button below for details & tips for taking high resolution photos
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Winner's Reception
May 6, 2026
Tampa International Airport
Winner's Exhibit
May 6, 2026 - July 31, 2026
Tampa International Airport
August 4 - September 20, 2026
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA)
1630 E. 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605
Sponsorship Opportunities
Contact Jeffrey Kamis for more information.
Email: jakamis@gmail.com. Phone: 813.784.3642
Donations
Click here to make a donation. Be sure to note that it is for the Jacob Kamis Memorial Fund.
Contest Sponsors
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Dichter Family
Katz Family
Ichilov Family
Murry Family
MIX 100.7
Jeff Leonardo
Tampa Bay Lightning
With/Agency
93.3 FLZ
Allison and Travis Gorrell Family Fund
Jim and Julia Waters
Vostrejs Family
Ansley Family
CMO on the Go
Donnell Creative
Heilig Family
Hillsborough County
Jewish Federation Naples
Morrill Family
MP Media & Promotions
National Endowment for the Arts
Nothing Bundt Cakes
PDQ Chicken
SpeedPro Westchase
Applied Image Group
Bare Naked Kitchen
Bloomin’ Brands
Brian Ford
Capital Sign Solutions
Florida Arts & Culture
Handman Family
Jaffee Family
Proper House Group
Sarah Christy
Tastes Pretty Good
Contest Judges
Robin O'Dell
Robin is the Executive Curator at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, where she acts as both chief curator and co-leader. She is also a contributing writer for The Artisan Magazine, as well as Creative Pinellas’ Arts Coast Magazine. She has an MA in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management through a joint program between Ryerson University in Toronto and the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York. She was formerly the Curator of Photography at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida and has also worked with the Keith Haring Archive in NY, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, the George Eastman Museum, the Tampa Museum of Art and the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art.
Photographer: Jacob Carlson
“Finding Peace in Unexpected Places”
Place: Best in Show
2025 High School Winners
Best in Show
Jacob Carlson, "Finding Peace in Unexpected Places"
1st Place
Caitlin Rust, "Expressing Emotion Through Dance and Photography"
2nd Place
Emina Wallace, "Not a moment but a lifetime"
Dylan Evans, "The Western Stride"
3rd Place
Ethan Pinto, "Hard Days"
Clara Delaunay, "Working Too Hard"
Honorable Mention
Dylan Evans, "Drowning in Remorse"
Sasha Sailstad, "Dusk At The Dock"
Sydney Reeves, "Inner Turmoil"
Tucker Williams, Alaskan Pioneers"
Haydon Little, "Putrid Sanctuary"
Jon Luke Carlson, "No sky is the limit"
Sofia Brustik, "Denial"
Paloma Cangas, "Icy Isolation"
Silvana Abdelshehed, "Right Place, Right Time"
Adira Friedman, "A Strong Leap"
Adira Friedman, "Self Reflections"
Stella Bartlett, "Unspoken Goodbyes"
Ashlin Sullivan, "Only Seeing Numbers"
Ember Sefton, "Circle of Life"
Clara Delaunay, "GUESS?"
Liana Jaber, "Plush On A Branch"
Avery Gatscher, "Sleep Patterns"
Michael Labeau, "Unknown Essence"
Gabriela Jimenez, "Control"
2025 Middle School Winners
1st Place
Madeline Kalbfeld, "Foggy Morning in Roan Mountain"
2nd Place
Noah Fleeman, "The Docks"
3rd Place
Shani Milstein, "Immortal Wings"
Honorable Mention
Bennett Fuller, "Feline Foster"
Adithya Thangaraj, "Penny by Penny"
Photographer: Madeline Kalbfeld
Title: “Foggy Morning in Roan Mountain
Place: Middle School First Place
Photographer: Jacob Carlson
“The Old Memories We Cherish”
Place: Best in Show
2024 High School Winners
Best in Show
Jacob Carlson, 9th grade, “The Old Memories We Cherish”
1st Place
Aditya Nair, 11th grade, “Midnight Leap”
2nd Place
Mylin Campbell, 12th grade, “Battle Buddy”
Percy Maikowski, 12th grade, “Reaching Out”
3rd Place
David Caine, 12th grade, “Rewriting Our Perspective”
Viannee Rosa-Arroyo, 12th grade, “Everyone Has a Story”
Honorable Mention
Avery Burns, 11th grade, “Ripples of Tranquility”
Maxwell Pollack, 12th grade, “Pathways”
Sydney Reeves, 11th grade, “Vibrant Tinges”
Caitlin Rust, 11th grade, “Be YOU”
Ashlin Sullivan, 9th grade, “Torn Pages”
2024 Middle School Winners
1st Place
Lily Sabghir, 8th grade, “Frozen Innocence”
2nd Place
Shani Milstein, 7th grade, “Heaven's Doorposts”
3rd Place
Violet Fuller, 7th grade, “Thanks for the Sunsets”
Honorable Mention
Orel Bina, 7th grade, “A Cat With the Heart of a Lion”
Lily Sabghir, 8th grade, “Mirror Mirror”
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Photographer: Lily Sabghir “Frozen Innocence”
Place: Middle School First Place
