Discover what the month of photography has to offer in MAY

April 29 - June 14, FMoPA

Opening: May 2, 5 - 7 pm

Beneath Tampa Bay’s polished, tourist-facing identity lies a vibrant underground shaped by decades of music, creativity, and subculture. Long considered a global hub for death metal, the region has fostered a network of communities (goths, punks, ravers, and others) who have built a city within a city grounded in self-expression and belonging.

With ALT TAMPA, 2025 Photo Laureate Jesi Cason captures this largely unseen world through bold, expressive portraits. Her work honors individuals who embody an alternative history of the region while confronting the growing pressures of development that threaten these spaces.

Vivid, expressive, and deeply personal, Cason’s images celebrate the courage to live authentically and to define identity on one’s own terms.

On view from April 29 - June 14

Opening May 2, 5 - 7 pm

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

Visit Website for more information

Photo Credit: Jesi Cason

Sponsored by OPAL FINE ART PRINTING

May 9 - 30, Morean Arts Center

For the fourth time, the Saint Petersburg Month of Photography has selected five outstanding nominees for the 2026 Photo Laureate, each representing a distinct voice within the region’s photographic community.

The 2026 Photo Laureate will be announced at the Morean Arts Center on May 9 at 7 PM. 

Join us for an evening celebrating photography, creativity, and the artists shaping the visual identity of our city.

Here are the nominated photographers:

Becca McCoy

Jon Mishner

Yahyma Tamayo

Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno

Anthony Coletti

Sponsored by ZEBRA PHOTO LAB

Until May 11, FloridaRAMA

FloridaRAMA and Saint Petersburg Month of Photography invite photographers of all ages and experience levels to take part in a free photo competition. 

Participants will have the chance to win a year-long membership and have their work featured inside FloridaRAMA.

To enter, sign up on this form, go to Floridarama and get free entrance!

Post your FloridaRAMA picture(s) on Facebook or Instagram using #RAMAxSPMOP, tag @FloridaRAMA.art and @SPMOP and choose FloridaRAMA as the location. Hashtag, tags and location are required for entry.

The contest runs until May 11th, and the winner will be announced live on Instagram on May 15th at 4 PM.
Spots are limited!

For questions email us at info@spmop.org or Jessica@floridarama.art
.

April 20 - May 31, Crislip Cafe

This year's Instant Photo Show will once again be at the Crislip Café / The Merchant St. Pete and will run throughout the month of May to coincide with the St. Pete Month of Photography festival.

Additionally, our Opening will coincide with World Collage Day on Saturday, May 9, so any collaged Polaroid entries will be appreciated, but not mandatory.  

RECEPTION & WORLD COLLAGE DAY MEET-UP: 

SATURDAY MAY 9TH, 5-8PM

Congrats to 2026 Poster artist @newafricancompany Alejandra Spruill

Sponsored by @SunshineDarkroom 

May 9 - Sept 7, James Museum

Created by the National Geographic Society and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, this exhibition will present stunning photography and videos of wild wolves living in two very different environments: the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the American West and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic.

Visit Website for more information

 Photograph by Ronan Donovan, National Geographic 

May 17, 10 am, Florida Botanical Gardens

Join us for a two hour photo walk at Florida Botanical Gardens led by Derrick Buckner. Come walk the gardens and get beautiful pictures of the flora and fauna on May 17th at 10am. 

Bring your macro or close focusing lens if you want to get close and capture details, especially of small insects and fungi! Make sure to bring plenty of water, comfortable shoes and sunblock! 

We will meet at the main parking lot off of Ulmerton Rd right before the trail starts, see map for location. 

The walk will begin promptly at 10am. 

Sign Up Here

More information:

info@dbucknerphotography.com

Photo Credit: Derrick Buckner

April 21, Disney Parks

Photographer Nick Ribera, with his Annual Pass in hand, loves photographing the Disney Parks. Join him and his wife Leslie on April 21st as they enjoy the park, snacks, and photograph the beauty of Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival. 

There's no lecture or assignments, just looking for some photo buddies to help capture the light.

If you're interested, send Nick a text at 305-926-3616 and we can coordinate a meeting spot and time.

May 1 - 29, Museum of Motherhood

This project was born from a need to make the unseen visible. To witness what medication abortion actually looks like in real bodies, real spaces.

These images offer a more honest, human understanding of abortion.

Gallery talk with the artist on Saturday, May 23th at 6.00pm

May 6, 7 - 9 PM, Studio@620

Come be part of our amazing poetry community! Sign up to read a poem when you arrive. Not a writer? That is ok! Folks who just love to listen to poetry are highly encouraged to attend! Enjoy as part of the audience, discover our diverse local literary talent.

Hosted by Sara Ries Dziekonski!

Photography meets poetry a fourth time for this popular event co-organized by Keep St.Pete Lit's Open Mic and SPMOP. Poetry and photography lovers are invited to create and share their own poems inspired by a photo. The late SPMOP’s photo laureate and extensively awarded poet Thomas Sayers Ellis will receive a special tribute as we celebrate his vast legacy.

More information here

May 12, 5 - 7 pm, Sunken Gardens

Learn beginner-friendly tips for taking memorable photos of flora, fauna, and landscapes at beautiful Sunken Gardens.

 After a brief presentation indoors focused on composition and basic camera functions, enjoy a guided walk through our tropical paradise after we’ve closed to the public. Practice using your camera of choice to capture our gorgeous birds and picturesque spots along the way. Led by hobby nature photographers on staff eager to share their tricks and tips.

Limited space—pre-registration required. Call 727-892-5708 to register with payment.

Cost: $8/members, $10/not-yet-members (in addition to standard admission). 

*Refunds will not be provided for no-shows.

* Participants must bring their own camera/smartphone. The Gardens will remain open for program attendees to enjoy until the program beings.

May 27, 7 - 9 PM, OXH Gallery

In collaboration with the Saint Petersburg Month of Photography, OXH Gallery invites local artists, photographers, and enthusiasts to an engaging Night of the Photo Book.

Bring a favorite photobook to share, dive into conversations around editing, sequencing, and production, and connect with others over the enduring significance of the photobook as an artistic medium. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or simply curious, join us for an evening of dialogue, inspiration, and exchange.

Sign up here, space is limited.

Guest speakers:

Odetta Xheka (Moderator)

Marieke van der Krabben

Emma Heald

Photo Credit: Emma Georgina Studio

May 31, 1 - 3 pm, FMOPA

SPMOP’s 2025 Photo Laureate Jesi Cason talks about her work documenting the vibrant underground world of Tampa shaped by decades of music, creativity, and subculture. Long considered a global hub for death metal, the region has fostered a network of communities (goths, punks, ravers, and others) who have built a city within a city grounded in self-expression and belonging. Sign up Here