SAINT PETERSBURG PHOTO LAUREATE 2026

Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno

On May 9, 2026, SPMOP announced its fourth Photo Laureate: Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno

Tampa Bay is bursting with photographic talent, and this year’s SPMOP selection process was no easy task. The panel reviewed an incredible range of submissions and ultimately narrowed it down to five exceptional photographers, now featured in a group exhibition at the Morean Arts Center during the Month of Photography.

Among them, Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno's work stood out for its powerful documentary photography, compelling visual storytelling, and deep humanitarian perspective. The Saint Petersburg Month of Photography (SPMOP) is proud to announce Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno as the 2026 Tampa Bay Photo Laureate.

A documentary photographer and filmmaker, Juan Manuel has spent his career documenting stories of humanity, resilience, and social change. Originally from Colombia and now based in St. Petersburg, Florida, he has worked with numerous United Nations agencies, international NGOs including USAID, OXFAM, and WWF, and global news organizations such as Reuters, AFP, AP, and EFE. He was also part of the Miami Herald team nominated for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Dirty Gold and received a 2019 Gabo Award nomination for Frontera Cautiva.

The documentary works of Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno create a space for connection and understanding while constructing powerful narratives about the human condition. Expanding beyond traditional documentary work into video and mixed media, he uses memory and archival imagery to create evolving stories that invite reflection and conversation.

During his year as Tampa Bay Photo Laureate, Juan Manuel will create a new documentary project exploring the people, communities, and changing landscape of the Tampa Bay region. The project will culminate in a solo exhibition at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in 2027.

We are honored to welcome Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno as our 2026 Photo Laureate and look forward to sharing his work with the community.

Yahima Tomayo

Yahima Tamayo creates images that feel intimate and emotionally layered. Through soft light, subtle movement, and a dreamy aesthetic, her work explores themes of femininity and fleeting beauty. She transforms real-life experiences into cinematic narratives, capturing moments between movements and inviting the viewer to look deeper.

Anthony Coletti

Anthony Coletti documents contemporary Florida through a journalistic eye. Using vibrant colors, strong sunlight, and a focus on local identity, he creates narratives that question how Florida is represented and experienced. Blending landscape, portraiture, and regional iconography, his work captures the textures and characters that define everyday life in the state.

John Mishner

John Mishner’s still life photography captures a version of Florida that feels suspended between the past and present. His soft pastel palette, nostalgic symbolism, and carefully composed scenes evoke the glamour of Florida’s 1950s and ’60s golden age, while still remaining firmly rooted in contemporary spaces.

Becca McCoy

Becca McCoy finds meaning in the quiet and often overlooked moments of daily life. Through an intuitive and observational approach, her photographs transform ordinary experiences into images that feel emotionally resonant and enduring.