Last Call for Submissions for Deep Ellum Foundation's 'Live Music Lens'

Calling all photographers, artists or fans, you might get the chance to reshape the city in your own image.

This fall, the Deep Ellum Foundation will install over 200 streetlight pole banners, each with a new photo taken from a concert in Deep Ellum, no matter the artist, genre or composition. The project, titled “Live Music Lens,” is sourcing the photos from the public. From now through Monday, Aug. 25, you can submit your Deep Ellum concert photos to the Deep Ellum Foundation.

“We want your best captures of live music in Deep Ellum — raw, real, unforgettable moments on stage. More than 200 streetlights already showcase local art. Now it’s time for photographers to take the spotlight!” Deep Ellum's Instagram caption said. “This campaign honors the musicians who create unforgettable moments in Deep Ellum, and the photographers who preserve them.”

The project is similar to the "Deep Ellum People" photo series, which hung streetlight pole banner portraits of some of the most recognizable faces in the neighborhood.

There are a few rules. Firstly, photos must be high resolution, and will be printed with the dimensions of 24” x 49.” You are allowed to add a small signature on the photo if you’d like, and the Deep Ellum Foundation could impose “Deep Ellum” or “est. 1873” somewhere on the photo.

No additional logos, ads or language can be included and could be requested to be removed. The photos selected will be printed and run for at least three months in the neighborhood and could be used in perpetuity in other projects. Photographers must be 19 years or older to submit, and the musicians featured in the photo must approve of being printed.

It pays too. The DEF is offering $150 per photo. All photos will debut at the upcoming Deep Ellum Block Party on Nov. 22. The submission deadline is this Monday, Aug. 25, at 11:59 p.m. Submissions can be done online, with questions to be deferred to [email protected].

In the meantime, $150 doesn’t sound too bad to us. Might we offer some Dallas Observer-branded photo suggestions? Here are a few of our favorite shots from two favorite photographers at DO, Mike Brooks and Andrew Sherman.