We invite photographers and photographic artists to submit work for ‘Truth Decay’. An exhibition that interrogates the erosion of truth in contemporary society.

The media environment we live in is driven by algorithmic bias and the commodification of attention. News outlets prioritise spectacle and outrage over verification, while our once dependable form of evidence, photography, has become yet another tool of misinformation.

With the democratisation of AI tools, the ever-increasing demand for clicks, and the weaponisation of emotion, does photography still hold the capacity to disclose truth? Can the photographic image still communicate critical insight?

 

 

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Truth Decay

PhotoBath Exhibition 2026

We invite photographers and photographic artists to submit work for Truth Decay, an exhibition that interrogates the erosion of truth in contemporary society.

Truth Decay will be exhibited at 44AD Gallery, Bath, from 29 September – 4 October 2026.

 

Overview

The contemporary media environment is shaped by algorithmic bias and the commodification of attention. News cycles prioritise spectacle and outrage over verification, while photography — once considered a dependable form of evidence — has become an increasingly powerful tool of misinformation.

With the democratisation of AI tools, the relentless demand for clicks, and the weaponisation of emotion, we ask:

Does photography still hold the capacity to disclose truth?
Can the photographic image still communicate critical insight?

We seek submissions that offer provocative, poetic, and critical interpretations of how truth is seen, staged, manipulated, obscured, and rediscovered in today’s world.

 

Themes of Interest

Submissions may engage with (but are not limited to) the following themes:

• Media, power, and propaganda
• Tribalism, community, and ideology as identity
• Perception, deception, and belief
• Digital alteration and authenticity
• Surveillance, censorship, and visibility
• Personal versus collective truths
• Memory, myth, and the reliability of images

 

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Eligibility

Open to emerging and established photographers worldwide. All genres and approaches are welcome, including (but not limited to):

• Documentary
• Fine art
• Conceptual and staged work
• Experimental practices
• Photography combined with sound, text, or poetry

The project will include a physical exhibition in central Bath and may also be accompanied by an online exhibition and a printed zine.

 

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Media & Format

We accept photography and photography-based visual media. This may include:

• Single images
• Triptychs
• Short series or visual narratives
• Selected video or sound-based work (where photography remains central)

Submission guidelines:

• Single image: up to 3 images
• Triptych: 3 images
• Story/series: up to 8 images

 

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Costs

It costs nothing to submit to the exhibition. Final production costs will be confirmed once submissions close and the exhibition has been blindly curated by an independent panel of photography professionals.

We currently estimate participant (chosen for the exhibition) costs to be in the region of £60–£100 (per person), which will contribute to large-format prints and general exhibition expenses.

In cases of financial difficulty (including students, OAPs, or other circumstances), fees may be reduced or waived at the discretion of the PhotoBath team. Please feel free to contact us to discuss available options.

 

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Curation

As with previous PhotoBath exhibitions, three experienced external curators will be appointed to blindly curate the exhibition from all final submissions.

 

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Submissions: How to Apply

We offer two submission routes:

1. Work in Progress

For projects or images that align with the theme but are not yet final selections.

• Email submissions to: exhibitions@photobath.co.uk
• Subject line or message text must include: WORK IN PROGRESS

2. Final Submissions

For completed work intended for curatorial selection.

• Email submissions to: exhibitions@photobath.co.uk
• Subject line or message text must include: FINAL SUBMISSION

 

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Submission Requirements

• Images should be submitted at approximately 1920 × 1080 pixels for both Work in Progress and Final Submissions (for curation purposes only).
• Please include:
  • Image title(s)
  • Photographer’s name
  • A short paragraph (optional but encouraged) describing the work

The deadline for Final Submissions is:
30 May 2026

 

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Further Information

We currently host a Work in Progress page on our website showcasing ideas and submissions received so far. We encourage applicants to explore the developing conversation around the exhibition.

For all enquiries, please contact:
exhibitions@photobath.co.uk

 

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This triptych centres on Deborah, a homeless woman I came to know through regular conversations and photographs on the streets of Bath. She was an unforgettable character—spirited, witty, and always eager to strike a pose, insisting on presenting herself as though she were on a fashion shoot rather than living rough.

Across these three images, themes of homelessness, mental health, gender expression, and personal identity converge. In Deborah, the tension between appearance and reality—between how we see people and how they wish to be seen—becomes sharply visible. These contradictions mirror the wider notion of truth decay: the erosion of nuance and complexity in how society interprets human lives.

My strongest connection is to the shot of her curled in a doorway—legs bruised, skin marked, dirt embedded from another night outside—yet completely focused on her makeup. It wasn’t vanity. It was survival. A moment of control in a life that offered none. These photographs are not tidy, and neither was she.

– Daz Smith