Los Alamos Photographers' Show Marks 30th Year at Mesa Public Library

The Los Alamos Photo Club opened its 30th annual photographers' show today at the Step Up Gallery inside Mesa Public Library, with this year's exhibit including a special tribute to Harold "Hal" Davis, a longtime club member who died in July 2025.

The show runs through May 6 at 2400 Central Ave., displaying photographs by club members and regional photographers from across the greater Los Alamos area in the library's upper-level gallery. The exhibit is non-juried: photographers self-select their best work completed in the past year, and participation is open to anyone who lives or works in Los Alamos and the surrounding area, regardless of LAPC membership.

Davis, born June 30, 1941, died July 18, 2025. Beyond his years with the photo club, he volunteered at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park and the Los Alamos History Museum, and served on the board of the Los Alamos Concert Association for many years. His family raised their children in the mountains of northern New Mexico, and he was widely known for his love of hiking, camping, and skiing. The tribute display draws from his photographic work, giving this year's exhibit a retrospective dimension within a show otherwise devoted to new work.

The 30th edition marks a milestone for a tradition that dates to approximately 1997, when the first annual show was held. Photographers are encouraged to accompany their prints with a bio and artist statement, giving visitors interpretive context for each image. Subjects typically span landscapes of the Jemez Mountains and Pajarito Plateau, portraits, abstract work, and photography engaging Los Alamos history and culture.

Step Up Gallery is managed by the Los Alamos Arts Council under a contracted arrangement, with Diane Stoffel serving as curator since 2019. The gallery operates within Mesa Public Library, an institution with its own deep local roots: founded in 1943, one year after Los Alamos was selected as the Manhattan Project site, it was launched by 70 couples who each donated $5.00 toward an initial book collection.

The show is free and open to all ages. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Last year's show included an opening reception and a mid-run guided tour with photographers; specific event dates for 2026 can be confirmed through the library and Step Up Gallery webpages.