LEWISTON — Lyceum Gallery is hosting a fine art photography competition and exhibit, “Through the Lens 2012,” open to all Maine photographers — professional, amateur and student.

 There are four categories: 

* Black and white.

* Color, including normal adjustments to color, contrast and minor cloning.

* Computer composed — digital or traditional scanned images manipulated or collaged in a photo-editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop; artistic or painterly images created using a photo-editing program; the addition of original art drawn or created from scratch in a photo-editing program.

* Student, high school and younger.

Photographers may enter one or more categories, with a maximum of four photo entries in total. A photo may be entered in only one category.

 Jose Leiva, award-winning photojournalist for the Lewiston Sun Journal and freelance commercial photographer, will judge the competition. Winners will receive cash wards.

“The advent of digital cameras has encouraged many more people to experiment with photography,” said Tamera Grieshaber, curator of Lyceum Gallery, 49 Lisbon St.

“It is much easier to shoot multiple images and examine them without having to wait for prints to be developed. Skills begin to build more rapidly than 20 years ago,” she said. “Competitions, such as ‘Through the Lens,’ are another step for photographers to improve their skills.”

Deadline for submission is midnight Sunday, March 25. Entry cost: $10 per photo, $35 for four photos. Student submissions: $5 per photo or four for $15. All pieces submitted must be available for sale.

All artwork must be submitted digitally, either on CD, DVD or by email. For specific guidelines and submission forms, visit www.lyceumgallery.com/Lyceum_Gallery/Call_to_Artists.html.  Questions may be sent to [email protected].