About the Fellowship
PowerLines is seeking an experienced documentary photographer for its 2026 Photography Fellowship, a three-month program dedicated to humanizing the impact of rising utility bills on everyday consumers and communities across the United States.
The Visual Fellow will develop and execute an original visual project with the potential to become a public-facing book, exhibition, or story platform — and will contribute to a lasting image library that supports PowerLines' work. The project proposal should consider how communities and individuals are confronting utility costs, addressing electricity access, and the economic realities and limitations related to energy use when writing their project proposal.
This is a paid fellowship offering a stipend of $30,000 total over the 3 month period. Fellows retain joint ownership of all images produced and are permitted to accept external, non-conflicting assignments during the fellowship period.
What You'll Do
As Visual Fellow, you will develop and execute an original photographic project — proposed by you and conducted in collaboration with PowerLines — that documents the human experience of rising utility costs in a creative, humanizing, compelling, and accessible way. In addition to your primary project, you will contribute to a scalable image library for use in PowerLines' media and communications efforts.
Who We're Looking For
The ideal candidate brings at least three years of professional photography experience and a strong documentary or photojournalism background. You have a proven track record of working on economic and human issues with sensitivity and depth, and you approach storytelling with both rigor and creativity. You are comfortable working independently in the field, managing your own timeline and travel, and collaborating with a mission-driven organization.
How to Apply
Submit the following materials as part of your application:
- A portfolio of 20 images
- A professional bio
- A written project proposal of 1,000 words or less describing your proposed project, its relevance to economic hardship and/or rising energy costs, and your vision for the final deliverable
- A story development timeline, including a proposed budget and travel schedule
Applications will be reviewed by a jury. Finalists will be invited to a short video interview with PowerLines staff in April. All candidates will be notified of their status in late April.
