f8 & be there.
a celebration of photography.
24th- 26th April 2026
A Day of Photography
f8 & be there is an educational celebration of photography—bringing together film, digital, and phone photographers to connect, collaborate, and create.
Spend the day shooting, learning, observing, and exchanging ideas while building inspiration and strengthening your portfolio. The event features unique shooting opportunities, guest speakers, darkroom demonstrations, and a dedicated celebration of Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day.
With equipment and camera giveaways, plus experiences designed for all levels, this event welcomes everyone—from curious beginners to seasoned professionals. No matter your gear or skill level, there’s something here for you.
Friday—Sunday
24th-26th April 2026
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Historic Downtown Panama City
The Light Room
What to expect
Gallery
An exclusive gallery presentation of music photography, showcasing local bands and musicians through the lens of local photographers. This eclectic collection captures not only the energy and personality of the artists, but also the unique perspective of each photographer.
Curated by Hailey Moody
Learn & Shoot
f8 is free to attend.
Alongside the gallery exhibition, the event will feature educational workshops and walkabouts focused on the unique exposure and lighting challenges of photographing artists on stage.
Enjoy unique shooting opportunities, guest speakers, darkroom demonstrations, and camera giveaways throughout the day. Participate in hands-on workshops, group discussions, and a special celebration of Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned professional, there’s something here for everyone.
Collaborate. Learn. Create.
Schedule
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Gallery Open: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Night Walkabouts: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Music Venue Night Walkabout: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Gallery Show “I’m with the band” Opening: 1:00 PM
Demos & Talks: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Walkabouts: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Macro Workshop: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Darkroom Demo: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Band Photography 101: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Music: Starts at 7:00 PM
See details & full schedule
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Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day
Gallery Open: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Pinhole Camera Demonstration: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Music: Starts at 7:00 PM
Hosted by The Lightroom
The Light Room is our host for the event, located at 306 Harrison Ave. In beautiful historic downtown Panama City Florida.
The Light Room is dedicated to the art of photography! We offer a gallery, studio rental space, photography classes for all levels of learners, and a darkroom for you to enjoy.
Photo taken by Arthur Waldrop
Thank you one and all!
f8 and be there - is here because of a collaboration with our friends and cohosts at Historic Downtown Panama City Improvement Board, Public Eye Soar, & The Light Room.
This event is made possible by a dedicated collaboration of photography enthusiasts, and volunteers … many, many volunteers and helpers, in no particular order 😀 Hailey, Sarah, Jasper, Kasey, Emily, Misty, Madison, Kristen, Chris, Mark, Margaret, JD, Cindy, Bonnie, Sharon, Teri, Darrel, Leta, Lou, Brittany, Kaysea, Sierra, Lauren, Katherine, Jayson
And, special thanks to Steb - @steb.productions – Steb took on the task of getting the musical lineup and the production work to get them on our studio stage. This is what Steb said about f8, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
“ It’s about time we celebrated our photographers! And what better way to do so than to give them an unhinged hardcore gig filled with photographable moments in an unlikely venue. At f8 photography weekend, they’ll be showcasing photos, fliers, etc of live music in our city from all eras. Turn your swag on, pull up, take a gander, hit the pit & give em something to shoot! “
With humble gratitude, from the f8 crew -
Frank, Hailey, Jasper, Sarah, & Bonnie