The varied and numerous images on display in the Tacoma Art Museum’s latest photography exhibit have practically nothing in common — they encompass portraits, landscapes and some more abstract subjects. They were, however all created by photographers still in high school, including Laurel Heater of Bainbridge High School.

Heater’s photo of a gentleman holding a large, glowing-white goose is included in the “portrait” section of the exhibit, on display now through Sept. 28.

The 2014 Washington  State High School Photography Competition received over 4,100 entries, submitted by 1,524 students from 70 Washington schools. Finalists from each of the 12 competition categories are included in the exhibition, featuring 36 photographs in both black and white and in color.

“It is such an exciting opportunity for students to have their work shown in an art museum exhibition. We hope the experience will inspire these young artists toward further creativity and provide them deeper exposure to careers in the arts,” said Samantha Kelly, TAM’s Director of Education. “Publicly supporting the work of Washington students and their teachers through community exhibitions like this is another way Tacoma Art Museum connects people through art.”

The annual High School Photography Competition was initiated in the 1980s by a group of high school photography teachers as a mechanism for celebrating student work.

By the 1990s, the event had grown enough to attract sponsorship, media coverage, and increased public interest. Now, the competition elicits broad student participation and garners attention from the state’s top elected officials who present the winners at a prestigious awards ceremony. Professional photographers and others from the community volunteer time to review and judge the entries.

For more information about the exhibit, visit www.TacomaArtMuseum.org or call 253-272-4258, ext. 3011.