Seventy award-winning photographs will be displayed tonight at the Washington Civic Center when Beaufort County Arts Council’s sixth-annual Juried Photography Exhibit opens.

The reception, which is from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the exhibit are free and open to the public.

Photographer Ric Carter, this year’s juror, selected winners from 155 entries submitted by 49 photographers. Awards will be announced at the opening reception.

Joey Toler, executive director of BCAC, said the number of entries and participants continues to increase.

“I fully expect the show to grow each year,” Toler said. “It may only have been by 5 percent, but I’m just glad to see that growth.”

He credited adding more awards to the juried show for the increase.

“And we’re constantly on the lookout for more people who would like to sponsor an award,” he said.

The process is relatively simple. Art patrons may specify the amount and name of the award as well as the number of years they want to offer it.

This year’s awards include first-, second- and third-place awards plus honorable mentions in five categories: documentary/people, landscapes/places, nature/wildlife, mixed media/alternative process and a youth division for photographers under age 18. Special awards include the Stewart Jewelry Store Best In Show Award, the Washington Daily News Award for work best depicting photojournalism and the Frank Sommerkamp History Award.

Two awards, sponsored by Kevin Scott Cutler, include the Ernest E. and Ethel Harding Cutler Award and the Jesse Lee and Corinne Mayo Smith Award for outstanding works in the youth category. Two awards, sponsored by ASAP Photo & Camera Inc. include best color (digitally enhanced) and best color (nonenhanced).

This year’s most popular category was nature/wildlife. As usual, landscapes/places was also a popular category.

“I think the quality of the work has grown each year,” Toler said.

The exhibit will run through Aug. 29 and be open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Washington Civic Center is located in the historic train depot on Gladden Street in downtown Washington. For more information about the exhibit and BCAC, visit online at www.beaufortcountyartscouncil.org or call 252-946-2504.