After months of preparation and competitions, FotoWeek DC has arrived.
By Brittni Guevara
"Volcano" by Claudio Santana, Honorable Mention- The Natural World category. (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
A few months ago, we encouraged those with a keen eye for photography to enter into FotoWeek DC‘s competition to win a spot in the festival (click here to refresh your memory!). With the competition over, it’s time to take a look at the winners’ work.
FotoDC‘s 4th annual competition FotoWeek DC, which showcases locally and internationally amateur and professional photographers’ work, will begin Saturday, November 5th and last through Saturday, November 12th. Attendance of festival is free and open to the public, but requires registration. Other events may cost. Click here to register and view prices of other events.
Although only first, second and third place winners and honorable mentions will have their work on large display at the festival, the images of every entrant will be included at the Thumbnail Show at the festival.
This year’s winners include Pedro Pardo, whose work has been featured in Life magazine and the first place winner for the photojournalism/social documentary category; Muriel Hasbun, a U.S. Scholar to El Salvador and an honorable mention for the portrait category; and Gabriella Demczuk, a George Washington University student from Sweden and the second place winner of the student single image category.
Theo Adamstein, the founder of FotoWeek DC, has noticed an improvement in the work submitted over the years, both from amateurs and professionals.
“Part of our mission is to gather work from emerging photographers,” said Adamstein. “The quality of the work has improved every year, and this year we actually received work from obviously the United States, but also 44 other countries so it’s really had an international reach.”
"Colorful Calla" by Lea Foster (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
To kick off such an extraordinary festival and week of international photos, FotoDC is hosting a launch party Friday, November 4th. Held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW, and starting at 8:30PM, the launch party will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, musical sounds from FatBack DJs and of course, photography. But that’s not all! Tickets will also cover an exclusive preview of the this year’s exhibits at FotoWeek Central, 1800 L Street NW, before the party starts, beginning at 5 PM. Tickets are $55 for the entire launch party or $84.50 for the launch party and a membership to FotoDC, which includes at 10% discount. To purchase tickets, click here.
Along with the display of local and international photographers, FotoWeek DC has other events lined up that could help turn any amateur into a professional.
On Saturday, November 12th from 10AM to 5PM, photography professionals will be at the Corcoran, reviewing portfolios of all amateur or professional photographers interested. Portfolio reviewers will provide photographers with insight into the business of photography, key advice for upcoming projects, ways to improve their portfolios and more! Portfolio reviewers include Carol Johnson, the curator of photography at the Library of Congress, Michael Mazzeo, the owner and director of the Michael Mazzeo Gallery in New York and Sarah Leen, the senior photo editor for National Geographic.
“I’m looking forward to looking for work that might be appropriate to add to the Library’s collections,” said Johnson about reviewing portfolios. “[Also], meeting new and young photographers since work is under the radar.”
Tickets for the portfolio review event are $75.00; click here to purchase.Lectures and workshops are also available for interested participants. Click here for more information and ticket prices.
If you thought it was too late to get a chance to have your work displayed during FotoWeek, it’s not! On the first night of the festival, Saturday November 5th, photographers have a chance to participate in the NightVisions competition. From 8 PM until 4 AM on Sunday, November 6th, photographers are to take digital images, including cell phone camera pics, of DC at night and submit them in person to FotoSpace, 1838 Columbia Road NW. One image from each photographer will be chosen by a group of nationally-recognized photo editors and curators and immediately printed out and displayed. Winners of the competition are in for a sweet deal. The first place prize is an Apple iPad, second place is a 24″x30″ print of the photo selected and third place is a 20″x24″ print. Tickets for the competition event are $10 and can be purchased here.
With all the events going on, even if you’re not a huge photography fan, FotoWeek DC may just inspire you to double-take when you’re exploring the district and snap some shots of what you see.
"Untitled" by Cade Martin, Honorable Mention. (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
"Waterfall and Ice at Ash Cave" by Dan Jenkins, 2nd Place- The Natural World category. (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
Photo by Sam Kittner. (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
"Redentore 3" by Allesandro Belgiojoso, 1st Place- Fine Arts category. (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
"Watching TV" by Val Proudkii (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
"Enal with Pet Shark" by James Morgan, 2nd Place- Travel category (photo courtesy of Linda Roth Associates, Inc.)
