What is the power of photography?
Colorado Photography Week runs Nov. 14-22 in Durango and surrounding communities. The schedule includes exhibits, workshops, socials and photographer talks, along with the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown, where five professional photographers present their work to a live audience at Fort Lewis College. Learn more at ColoradoPhotoWeek.org.
This story is sponsored by Freewheel Studios and Colorado Photography Week.
Learn More
Transcript
Consider the photograph. Fine art, event, portrait, sports, landscape, performance, infinite subjects and perspectives appearing in front of us hundreds or even thousands of times every day. But occasionally, a photograph can absolutely captivate you. If you’ve ever felt this way, Colorado Photography Week is for you. Hosted November 14th through the 22nd in beautiful Durango and surrounding communities, Colorado Photography Week is a celebration of photographic art, and you’re invited.
Cameras and photos are so ingrained in daily life that they often blur into the background.
But photographs can inform us, tell creative stories, or command our attention with striking artistry. Just what is this power photography has? What is the power of photography? What’s the impact it has on the world?
“The power of photography is that, for me, as a storyteller, as a journalist, it’s that you can tell somebody else’s story.”
“The most powerful thing about photography, to me, is the ability to capture a moment in time through your perspective. Whatever it is that you see, wherever you are, you have the capability of capturing it as a little keepsake, maybe for yourself or for the greater population. But the ability to see beautiful things and be able to share that with the world has always been the most powerful thing about photography to me.”
“It has an emotional attachment to it. It says, “Ah, that really does something to me. What did it take to get to that?””
“You get to see things that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.”
“Changes perspective, opens awareness to other ways of life, and just brings us all closer together.”
“The power of photography is the ability to connect with the viewer. It’s all about connection.”
“The origin of this event actually happened about 28 years ago, and a friend and I had been on a snowboard trip in Iran, and we threw a slideshow in a bar in Whistler, British Columbia, which led to a competition similar to the one we’re doing now. But that inspired us to found an event here in Durango, the same way that Sundance was found in Park City, Utah.”
Colorado Photography Week is packed full of exhibits, venues, workshops, socials, and photographer talks, allowing you to see through the lens of skilled photographers from all over the state.
The main event is the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown, held in the 600-seat community concert hall at Fort Lewis College.
The showdown highlights the work of five pro photographers for a live audience, with $10,000 on the line.
“Showing my work in front of a large group, I guess it’s about 600 people that will be there. It is exciting. The nerves are there, definitely.”
“I’m very excited. Everyone’s got to be a little nervous, right? Like, you’re putting yourself out there. But I think I’m more excited than nervous.”
Colorado Photography Week is right around the corner. All that’s needed is you.
Consider the photograph. And consider attending Colorado Photography Week, November 14th through the 22nd in Durango. For more info and the event schedule, visit ColoradoPhotoWeek.org.
