Friday was like a wedding: all the people you like in one place, a great party, and then it’s over far too quickly. Pulitzer prize winning photographer Barbara Davidson came all the way across the continent from LA back to WR where she started her career. The combination of Barb’s inspiring talk, the work of 97 selected open call photogs, and our 3 local featured photographers made the inaugural FLASH photo show a success across the board.
Last week I introduced the FLASH organizing team, and it’s important to recognize that we got help from a lot of people and organizations including:
• Christie – as the top sponsor for the event kicking in cash and their brilliant tech. Barb said it best on Friday: “These screens are epic.”
• The Laurence Group of Companies – who funded rental of work from the selected open call photogs
• Canon – a recent arrival at Communitech of this innovation partner and they’re already in the cultural mix.
• Communitech – the great connector of Waterloo Region, not surprising to find them in the mix
• Downtown Kitchener BIA – committed to making things happen in DTK
• Cober Solutions – we needed posters, postcards, and stickers and Karl and Cober came through for us
• makebright – yup, me sitting here typing this up on Monday morning
• Foto:RE – a catalyst and rallying point for photography and photographers
• eventpeeks – making sense of the live social media feeds from the event
• Taylor Jackson for help with the videos
• volunteers – Kristen Gillette, Victoria, Jessica, Lauren
• the community like Shirley Madill, Craig Norris, Cory Bluhm, Eric Rumble, Graham Whiting, and a whack of other people that helped spread the word and simply said “tell me what you need.”
And we’ve gotta thank the photographers who do the work and share the work: Barbara Davidson, Andrew Wright, Mina Ao, Karl Griffiths-Fulton, and the 97 open call photogs.
To the most frequently asked question “when is the next FLASH event?”, I will say on behalf of the group: stay tuned to flashwr.ca, @flashWR, and our FLASH Waterloo Region Facebook group.
An unreasonable number of photos follow. Happy Monday…
Barb dropped by the venue in the afternoon for a trial run.
Tony Reinhart, on his ever-at-hand Q10.
George Tsintzouras working with Brian on the A/V
Sam Boucher-Hatt capturing video for us.
Balancing exposure for bright screens and dark stage.
Doors and bar open at 6:30.
People start to fill in.
David McCammon talking with Cat.
Photos of these screens never do justice.
From left, photogs Adam Bender and Wayne Simpson who we see out at 3rdThur photo review.
More people.
Thank goodness for volunteers at the door.
including Kristen Gillett, events ninja.
Hey, if anyone sees one of these FLASH handstamps lying around, I’d like to get it back. Made 4, only got back 3. Thanks!
Eric Rumble lighting up the time-lapse GoPro camera that Cory Bluhm installed earlier in the afternoon.
Mark Heine had that great pano up on the screen for the open call loop.
Craig Norris, our awesome MC for the evening, here reviewing his notes.
Lisa and Meg, who loves (not) having her picture taken.
I had to interrupt this conversation to tell these guys I love their work. Peter Lee (left) shoots for The Record and Fred Lum shoots for The Globe and Mail and also has an great street photography blog at http://www.mostlymonochrome.com
Jammin’ now.
Joe Martz chatting with Liz Dietrich.
All cued up.
Mucho meta.
The Swart Brothers talking with my pal Matthew Reynolds.
Brett Shellhammer talking with Joseph and Xiaopu Fung.
My Brohemus, Dave White with his kids Somerton and Alex. All three of them made the open call cut with their photos. And, no I was not on the curatorial panel.
Mirko Petricevic and Mark Walton.
Craig Norris at the wheel.
makebright!
Barb Davidson (right) with Marta Iwanek…
and I couldn’t decide which shot I liked better.
Jenn Hartman and Peter Power.
Photo Cat.
Showtime.
Mirko was smiling at my over the shoulder shooting.
Tony Reinhart and Barb.
Making Macs work.
Fred.
Roll the video.
Cat.
Q & A time.
Craig wrapped it up.
Best photo op of the night. Fred Lum shooting…
past and present Record staff.
Thanks for coming/contributing to the show.
DW
It was wonderful meeting you and so many other great people on Friday evening. I am really enjoying your photos here, especially the one of Barbara holding her glass of wine during the Q & A…it really encapsulates her warm, relaxed and unassuming presence! I think you will have to find a larger venue next year…word has gotten out about what a fantastic event it was!
Great coverage of the event! Nice work, Darin. That was such a fun evening – so much good inspiration all around.
I was thinking of you that night. Sorry to have missed it, but I knew there would be a great blog post about it. Thanks again Darin for keeping us in the loop.