Exposed DC

for the love of DC photography

Celebrate the Exposed DC Photography Collection Launch at the DC Public Library on May 24

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A special event showcasing 300+ images of life in the District, mixed into a site-specific performance by D.C. multimedia artist Robin Bell.  

Washington, D.C. — Exposed DC invites the public to celebrate the launch of its photography collection into the permanent archive of the D.C. Public Library with an all-day, free event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on May 24, 2025. 

About the Photo Collection Launch Celebration

All are invited to this celebration of local photography with more than 300 stunning images captured over nearly two decades. The work will be showcased throughout the day on the MLK Library 5th floor and its incredible roof deck. On this day, the Exposed DC Photography Collection will be launched in The People’s Archive of the DC Public Library.  

Exposed DC is very pleased to announce that this one-day-only event will also feature artist Robin Bell with a live video remix of the collection. Through projection mapping and archival artistry, Bell will transform images from the Exposed DC Photography Collection into a dynamic, site-specific performance and installation.

“Exposed DC is honored to have our photographs and organizational records included in the rich historical archives of the DC Public Library,” said Heather Goss, Exposed DC’s founder. “We hope everyone comes out to celebrate our local photographers, life in the District, and these incredible images showcased in such a special way by Robin Bell.” 

The site-specific installation will continue through the evening reception, when DJ Sequoia and v:shal will join us on the roofdeck to provide music. Stay tuned for more updates on the event.

The entire event is free and open to the public, but registration is highly recommended. Tax-deductible donations to support the work behind the Exposed DC collection and celebration can be made through Eventbrite and on site. Daytime hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; reception is from 5 to 9 p.m.

About the Collection

Documenting nearly two decades of the city’s culture, history, and communities, the Exposed DC Photography Collection offers a perspective on the District’s transformation, with contributions from local photographers who have documented the region’s story. The collection’s new home at the DC Public Library will help preserve it and make it accessible for future generations. 

Exposed DC, a 501(c)(3) organization, originated as part of DCist, a local news site, and has cultivated a significant community of photographers. Images from the community are featured in an annual exhibition showcasing life in the nation’s capital. The collection draws from the last 18 Exposed DC exhibitions, featuring images that capture the city’s street life, cultural events, architecture, and political moments—from famous landmarks to ordinary scenes that define life in the District. The collection also includes a selection of promotional materials, exhibition catalogs, business records, and images from Exposed DC events. 

The Library’s People’s Archive will host the collection, which will be made available to the public through the DC Public Library’s Dig DC portal, providing community members and researchers an opportunity to explore a visual record of D.C.’s evolution. 

This event is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Contact Information

Exposed DC
Contact: Heather Goss, info@exposeddc.com, 202-286-8878
Website: https://exposeddc.com/
Social Media: @exposed_dc

DC Public Library 
Website – The People’s Archive: https://www.dclibrary.org/plan-visit/martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-library/peoples-archive

Robin Bell – Bio; press images
Website: http://bellvisuals.com
Social Media: @bellvisuals

Friday Links: December 6, 2024

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Photo by Victoria Pickering

Are you wondering about this year’s Exposed DC photography contest? In light of the exciting news that the DC Public Library is acquiring the Exposed DC Photography Collection, we wanted to let you know that this year we’ll be focusing our efforts on preparing the collection in lieu of the 2025 Exposed DC Photography Contest and Exhibition.

With over 600 photos by nearly 400 photographers documenting life and culture in Washington, D.C. over the past 18 years, we’ve got a lot of work to do! Part of that work is planning an exciting launch event open to all for Spring 2025.

If you’re one of those 400 photographers, please go ahead and get your photos uploaded and licenses signed as soon as possible so we can get everything to its new home in the People’s Archives at the DC Public Library, preserving it for future generations. (And if you are a former winner and haven’t heard from us, drop us a line ASAP so we can include you!)

Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for your support!

  • Associated Press photographers across the world captured 2024’s vast catalogue of events, from breaking news to intimate moments.
  • Join WPOW for their annual holiday party at Shaws Tavern on December 11 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There will be drink tickets for the first 75 guests and a fundraiser with prizes like a Nikon Z f camera.
  • Join Critical Exposure for a special holiday portrait event tomorrow, suggested donation of $50-100.
  • StreetMeetDC is closing out 2024 with a meet tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in Columbia Heights.
  • A pop-up gallery next to the Capital One Arena shows more than 150 of Harry Benson’s photos, from the Beatles with Muhammad Ali to U.S. presidents.
  • Social Documentary Network is hosting a discussion on December 11 at 7:30 p.m. with Sheila Pree Bright and Andrea Bruce about the U.S. election and what it means for the future of documentary practice in the country.

DC Public Library Secures Exposed DC Photography Collection 

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Images Document District Life and Culture 

Washington, D.C. — The DC Public Library has acquired the Exposed DC Photography Collection, an archive of more than 600 digital images capturing life in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Documenting nearly two decades of the city’s culture, history, and communities, this collection offers a perspective on the District’s transformation, with contributions from local photographers who have documented the region’s story. 

The Exposed DC Photography Collection originated as part of DCist, a local news site, and has since grown into a photography exhibition showcasing life in the nation’s capital. The collection draws from 18 annual Exposed DC exhibitions, featuring images that capture the city’s street life, cultural events, architecture, and political moments – from famous landmarks to ordinary scenes that define life in the District. Now managed by Exposed DC, a nonprofit documenting D.C. through photography, the collection’s new home at the DC Public Library will help preserve it and make it accessible for future generations.

“The Exposed DC Photography Collection is a vivid tapestry of our city’s recent history,” said Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director of the DC Public Library.  “By integrating its collection into the People’s Archive, we’re ensuring that this valuable record of District life is preserved and accessible to all. We are grateful to Exposed DC for their partnership in bringing these images to the public.”

“The local photographers in the Exposed DC community have been sharing their perspective on life in the District for nearly two decades,” said Heather Goss, founder of Exposed DC. “We are so honored to see it officially become part of our historical record through the DC Public Library.” 

The Library’s People’s Archive will manage the project, working in partnership with Exposed DC to secure the collection by the end of 2024. The collection will be made available to the public through the DC Public Library’s Dig DC portal, providing community members and researchers an opportunity to explore a visual record of D.C.’s evolution. The collection will be integrated into Dig DC in phases. Highlights will be featured in a series of public releases—such as images related to local elections and notable political events—to coincide with major moments in the city’s history. 

As Exposed DC and the DC Public Library continue their collaboration, both organizations aim to use the archive to connect with the community. Plans include social media promotion, newsletter updates, and an event in Spring 2025 to celebrate the collection’s completion and availability online. 

For more information about the Exposed DC Photography Collection and upcoming events related to the project, visit https://digdc.dclibrary.org/.

Friday Links: October 18, 2024

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Union Market District by Daniel Kelly
  • Northern lights were seen all over the D.C. area in rare and stunning spectacle last weekend.
  • Join Capital Photography Center Instructor Corey Hilz early tomorrow morning to capture the waterfalls of the Potomac and learn how to shoot in low light, exploit the rising sun, capture flowing water, compose waterscapes, and more, $99.
  • “Dust and Destiny on the Great Plains,” a photography exhibit by Gary Anthes is on view at Studio Gallery through October 26 when there will be a closing reception from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
  • Catch up on the Celebration of Photography with a recap on Leica’s website.
  • Magnum’s Square Print Sale returns from October 21 to 27 in partnership with The Photo Society. Titled Eden, the sale explores the miraculous beauty of our planet while emphasizing the urgent need to protect it from an existential threat: humankind.
  • Enter Smithsonian magazine’s 22nd Annual Photo Contest by December 2. You may submit up to 15 photographs per category for a total of 90 submissions to the contest overall.
  • BOOK OF JOB, a solo exhibition of photographic work by Timothy Hyde, is on view at Multiple Exposures Gallery, and the artist will be on site this Sunday through Tuesday.
  • Reserve your spot to join curator Kristen Hileman and artist Connie Imboden as they discuss the exhibition “Endless Transformations: The Alchemy of Connie Imboden” at the Katzen Arts Center on November 23.

Friday Links: May 24, 2024

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Photo By: Avery Ruel