Exposed DC

for the love of DC photography

Friday Links: October 25, 2024

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Photo by: Emma K Alexandra

In case you missed it: earlier this week we announced that the Exposed DC Photography Collection has found a permanent home at the DC Public Library. You can read the press release here. Stay tuned for more updates as we work to gather hundreds of photos that document the last 18 years of life in D.C. as seen by the people who live, work, and love here! If you were featured in our annual photography show and have not received an email from us, we have been trying to get in touch. Drop us a line to make sure we have a current email address on file so you have the chance to be included in the collection!

  • Join StreetMeetDC tomorrow from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Rock Creek Park Picnic Grove 6.
  • Register now for Mid-Atlantic Photo Visions to reserve your spot for the Nov. 2 and 3 event with a lineup of renowned speakers, hands-on-workshops, and 1-on-1 sessions.
  • The call for entries for the Leica Women Foto Project Award closes Tuesday, November 5. Four awardees will receive a Leica SL3 camera, a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH lens, and a $10,000 USD cash prize.
  • ZEKE magazine features seven photographers who are under the age of 31 and making a difference through their work.
  • Double Exposure, the United States’ first and only film festival dedicated to investigative reporting on film, returns for its 10th year, November 7-10.  This year, photography stands out as a powerful medium that exposes truths through observation and expression in the Spotlight presentation.
  • Join the DC Film Collective for an astro photography meet on November 2 at Sky Meadows State Park.

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/.