Now in its third year, the New York Photo Festival is making good on its claim to become North America's premiere annual photo festival. The (nearly) week-long event includes exhibitions, artist and industry talks, portfolio reviews (including with JBG's Jeffrey Teuton) and lots of opportunity for networking and schmoozing with like-minded photo peeps.

While there are photo festivals a-plenty across the pond (Rencontres d'Arles, Europäischer Monat der Fotografie Berlin, Brighton Photo Biennial, Mois de la Photo, to name but a few [.pdf]), the U.S. has not quite had anything that draws the kind of international presence or buzz of the existing heavy-weight gatherings across the globe. NYPH is well on its way to changing all of that. From their press release:

With its unique scope and focus, the festival appeals to all people involved in image-making and collecting: professional photographers and artists, arts editors, scholars, curators, collectors, as well as everyone with an appreciation for what is undoubtedly the most popular fine arts medium.

In addition to the curated pavilions, the festival offers visitors an extensive range of activities that generate dialogue and buzz among all communities of photo professionals, amateurs, students, and aficionados of art and culture, including: seminars, slide shows, book signings, photographic workshops, live performances and events, and a gallery row. The festival will also be documented online in a regularly updated and engaging online social media environment.

Once you're in New York (if you're not already), access to the festival is cost-friendly: day passes are $15 ($10/student) and a 4-day festival pass is $45.00 ($30/student). This year the event begins this Wednesday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 16th. If you're able to make it, there are a couple note-worthy happenings we'd like to make mention of:

And Still We Gather With Infinite Momentum 2, 2009 by Justin James King

Justin James King will be featured in the exhibition New Visionaries 2009, shown the entire duration of the festival in the Tobacco Warehouse. In addition to being a Second Edition 2009 Hot Shot, Justin also won last year's NYPH award for best personal work in a photographic series. The entire New Visionaries 2009 exhibition will showcase the works of all of the New York Photo Awards 2009 Winners and Honorable Mentions. Photographers on display alongside Justin James King will include:

Felix Hug, Thomas Lekfeldt, Jason Carrier, Espen Rasmussen, Matthieu Paley, Bruno Levy, Gianni Cipriano, Jackie Dewe Mathews, Mike Whelan, Anna Moller, Arslan Sukan, Elliot Ross, J Bennett Fitts, Kai-Uwe Gundlach, Lauren Greenfield, Adam Hinton, John Clang, Nadav Kander, Ernesto Bazan, Doug DuBois, Michal Chelbin, Andy Spyra, Andrea Star Reese, Ed Ou, Mark Fernandes, Tyler Brown, Natan Dvir, Elliott Wilcox, Tammy Mercure, Ivonne Thein, Patrik Budenz, Kristoffer Axen and Adam Lau.

To see all of the satellite exhibitions for NYPH 2010, please visit the site's satellite exhibition page.

One other event we'd like to highlight will be the Aperture Foundation's workshop/artist discussions Emerging Artist Support Systems (in two parts: Part I on Thursday, May 13th and Part II on Friday, May 14th). Thursday's talk will focus on artist's support systems as they relate to three practicing artists' careers: Justin Reyes, Hank Willis Thomas and Brian Ulrich. Part II will focus on the importance of securing funds, fellowships and reviews, and will be mediated by Amy Elkins, Ariel Shanberg and Amy Yenkin. Aperture will also feature artists' talks during the weekend of NYPH as well. All of the Aperture events will be held at the St. Anne's Warehouse.

Infinitely cheaper than airfare and hotel costs at one of the European festivals (even with the recent drop in the euro), get in on the beginning of one of the fastest growing and exciting photo events in North America. As with the big portfolio reviews and juried shows, these kinds of events are among the best places to get out, be seen, and talk to others doing what you want to be doing.

New York Photo Festival 2010
May 12-16, 2010
DUMBO, Brooklyn

Complete map to all events and exhibitions.