This post was written by Tim Palmieri.
Fireworks don’t always shoot from rooftops in Columbia Heights, but when they do, photographers leap at the chance to show a side of D.C. not found on souvenir postcards.
Exposed DC, a photography exhibition held at the Longview Gallery, aims to give visitors views of the city that they can’t find anywhere else. From concertgoers hooking up at last year’s Sweetlife Festival to colors exploding in the Run Or Dye 5K, photographers submitted unique works for display in the show.
The eight-year-old organization was started by Heather Goss with a small contest held at The Passenger Theater for photographers to highlight local images. Overwhelmed with hundreds of entries that far surpassed their expectations, the original venue was not big enough to accommodate everyone. Ever since, Exposed DC has aimed to help the local photography community get in the spotlight.
“Exposed DC is a matchmaker for new photographers,” Goss said amidst the lively chatter of the event. “We find them work, get them exposed and bring the community together. Our goal is to inspire and enable each other.”
A panel of professional photojournalists selected six of the 49 photos to receive Best in Show, with the photographer also getting a $100 prize, courtesy of Corcoran College of Art + Design.
One of the noteworthy winners was a photo of three girls singing and moving to music in the back of a moving Metro car. In front of the trio, a man with an unsettled face expression and earbuds looked onward. Another winning photo featured a giraffe at night in a parking lot, with light from behind the animal eerily extending its shadow into the foreground of the image.
DJ Sequoia and Vishal Kanwar’s tunes boomed throughout the venue as complimentary vegan mac and cheese and wine was served. Droves of people pondered, questioned and smiled at the photos. Moving from photo to photo was a challenge – groups had to be courteously navigated and feet had to be cautiously avoided.
Longview Gallery is known for promoting the local art community. The simplistic white walls, minimal lighting, and pipes protruding from the ceilings allow the photography to take center stage.
The gallery is located at 1234 9th St. NW, a short walk from the Mt. Vernon Square 7th St-Convention Center Metro. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the entire display is for sale, with prices ranging from $100-300. The exhibition closes April 6.
