Bethlehem, PA—Presentations by renowned photographers Eugene Richards, Olivia Bee, Roxanne Lowit, Chase Jarvis and Olympus Trailblazer Victor Rodriguez, Jr., highlight the lineup at the 2013 Olympus InVision Photo Festival. Held November 1–3, 2013 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the fourth annual event will include a diverse array of exhibitions, appearances by Olympus Visionaries and the Slideluck Lehigh Valley party and slideshow, which showcases the work of amateur, student and professional photographers.
“As a key sponsor and local corporate resident, we are proud to help make the Olympus InVision Photo Festival available to neighbors and visitors alike during the three days of diverse and dynamic presentations, photo exhibitions and workshops,” said Jennifer Colucci, associate manager, Public Relations, Olympus Imaging America Inc. Colucci added that the event also provides a wonderful forum for Olympus to reinforce its commitment to professional photographers and those who appreciate their work.
At Olympus InVision, guests will experience presentations by award-winning photojournalists, fashion photographers and commercial artists. This year the festival is pleased to welcome as its artist in residence Eugene Richards, who will exhibit his work at the Banana Factory and offer a special presentation at SteelStacks on November 2 at 1:15 p.m.
An award-winning photographer, writer and documentary filmmaker, Richards is perhaps best known for his books and photographic essays on such diverse topics as drug addiction, poverty in America, breast cancer and emergency medicine. His work has appeared in such prestigious publications as Time, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire and National Geographic, and he has won numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts grants, the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Award and the National Geographic Magazine Grant for Photography.
Audiences will also have two opportunities to go behind the scenes of the world of fashion photography with two of the industry’s stars, Roxanne Lowit and Olivia Bee. A pioneer in fashion and celebrity photography, Lowit will share her work and stories of more than 30 years photographing famous artists, supermodels, celebrities and fashion designers during a presentation at 10:45 a.m. At 3 p.m., Bee will show her images—a unique blend of documentary and fashion photography—that have made her a rising star in the photography world. At age 19, the Brooklyn-based artist has already shot advertising campaigns for Nike, Converse, Hermès, Fiat and Subaru.
On November 3, 9 a.m., Olympus Trailblazer Victor Rodriguez, Jr., will hold a lighting workshop where participants will discover a number of lighting techniques and tips designed to enhance and improve images. A graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Rodriguez has done work for a number of high-profile clients, and his work has appeared in numerous gallery exhibitions and international publications.
Other Olympus InVision presenters include Chase Jarvis, the visionary photographer, artist, restaurant owner and creator of Best Camera app for iPhones; Richard Renaldi, whose Touching Strangers project has earned him worldwide attention; Keron Psillas, former director of the Art Wolfe Digital Photography Center in Seattle; and Drew Gurian, former assistant to internationally acclaimed photographer Joe McNally and a concert photographer who has shot more than 300 musicians and groups.
Stephen Wilkes, known for his images of abandoned and decaying buildings, such as those on Ellis Island, will discuss his two-year project documenting the end of the Bethlehem Steel Corp., as well as his successful career in photography. Wilkes’s latest work, Day to Night, features images that have eight-hour exposures and are shown as fine art in the country’s most prestigious galleries. And John Isaac, the former chief of the United Nations’ Photo Unit, will share the stunning images from his two-decade quest to document the tigers that are rapidly disappearing from his native India.
Other highlights of the Olympus InVision Photo Festival include: nine photography exhibits; Olympus Imaging America and Dan’s Camera City representatives showcasing the latest cameras, equipment and accessories; and Meet the Olympus Visionaries & Trailblazers event, an exclusive opportunity to meet eight of the nation’s most dynamic photographers.
The Olympus InVision Photo Festival takes place at the Banana Factory community arts center and ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. All-festival passes, which include all events except the Victor Rodriguez, Jr., Lighting Workshop, are $119 and available at invisionphotofestival.org. Tickets for individual presentations and the Slideluck Lehigh Valley event are also on sale.
