CONTACT Puts the Focus on Photos

Toronto has turned into a city-wide art gallery this month, as restaurants, public spaces, hotels, galleries and more showcase the work of emerging and established photographers. Close to one million people are expected to visit the 11th annual CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival, which is sponsored for the third consecutive year by HP Canada.

HP Canada is both main sponsor and printing technology expert for CONTACT, the largest annual photography festival in North America. 

“HP’s commitment to image accuracy, fast printing speeds and unvarying colour reproduction allows photographers, from beginners to professionals, to consistently achieve the amazing results you’ll see throughout the festival,” says Danny Ionescu, HP Canada’s Vice-President of Graphic Arts.

“The support we’ve had from HP enhances the quality of what we present and provides exciting opportunities to photographers,” says Emily McInnes, Director of Creative Development for CONTACT.

One widely visible change since HP became involved is the quality of the public installations displayed throughout the GTA during CONTACT. This year, stunning images printed on HP Scitex wide-format printing equipment will appear up to billboard size at such diverse venues as the CN Tower, Queen Street bus shelters and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. In all, more than 200 venues will display the work of more than 500 local, national and international artists.

“The public installations are an important part of CONTACT because they give people a chance to look at art in a democratic way, without having to go to a formal gallery,” says Ms. McInnes. “The technology that HP offers has allowed us to enhance the quality of what we show to the public by a thousand times.”

1. Portfolio reviews at the HP Gallery
Two-day portfolio reviews will provide photographers with one-on-one critiques from professionals, including the photo editor of Life magazine and museum directors from around the world. (Find out cost and details here.) Participants will receive a print of their work, courtesy of HP, and HP will also print the best images chosen by the judges for an exhibit at the HP Gallery (at Waddington’s auction gallery, 111 Bathurst Street) from May 4 to 22.

“We’ve had portfolio reviews before, but HP has really propelled the program to make it a place where careers are established and opportunities for publishing happen,” explains Ms. McInnes. “HP’s support has also helped us attract 20 times the participants we had registered by the same time last year.”

2. HP Prize for Photography
Visitors to the HP Gallery will be able to vote for their favourite images from the portfolio reviews. On May 29, the Hewlett-Packard Prize for Photography will be awarded to the winning photographer at a ceremony at the Drake Hotel. The prize will include an HP Designjet Z3100 (HP’s first 12-ink professional photo printer) and a cool $3,000 cash.

“Instead of the usual first, second and third prizes, HP has offered one substantial prize that can affect the artist’s career,” says Ms. McInnes. “It’s building a real buzz in the community.”

3. HP Print Centre
The HP Print Centre, also located at Waddington’s, will showcase the printing technology behind the images. Gallery visitors can bring a digital image on file for a free print from HP printers designed for the professional photographer, including a 44-inch HP Designjet Z3100 and a 40-inch HP Designjet 5500.

4. HP Lecture Series
Learn creative and technical secrets of photography and digital imaging from world-renowned speakers at the HP Lecture Series during the first week of May. Speakers include Henry Wilhelm, founder and president of Wilhelm Imaging Research, and prominent photographers from the Magnum Photo Agency. Lectures will be open to the public, courtesy of HP. Register at www.contactphoto.com .

5. Black Star Historical Black & White Photography Collection
HP is also supporting a presentation of this collection by Ryerson University May 7 to 27 at BCE Place, 181 Bay Street. The full collection contains nearly 300,000 black and white photographs documenting seven decades of history. A selection of compelling images will be reprinted by Ryerson Image Arts students on an HP Designjet Z2100 printer, donated by HP to the school.

6. Supporting materials for the CONTACT Festival were also printed by HP on an HP Indigo 5000 digital press.

“The way HP has offered its technology to amateur and professional photographers during CONTACT gives us a vital connection to our audience and has enhanced their opportunities on a personal level,” says Ms. McInnes.

“This is truly an event for the photography enthusiast, whether you enjoy simply viewing stunning pictures or taking them yourself as a hobby or a business,” says Danny. “HP is proud to support CONTACT and we look forward to another incredible festival.”