The Fifth Annual 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon returns this year on August 31 for another exhilarating round of creative challenges sure to inspire photography lovers and hobbyists alike.
A 35mm camera is the only requirement for participation and all levels of experience are welcome to participate. Photographers will each be assigned a 12-exposure roll of film (yes, film!).
Starting at 10 am (and at the top of every hour for the following 11 hours), a theme will be randomly chosen and revealed. With only one exposure allowed per theme, participants must interpret and capture them in the correct sequence and within the allotted time. Once the clock strikes 10, film rolls completed and returned will move on to the final phase of the challenge.
[On the last exposure! My 2010 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon experience]
Negatives will be developed and judged post-marathon, the results of which will be showcased at a free public exhibit where over 700 photos will be on display with the winning entries announced and celebrated.
Be it to express, provoke, document, exalt, or humble, all photographers are driven by an inexplicable compulsion to communicate using one of the most powerful mediums available: the camera.
As much as people love to see mouth-watering food truck fare and impossibly cute kittens in crocheted costumes shot with their smart phones, one can’t help but wonder what effects this digital deluge will have on the classic art form of photography. 12×12 strips away all filters and effects to help photographers reconnect with their subject.
“It has encouraged me to become more decisive in the way I photograph,” reflects 2012 winner Ryan Mah. “With a single image or many, what stays ‘in’ or ‘out’ of frame becomes crucial in telling a compelling story.” As four-time marathoner Elizabeth Peña attests, “12×12 has allowed me to challenge the way I look at photography and the world…it presses your limitations and creativity.”
[12×12 founders/organizers Morten Rand-Hendriksen and Angela Chih; photo by Jana Arjana]
“If you’re driven by photography,” says creator Morten Rand-Hendriksen, “this ride’s for you.”
2013 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon
Date: Saturday, August 31, 10 am to 10 pm
Venue: JJ Bean, 2206 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tickets: $36 (includes film; excludes Eventbrite fee)
Tickets go on sale at 8 pm on Wednesday, July 31 and must be purchased in advance. Limited to 60 participants. Last year’s marathon sold out in one minute (that’s right, ONE minute), so mark your calendars if you don’t want to miss out on this highly anticipated event!
The 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon is the first not-for-profit annual photo marathon in BC and one of the only competitions of its kind worldwide.
For more information, visit the 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon website.
