I just got back from a terrific five days of celebrating photography in and around Boston and want to share my experiences.  The Flash Forward Festival starts as a love story between an amazing photography organization (the Magenta Foundation), a city full of support for photography (Boston), and a very special hotel (the Fairmont Battery Wharf).

A couple of years ago, the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel in Boston was under construction and they were looking for a way to bring something extra to the hotel experience.  The hotel loved what the Magenta Foundation was doing in Toronto and offered them an annual home in Boston, to bring photography to life for a week in June.  They provide huge exhibition spaces, a space for lectures, and lots of exterior walls and walkways for the celebration of images.  It’s a MAJOR undertaking, but once you meet the amazing Maryann Camilleri, and her incredible assistant, Alicia Slakin, you begin understand how it all comes together with such grace.  Every detail, from the signage to the catalogs, to the smiling volunteers eager to assist, to the event planning and the parties, the festival is pretty much perfection.  It’s a quality event that brings together not only a community, but photographers and photography from around the world. And guess what, it’s all free.

The event kicked off with the Griffin Museum’s annual Focus Awards. Wednesday night we donned our finest to celebrate individuals who have made “critical contributions to the promotion of photography.” Hosted by gallerist Jason Landry of the Panopticon Gallery, the Griffin is one of the few organizations to recognize the work of those who have been instrumental in building greater awareness of the photographic arts in the general public.

Thursday through Sunday the Flash Forward Festival offered amazing lectures by photographers such as David Hilliard, panel discussions, and insights into all the waters that photographers are navigating today, from learning about Pricing and Negotiating, the Merits of the App, Crowd Funding, and Innovative Ways to Sell Photos Online. Photo editor, Stella Kramer, introduced the lectures, and Andy Adams of Flak Photo streamed the events live.

When you needed a little air, you could stroll the Harborwalk and get filled up on beautiful scenery and more photographs.

In addition, Maxine Helfman and I showcased solo exhibitions on the first floor.

There were an number of exhibitions off sight in galleries across the city.

Upstairs, Larissa Leclair brought the Indie Photobook Library to Boston.

 It was truly an amazing festival, reflective of an amazing organization.  The Magenta Foundation supports emerging and established photographers is significant ways, through publishing books, exhibitions, and much more.  A huge thank you to Maryann Camilleri, the Flash Forward staff, Paula Tognarelli and all the Griffin Museum staff and supporters,the wonderful photographers of Boston, and the Fairmont Battery Wharf for a remarkable experience.