Photographic Magic from Vancouver's Eastside

Today the photos chosen for the annual Hope in Shadows calendar were unveiled, showing the magic of the Downtown Eastside Vancouver community.

The calendar, which is in its ninth year, is a collaboration of photos taken by Downtown Eastside residents in the annual Hope in Shadows photo contest. Over 200 single-use film cameras were distributed to residents in June resulting in over 4,000 photographs. The top 38 images were chosen by a panel of judges and voted on by the Downtown Eastside Vancouver community.

The photographers were recognized today in five winning categories – the “Downtown Eastside Community Choice” award, the Julie Rogers Memorial Award for “Best Portrait,” “Our City Landscape,” “Best Black & White” and “Best Colour.” A total of $2,500 in prizes will be awarded with the top-prize taking $500.

Kim Washburn is the co-winner of the “Downtown Eastside Community Choice” award. His photograph of Christiane Bordier captures the spirit of the Carnegie Community Centre and graces the cover of the 2012 calendar. Kim was one of the carvers of the memorial totem pole at Oppenheimer Park, is a writer and storyteller, and has become a pillar and advocate of the Downtown Eastside community.

“I don’t think I have to portray the drama, or trauma, or the destitution [in the Downtown Eastside]. I think that has already been well accounted for in print and imagery,” Kim says. “I would just like to show the good parts, ‘cause there are so many, some of the most beautiful things I’ve had or experienced in my life came from the Downtown Eastside.”

Other winning photographers with images in this year's calendar include James Witwicki, a past contest winner who is also a vendor of the calendar and published poet in Megaphone magazine; Sarah Oullette who is a regular participant in Megaphone magazine's writing workshops and recently completed a journalism class at SFU Woodward's; and Mike McNeeley who is also a previous Hope in Shadows contest winner and studied art at Emily Carr.

Project Director Paul Ryan believes that this project showcases the talent of Downtown Eastside community members. “It astonishes me to see the incredible photography that has come out of this contest every year,” says Paul. “The images show the beauty and humanity of the Downtown Eastside community, and are a way for community members to represent the neighbourhood through their own eyes. The broader community connects to the Downtown Eastside through these photos, and directly and when they meet and interact with a calendar vendor on the street.”