Charlottesville 2012 :–Bob McNeely’s diary

This year’s Look3 Festival of the Photograph begins today in Charlottesville, Virginia. The product of a year of effort that started even before last years festival ended, curators Vince Musi and David Griffin, have put together a selection of work by photographers and organizations that is extraordinary even by the standards of Look3. For those familiar with the humble beginnings of this festival in a field next to photographer Nick Nichols home outside of Charlottesville its present state as center of the photographic world for three days in June is a cause for wonder.
But even with the showing of all the talent and accomplishments there is still a desire to create a sense of place, as Vince Musi stated to me today “We want it to be like going to Lisette Model’s apartment and talking, sharing, and learning about photography.” He also mentioned the importance they feel within Look3 of keeping a sense of community and connection within our far-flung photographic world.
In speaking with David Griffin, he was particularly proud of the way the work this year strikes a balance across different disciplines within the medium. He also spoke of the pleasure of career long relationships within the business such as the fact that he was an editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer when he first was able to work with Donna Ferrato on her work on domestic violence. “That is one of the joys and rewards of all the labor in putting together such an event.” The joy and reward for us comes over the next three days.