Southern Photographers at Foto/Fest Houston

The Biennial Foto/Fest Houston opens today.  Southern photographers who have work on exhibit include Dallas-based photographer Nic Nicosia (see his image, Real Pictures, # 11, above) and Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright, who have work in the exhibition Road to Nowhere? up at Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, Houston.

Also, Chris Sims, based in Durham, NC -- see below for his Baum Prize -- has work in the Discoveries of the Meeting Place show. Atlanta-based Michael Schmelling and New Orleans-based Craig Mammano have work in the Whatever Was Splendid show at Vine Street Studios, 1113 Vine Street, Houston.

Even though Foto/Fest is in the South, the largest number of photographers on exhibition this year seem to come from elsewhere. There is even an entire show devoted to photographers from Southern California. This is different from other photography festivals in the South, notably Atlanta Celebrates Photography, which balances national and international work with a strong local/regional presence.

I guess this is a sign of the broader perspective taken toward photography in Texas. Or, more likely, Texans believe Texas is the center of the universe.

There are, of course, all the customary festival events like portfolio reviews, forums, workshops, and the like. If you are in Houston, check it out and let me know what you found.