Yes indeed, May is officially Photography Month—and one of its main objectives is to broaden the appreciation and appeal of photography worldwide. It’s also one of the key themes of London Drugs #LDFotoCon 2016. One of the main reasons Fotocon was created was to share the joy of photography with as many people as possible at the community level. Beyond the short term however, its greatest goal is to help local photographers prosper, which is why the Local Inspirations Artist Gallery (LIAG) was created.
Actually, the creator and driving force behind the LIAG was Meghan Shewchuk, Manager of the Ladner Photolab. It all started when a local artist (who also happened to be a co-worker) used the Photolab to print a 12×18” Remembrance Day image he’d created in Photoshop, and he asked her if she’d display it on the store wall. Meghan immediately envisioned the big picture (pardon the pun) and reached out to another local photographer to see if she would be interested in displaying a collection of her prints as well.
Meghan’s initial goal was to use the wall to showcase the various kinds of art prints available from the Photolab, to give customers an idea of how they might look on their own walls at home. However, she soon realized that the true value of such a gallery would be the platform it gives local photographers and artists—to showcase their work to others in the community, and help them gain new clients and grow their business.
Meghan’s next step was to get approval from head office. Her proposal went over so well that not only did she get the OK for her LIAG in Ladner, but they decided to roll it out to every London Drugs location that has the space necessary to create a proper display. And that’s how one creative Photolab manager’s idea to give local photographers a leg up in the community became an ongoing company-wide celebration of photography.
If you’ve never noticed it before, or if you simply haven’t been to your local Photolab in a while, be sure to stop by and appreciate some of the finest photography your community has to offer. Better yet, if you happen to be a professional photographer, digital artist, or even a member of a local photography club—speak to your local Photolab Manager for details about showcasing your work and becoming a local inspiration to others.
Selected images from photographer Karen Maires, whose prints have been featured in the Local Inspirations Artist Gallery at the Ladner Photolab. See more of her work at http://www.mairesimages.com
