Paper Tiger hosts 4×5 Photo Fest highlighting local and national photographers.
On Nov. 18, 4×5 Photo Fest will return to San Antonio for its second year. This time, it will be held at the Paper Tiger.
4×5 Photo Fest is a one-day photography event where both amateur and expert photographers can meet professionals in the photo industry, offering tips, advice and their experience in the field. It is free and open to the public, and the first 250 attendees will receive a swag bag.
Various events are scheduled throughout the day, including talks by seasoned professional photographers, workshops, art exhibits, live podcasts and more.
Artists Scott Ball, Shannon Gowen and Josh Huskin launched the event last year.
4×5 Photo Fest emerged from their experience as artists struggling to find valuable resources and form connections with photographers in the field.
Gowen said, “We wanted to create an event for emerging photographers and enthusiasts to network with other artists and not feel intimidated.
“San Antonio has such a great arts background, but photography often doesn’t play a big role in San Antonio art, so we thought this was a good way to share the work of photography with the community here.”
4×5 photo fest is a magnet for up and coming photographers hoping to hone their skills and receive valuable insight in the industry.
For the instant camera enthusiasts, festival sponsor, Lomography will provide Lomo’ Instant cameras for attendees throughout the day.
One can capture the fun of the event or go on a photo walk and explore the surrounding area.
Talks start at noon, beginning with Reggie Campbell, a San Antonio photographer who has worked with several companies including Sea World and Wired.
At 2:00 p.m., documentary photographer Verónica G. Cárdenas will discuss her work.
Cárdenas’ work sheds light on the issues surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border.
She brings attention to migrants and undocumented immigrants and the countless dangers they face as they strive for a better life for themselves and their families.
Cárdenas is based in the Rio Grande Valley, and her images have been published in the Austin Chronicle and the San Antonio Current. The talk will be a live podcast recording.
The following speakers will be David Walter Banks and Kendrick Brinson.
They are a photography duo based in Los Angeles, California, and together they are known as Brinson+Banks.
Both are well established photographers; they collaborate in creating portraits and lifestyle images for their various clients.
Their talk is Get Paid to Shoot What You Love. During the talk, they will impart professional advice on how to develop your style as a photographer and improve your career prospects.
At 6:00 p.m., keynote speaker John Keatley will discuss his work and experience as a photographer.
Keatley is an accomplished photographer who has won several awards.
His work has been featured in popular publications such as The New York Times Magazine and Rolling Stone.
Keatley has worked with celebrities hailing from countless fields from the musician Macklemore to tech revolutionary Bill Gates. Keatley largely shoots portraits, however, each photo is far from any ordinary portrait.
Several of his photos illustrate an intriguing narrative with the subject placed in a unique situation or flamboyant attire.
Whether they be quirky or sophisticated, Keatley’s ability to draw out the personality of his subject and accurately display their character in every shot demonstrates his mastery of the camera.
The festival will conclude with an after party beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is $5, the party will feature a raffle and performance by the San Antonio band Fishermen.
The sextet recently performed at the tenth annual Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival.
Grab a drink and enjoy the rest of the night with the sound of indie rock infused with soul.
