Capture: Art of Photography Show

Only a few years after the first exhibit featuring a small selection of the best framed prints submitted, the Art of Photography Show has evolved and transformed across mediums and oceans to become an international success showcasing the best photography from all around the world, as judged by members of the art community.

Now in its sixth year, the Art of Photography Show received a record breaking total of 13,692 photographic entries from artists across 67 different countries. This year’s honored judge is Natasha Egan, who is the Associate Director and Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago. And for your enjoyment, 111 of the best of the best photographs were selected by Ms. Egan, and will be on display at the Lyceum Theatre Gallery with an Opening Reception on Saturday, August 28th, and running through November 7, 2010.

The Art of Photography Show is the ideal multicultural form for photographers from all across the globe to exhibit and sell their work, reaching a large community of San Diego art enthusiasts.

It all kicks off with a free Opening Reception Awards Gala on Saturday, August 28th at the Lyceum Theatre Gallery located at Horton Plaza Mall in the heart of downtown San Diego. One of the coolest free events you’ll ever come across, the reception will offer complimentary hors d’oeuvres by Epic Catering, a selection of Kendall-Jackson wine varieties, and live music by Tom Griesgraber, playing the Chapman Stick. And bonus – all reception-goers will receive a free copy of the Art of Photography Show Catalog, a 76 page book which showcases all of the exhibited images with personal statements about each piece from the artists.

A sampling of the 67 countries which are represented in the Art of Photography Show include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, India, Italy, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States. And out of all the 111 incredible photographs, two San Diego photographers stand out in the global spotlight. The two local photographers who made it to this year’s Art of Photography Show are Amanda Dahlgren (pictured below) and Andrew Folz (pictured left).

About Andrew Folz: Although Andrew Folz has been pursuing some form of photography since he was 10-years-old, he just recently discovered his true passion for photography when he entered the arts program at Cal State University San Marcos in 2007. Now you will hardly ever catch Folz without a camera in hand – whether he’s exploring the East County mountains or relaxing on the North County coastline. A San Diego native, Folz appreciates the laid-back nature of our local culture and strives to help people slow down and realize what is happening all around us while we’re too busy with our daily lives to look. Though he is still experimenting to find his signature photography style, Folz is known for the lack of human subjects in his photographs. As he explains it best, his photographs always embrace some sort of human element without showing any people. Read more in our exclusive artist interview.


About Amanda Dahlgren: Amanda Dahlgren acknowledges that there are many perverse elements throughout contemporary culture, and through her artwork she strives to reveal truth and help people re-evaluate the way we view reality. Her current series, Distressed, exemplifies this vision in that it’s a social commentary on the San Diego real estate crisis. Through these very real photos, Amanda shines light on how locals tend to obsess with the grandiose over the genuine. Amanda’s piece in The Art of Photography Show is a selection from the Distressed series. Amanda is also a professional portrait photographer who is obsessed only with exceeding her commercial clients’ expectations and making their vision come to life. Read more in our exclusive artist interview.























The Art of Photography Show’s featured photographs will be available for purchase during the reception and throughout the exhibit. What's best - 100% of proceeds from art sales revenue will be donated to The AjA Project – a San Diego based international charity that runs an after school participatory photography program for refugee youth. For more details on the AjA Project please visit ajaproject.org.

Art of Photography in San Diego: It’s a real treat to be able to view the best photography in the world right at home in San Diego. Check out the Art of Photography Show free Opening Reception on Saturday, August 28th from 6 to 10pm or view the exhibit at the Lyceum Theatre Gallery until November 7, 2010. For more details about the 2010 Art of Photography Show in San Diego, please visit artofphotographyshow.com.

Main Photo: "Denwa" by Sean Marc Lee
Left Photo: "Birds at Bombay Beach" by Andrew Folz
Bottom Photo: Distressed series by Amanda Dahlgren