There are two type of photographers. Those who feel threatened by the fact that pretty much anyone can call themselves a photographer now, and those who embrace our growing photographic community. St. Petersburg's Morean Arts Center’s director of photography, Beth Reynolds, is clearly one of the latter.
“Photography has become so democratic these days,” says Reynolds, “Everyone is taking pictures.” But this doesn’t seem to bother Reynolds one bit.
In 2017, Reynolds took over an old Florida Museum of Photographic Arts project Jamie Jackson started in 2012 called One Day Tampa Bay. The project aims to bring photographers of all levels together for one day, or 24 hours, to photograph the Tampa Bay area. It’s the third Saturday of September each year.
The goal, says Reynolds, is to "gather as many people as you can together.” And she means all people. “You can be 12,” and still participate, she stressed to an attentive audience at the Dunedin Fine Art Center’s opening reception for their winter exhibits.
This year 46 photographers participated in One Day Tampa Bay, including several professional photographers.
The group gathered at The Morean a week before the main event for a prep class, taught by Reynolds. She discussed with students what events were happening that day, potential assignment ideas, how to set the time on their cameras, and photography’s legal and ethical issues. It was basically an hour-long crash course in street photography and photojournalism taught by one of the area’s best photographers — and it was included in the $25 registration price. That money went to the Morean’s Teen Photography program, so participating teens have money for film and other supplies.
So why aren’t we all participating in this? I mean, it sounds totally awesome, right? It’s inexpensive to enter. You don’t have to have any photography experience. You don’t need a fancy camera — a cell phone camera will do. You can go out and take photos with friends, family, or by yourself. You don’t have to shoot all 24 hours — one hour is fine. And at the end, there’s a chance your photo could be displayed at one of our Tampa Bay area community art centers, like The Morean Arts Center, The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts or the Dunedin Fine Art Center. Think of the bragging rights.
I’m going to assume you guys didn’t know about it, and that’s why most of you didn’t participate in One Day Tampa Bay this past year. But that’s okay, because The Morean and the Dunedin Fine Art Center have teamed up this year to help you get to know One Day Tampa Bay a little better.
Sure, it can be intimidating to join in a community photo project for the first time, but you don’t have to go into this blind. Remember those 46 photographers I was talking about earlier? A selection of their photographs are currently on display at the Dunedin Fine Art Center through February 24.
DFAC curator Catherine Bergmann and curatorial assistant Nathan Beard culled through 432 photographs to select the 50 photos on display.
Wandering the John and Pat Rossi and Meta B. Brown Galleries, I recognize many of the places and events photographed. I can tell you that on Saturday, September 22, 2018, about a zillion people dressed up as Spider-Man for Tampa Bay MegaCon. Joey Seta captured the scene from above. There was a wicked thunderstorm, and Cary Catts captured the lightning. Selina Román was photographing museum patrons at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs. I know this because Lance Rothstein captured the event in a photograph, and because I was there.
A man decorated his palm tree with jack-o-lantern candy buckets in the suburbs; Haron Umbowers was blowing glass in the window of Hot Wax in Ybor, as I’ve seen him do before; and Reynolds took a trip out to St. Petersburg’s Lake Maggiore. Retired Navy photographer Sandy Thomas was returning from a photo shoot at Bok Tower when she captured field workers from the side of the road in Plant City.
Heather Petersen, the new Assistant Director of Education at The Morean, stood under the Bayway Bridge that day, facing the Don CeSar, and waiting for a boat to pass by. Peterson’s grandfather was a photographer also, and a great inspiration to her. The first time she ever went out shooting with him, they took pictures of the Don CeSar at sunrise.
“What we’re doing is creating a time capsule for this point in Tampa Bay,” says Reynolds. But instead of burying it — which is kind of creepy anyway — Reynolds and Jackson assembled 100 of these images into a book that will go on sale through BLURB February 1, 2019 (search for Morean or One Day Tampa Bay on BLURB).
The images were also uploaded into an online photo album via Flickr. So look at the photos, buy the book, and take some of your own pics in 2019, preferably on the third Saturday of September.
One Day Tampa Bay | Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin | Through Feb. 24: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | 727-298-3322 | dfac.org
This article appears in Jan 17-24, 2019.