Durango photographers battle for $10,000 prize in Fort Lewis hall
Five finalists from over 50 applicants will present slideshows set to music on Wednesday, a tradition that began with a drunken 1997 bar gathering in Whistler, Canada.
By Fatima Saleh ·
Five photographers in Durango will compete for a $10,000 cash prize on Wednesday. They will present their favorite images as slideshows set to music. The event marks the first year the contest is open to any photographer in the state, not just those specializing in action sports. Over 50 applicants submitted entries for the competition.
The format traces its origins to 1997. Jack Turner returned from a snowboarding trip in Iran with photographer Eric Berger. The pair gathered a group of people in a bar in Whistler, Canada, to show them photos from the journey. They included shots of Tehran streets and buildings alongside ski images. Turner recalled that 200 people attended by the end of the night. "By the end of the night, there were 200 people, everybody was really drunk and it was really fun," Turner said.
That casual presentation evolved into a recurring festival tradition known as the Pro Photographer Showdown. Turner is now bringing that format to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis in Durango. He hopes the audience will participate loudly. He encourages attendees to cheer, scream, and tell friends how much they love specific photos to influence the judging.
The showdown serves as the anchor event for Colorado Photography Week. This series of photo-focused activities in Durango runs from November 14 through November 22. The competition itself takes place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Tickets cost between $25 and $35. The venue is located at 1000 Rim Drive in Durango.
Turner described the event as an experience that requires active engagement. "This is one of those things that if you blink, you don't miss it," he said. "It's really to be savored and enjoyed."
Other cultural events are occurring across the state this week. The 17th annual DocuWest Film Festival runs from Thursday through Sunday in Denver. It features five feature films and two short film collections. The festival includes a screening of a documentary about a two-month bike ride for civil rights. Tickets are $15 per screening at the Sie FilmCenter on 2510 E. Colfax Avenue.
Holiday markets have also opened. The annual Deck the Halls market in Carbondale begins Friday night. It sells local crafts, candles, and cards. The market remains open until December 24 at Carbondale Arts on 76 S. Fourth Street. Entry is free. In Basalt, three comedians named Adam and Rory and Ben will host a movie night on Friday. They will riff over an unknown film throughout the screening. Tickets are $35 for the 8 p.m. show at The Arts Campus at Willits on 400 Robinson Street.
