Erin Hawkins
A inaugural, sold-out national photo, architectural and design conference in Columbus Friday and Saturday will feature a screening of the “Columbus” movie and will include a Landmark Columbus Foundation photographer, Hadley Fruits, whose artistic structural and related images are well known to local residents.
Fruits will lead a downtown architectural tour for attendees along with Chicago photographer Tom Harris.
The Los Angeles-based Architectural Photography Almanac is presenting the event titled “Perspective,” with wide-ranging workshops spread across such venues as Helen Haddad Hall, YES Cinema, The Republic Building, the Bartholomew County Public Library, and other downtown locales.
A total of 120 photographers, architects, bookmakers and others will attend, according to Melanie Savia, media relations staffer with Architectural Photography Almanac.
“Columbus is such a hidden gem,” Savia said.
She estimated that about 15 percent of expected attendees already are somewhat familiar with Columbus.
Organizers have promoted and summarized the gathering this way: “With two days of talks from world-renowned architects, photographers, videographers, and designers sharing insight into their craft, ‘Perspective’ brings together established mindsets and new interpretations to inspire and allow everyone to find their own meaning in architecture and design.”
Speakers include Lynn Goldsmith, world-renowned celebrity music photographer (Bruce Springsteen, Cher and others) and Supreme Court victor in the case of (Andy) Warhol vs. Goldsmith; Bernardo Pozas, one of Mexico’s leading architects; David Basulto, founder of ArchDaily; and others.
Erin Hawkins, the director of strategic partnerships and communications for the Columbus Area Visitors Center, sees the event as a great way for the city to capture the eye of artistic sorts known for their discriminating eye.
“I think that this is an incredible opportunity for the community,” Hawkins said agreeing that local images could land all over social media. “I’m really eager to be able to see Columbus through the eyes of many of the photographers and others.”
She added that she believes that the city and especially the mix of downtown noted Modernist structures “all lends itself perfectly” for such a gathering. Plus, Hawkins will become a conference participant when she joins Elisha Christian, director of photography for the “Columbus” film, for a post-screening discussion with the event audience.
Hawkins was a point person for the “Columbus” film crew when members were here for three weeks in the summer of 2016 to shoot the independent movie.
She’s also impressed that the conference includes Fruits, whom she called “among the most talented architectural photographers in the country.”
Also being screened at the conference is a movie about a collection of architects and their rebuilding movement in war-torn Ukraine. The film is titled “The Architects of Hope: The First Steps in Rebuilding Ukraine.”
