Augusta’s ten-day long celebration of photography officially kicks off Friday, October 21. Keynote speaker and Canon Explorer of Light photographer Eddie Tapp presents “Eye to Eye: A creative challenge.” The reception and talk, 6 pm. at the Snelling Center, are free.

A hallmark of the biennial festival is its array of photography workshops and guided photowalks. Topics range from beginning digital photography to advanced studio lighting.  Photo walks to sites including King Mill, a horse farm, and Summerville Cemetery offer access to shooting locations not normally open to the public.  More than 30 activities are offered over the ten day festival, climaxing in the awards presentation for the APF photo competition on Sunday, Oct. 30.

A full description and registration can be found at augustaphotofestival.org.

Several photo exhibitions are on display in conjunction with the biennial Augusta Photography Festival. 

Augusta Photography Festival Competition Finalists Exhibition

October 7 to November 4, 2016

Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta, 100 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta SC. 29841

The 2016 Competition Finalist Exhibition features top images selected from over 750 entries in the Augusta Photography Festival’s signature competition. Categories include nature, people, architecture, inanimate objects and fine art photography. Prizes, including a $500 Best in Show Award, will be presented at the festival’s closing ceremony on Sunday, October 30. The Arts and Heritage Center is open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, and the second Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 pm. Admission is free.  

David Foster “Nature Essence”

October 7 - 30, 2016

600 Broad Building, 600 Broad Street, Augusta GA 30901

David Foster is a nature photographer best known for images that convey the essence of his favorite subjects - water and botanicals. He has a special interest in the emerging focus on the healing power of nature and nature-based art/photography. He exhibits his artwork widely, having been part of over 70 regional, national and international exhibitions - solo, group and juried - in the past 10 years. The international juried exhibit Gardens in Focus at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia included David's work three years in a row, 2012-2014.

Images of Historic Trinity CME Church

October 1 through 31, 2016

Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, 1116 Phillips Street, Augusta GA

After hearing that the Historic Trinity CME Church was slated for demolition, the Chicks that Click Photography Club began a mission: to obtain access to the structure to preserve its history through photographs. All leads were dead ends until, by chance, Mrs. Christine Betts, Executive Director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, learned of the quest. On Saturday, June 13, 2015, the Chicks gathered in front of the church located at the corner of Walton Way and 8th Street, and after a prayer and the chorus of "Holy Ground," they were allowed two hours inside the endangered structure. Their photographs will be on display during the month of October, Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission fees apply.