For the 4th consecutive year, HP Canada, the premier sponsor of the 2008 CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival, has managed to showcase its industry-leading technology and products, while at the same time giving local photographers and artists an opportunity to show Torontonians their unique creations.
“Technology continues to make a major impact on the photography market, changing the way we capture and preserve photographic images. Thanks to digital printing, the way in which these images are produced is also undergoing a process of transformation,” says Danny Ionescu, Vice President, Graphic Arts, HP Canada.
“HP is committed to providing photographers of all skill levels with imaging and printing technology that enables them to get amazing results. When they print with HP, photographers will be assured of image accuracy, fast printing speeds and unvarying colour reproduction.”
The world’s largest photography Festival ended May 31, but the visual memories still linger. HP hosted a number of special events during the Festival at Red Bull 381 Projects on Queen Street West in Toronto’s entertainment district.
These included the HP Lecture Series, the Portfolio Reviews and Exhibition and the HP Print Centre, where many participants had their ‘masterpieces’ printed on HP’s state-of-the-art printers, including the HP Designjet Z3100 and the HP Designjet Z6100. HP also printed supporting materials for the Festival using its Indigo 5000 digital press.
The festival’s high-profile public art installations (also printed by HP) were displayed throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including the Gardiner Expressway, the CN Tower and Pearson International Airport.
A big hit this year was the new Magnum Photography Workshop and Exhibition which saw 6 photographers from the Magnum Photography Agency provide one-on-one instruction, critiques, discussion, group and field work to registered Festival attendees.
HP also worked with CONTACT on its prestigious Portfolio Reviews program where curators, art dealers, directors, publishers and photo editors provided one-on-one critiques for photographers over a two-day period. Participants received a print of their files, courtesy of HP, and some had their work displayed at the Portfolio Reviews Exhibition that reflected the best work seen in fine art and commercial and documentary photography.