P.E.I.'s first photography swap Saturday in Charlottetown
Sara Fraser | CBC News | Posted: April 30, 2016 12:00 PM | Last Updated: April 30, 2016
'I'm most excited to see the potential of doing more events like this in the future'
Islanders are invited to bring cameras and photography equipment old and new to P.E.I.'s first-ever photo swap in the cafeteria at Holland College in Charlottetown.
The event runs Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
- P.E.I. smelt run caught on camera by Ph.D. student Sean Landsman
- P.E.I. photographer's secret documentation of WW I goes on display
Holland College photography instructor Alex Murchison is organizing the event, and stresses everyone is welcome, adding the swap should appeal to a broad range of people from amateurs to professionals to collectors.
"At this point we have everything from quite contemporary digital gear, lighting equipment, odds and ends to antiques from the 1900s including some vintage books, a whole range of things," said Murchison.
People are being encouraged not just to sell their surplus gear but to trade with others. It's also a chance to socialize, promote photography on P.E.I. and share advice and expertise.
"We haven't attempted this here, so I can't tell you 100 per cent how it's going to pan out," Murchison chuckled.
There's lots of space for people who only have one or two things or several or a table full, he added.
Focusing on the future
"I'm most excited to see the potential of doing more events like this in the future," Murchison said.
"There's not a lot happening this way in the Maritimes in general, and it'd be actually nice if we could — we have a few people coming from out-of-province to attend — but it'd be nice to maybe make it a bit of a draw at some point in the future."
The swap's Facebook page has attracted interest, with more than 60 people indicating they will attend and some already posting photos of their wares.
Now that many people can, and do, take photos themselves on their phones, Murchison said it's more important than ever to share knowledge about taking good photos.
"We'd like to reach out to everyone, and the broader range of knowledge, the better off the whole community is," he said. "When I say photo community, I'm including everyone who has a serious interest, whether they use an iPhone or DSLR."
Donations are being collected at the door for The Upper Room Soup Kitchen and the PEI Humane Society.