Photo Walk participants gather in front of the South Side Innovation Center with cameras in hand, ready to take on the annual event. Photo courtesy of The Stand.

Exhibit details:

The Stand's Annual Photo Walk "From Where We Stand" exhibition is on display at the OCC gallery until Feb. 23. An artist reception will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

A dog’s paw clutching the roofing of a house, staring out at passersby. A young girl adorned in a black-and-white, polka-dotted dress. A woman holding herself outside of the passenger-side window with her fist to the sky, protesting against racial injustice.

These are only a few of the moments that have been captured over the years during The Stand’s Annual Photo Walk. 

The Stand is a local news organization serving the South Side of Syracuse, working to highlight community voices and issues since its establishment in 2010. Each year, come July, participants gather and explore various neighborhoods throughout the South Side, in search of vibrant residents, small businesses and other local hubs to photograph.

A man and two children using Nikon cameras as they participate in The Stand's Annual Photo Walk.
Photo Walk participants set up their cameras as they prepared for The Stand’s annual photography event. Photo courtesy of The Stand.

The idea for the Photo Walk was originally inspired by Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walk, which consists of thousands of photographers across the globe diving into different areas to collect community vignettes at the same time.

The Stand kept up with the annual walk and followed suit in creating a contest for the best photos. Winners of the contest have the opportunity to see their work showcased at a professional venue. 

This year, the photos from the event have been on display at The Gallery at Onondaga Community College since Jan. 23 and will be open to the public during the regular gallery hours until Feb. 23. On Wednesday, Feb. 8, an artist reception will take place alongside the “From Where We Stand” exhibition to celebrate the vast breadth of winning photographs from over a decade of The Stand’s beloved tradition. 

In a virtual exhibition of the Photo Walk in spring 2022, Ashley Kang, founding director of The Stand, wrote: 

“Our hope in securing spots for images throughout the community is to help residents feel represented and seen. And when a resident recognizes someone in a photo, I hope a smile lifts across their face.”

The Gallery at OCC is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or an appointment can be made via phone call to view the art at an alternative time.

Artist receptions will be held on Feb. 8. A campus reception is from 12 to 1:15 p.m.. The community reception is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information, call the gallery. 

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Sarah Dolgin is a graduating senior at Syracuse University studying digital journalism and data analytics. Sarah enjoys covering arts and culture, equity and more. Have a tip? Contact Sarah at newsroom@centralcurrent.org.