By JIM FARIS
Photographers around the state, the country, and even further are set to congregate in Maryville from the 20th to the 26th for the 78th annual Missouri Photo Workshop, a part of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism.
The workshop was organized in 1949 by Clifton Edom of the Missouri School of Journalism, inspired by documentary photos from the Farm Security Administration. The workshop reinforces honest storytelling through photography, community, and relationships. Some of the nation's leading photojournalists, photographers, and editors have taken part in the workshop.
This year's event marks a major return to Maryville, which played host to the workshop in 1989.
DeAnn Davison, Tourism Director for Maryville, said "There is something really special about having photographers of this caliber spend an entire week getting to know our community and the people who make it what it is. They will be capturing everyday moments that tell the story of Maryville today, and those photographs will become part of a visual history that can be appreciated for generations. We hope our community will welcome the photographers, share their stories, and enjoy being part of this unique experience."
Photographers and workshop team members will be based at Northwest Missouri State University's Agricultural Learning Center during the days of photography, and the pictorial storytellers will be touring Maryville and surrounding areas, developing their documentary stories. Instead of simply shooting landmarks, participants are encouraged to tell stories about the people, their lives, work, passions, and experience.
The week will peak with a public exhibition Saturday the 26th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Maryville Community Center, showing off the work taken during the week, and showing residents how their city looks through the eyes of the visiting photographers.