With all the love our readers show for the annual DCist Exposed Photography Show, we figured this was right up your alley. FotoWeek DC is a new photography festival with the backing of just about every single photography related person and organization in the metro area. Founded by National Geographic and local fave photo shop Chrome Imaging, the week-long event will feature exhibits in nearly every gallery and museum throughout the city, countless lectures and workshops, and a big photo contest open to the public, with the winners honored at a gala at NGS headquarters at the end of the week.

Unfortunately, we'll have to wait all the way until November to enjoy the festival, but you photographers out there can get involved now. Fotoweek opens their contest today, with categories for professionals, students and amateurs that range from Fine Art and Photojournalism to Sport and even Weddings; as well as an overarching Spirit of Washington category for all entrants. Four winners will be chosen in each of the specialized categories and put on display at a venue in Georgetown through the week.

This is a real opportunity for each of you with a camera and a bit of talent (and we know of a few of you out there) to get your work seen by some amazing names in photography. The jury panel is made up of Pulitzer Prize winners, photographers and photo editors from publications like National Geographic and the Smithsonian Magazine, as well as architects, designers and directors of museums -- hey, even Tipper Gore! If that sounds intimidating, you'll find a familiar face in at least one juror, DCist Arts Editor Heather Goss (Heather will also be co-curating a show during the festival with The Pink Line Project). Each entry costs between $10 and $25, depending on which category and how early you enter; see the web site for all the contest rules.

The final schedule for the festival -- still five months off -- isn't finalized yet, but we can give you a little sneak preview. Fotoweek was just awarded a $30,000 grant by the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities, it has the participation of 39 local fine art galleries, headed up by the efforts of George Hemphill at his eponymous venue, and they're negotiating with DCPS to incorporate a city-wide arts program for the kids. Embassies, the National Gallery of Art, the Washington Post, the Cultural Development Corporation, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and many more have all signed up or are in negotiations. Panels on photo industry jobs, printing workshops, and lunch time lectures regaling the adventures of travel photogs are already on the calendar, and they aim to be only the tip of the iceberg.

The more we hear about FotoWeek, the more excited we are to see the entire artistic and journalistic community come together in a way this town has never seen. Check in with their web site to see updates, and be sure to let them know if you're with an organization interested in participating or sponsoring. Individuals looking to get some facetime with all these industry bigwigs should keep an eye out for volunteer calls, which will come later this summer. In the meantime, don't make travel plans during November 15 to 22.