Six-and-a-half years ago, DCist announced the first in what became an annual pillar of this website. The first DCist Exposed show featured 39 photos of life in and around D.C. We sponsored a show that packed the easily cramped, somewhat broken-down Warehouse Arts Complex.

Back then, the Warehouse’s 600 block of New York Avenue NW wasn’t the crane-filled construction zone it is today; Adrian Fenty was in his first months as mayor; and DCist was a semi-pro blog about D.C.

In the years since, all those things have grown. D.C.’s economic and cultural growth have accelerated, DCist has evolved into a full-time news website, and Exposed has become one of the biggest events of the year for Washington’s photography community. The most recent show, which ran March 27 to April 7 at Long View Gallery, kicked off with two overstuffed parties showing off the 42 best images culled from more than 600 that were submitted.

Today brings a bittersweet, but inevitable bit of news. After seven years, Exposed is venturing out as a self-sustaining, year-round endeavor. Instead of DCist Exposed, it’ll now be known as Exposed DC. And it’ll be far more than just a yearly photography contest.

Heather Goss, a longtime DCist editor, says that the revamped Exposed, which launches today, will also offer D.C.’s photographers lessons to hone their skills and build a website that serves as a channel featuring this city’s best established and emerging photographers.

“We’ll still have our big contest in December, but now ExposedDC.com will be a landing page for anything Washington, D.C. photographers are looking for,” Goss says. “Events to attend, lessons to improve their skills, profiles of local photogs and of course, lots of great images. We could never have done this without DCist to support the event and its readers to come out and make the photography community such a great place.”

In addition to Goss, Exposed DC is also being headed up by fellow DCist editors James Calder and Meaghan Gay. The relaunched Exposed kicks off tonight with a party downstairs at Meridian Pint (3400 11th Street NW) at 6 p.m.

Press release from Exposed DC

Next week, Washington, D.C. will have a new hub for photography. The popular DCist Exposed Photography Show, founded in 2006 by Heather Goss, is evolving into a new, independent year-round venture: Exposed DC. Tuesday, we’ll launch our website at ExposedDC.com that will highlight D.C. photography, offer lessons and information for photographers of all skill and interest levels, and be a forum for locals to talk shop by contributing posts about their photography experiences and expertise.

In addition to our annual contest and gallery show, Exposed DC will:
– Organize events throughout the year for photographers to get together,
– Host informal competitions leading up to the Exposed Photography Show in December, and
– Compile the most comprehensive event calendar available for photo-related exhibits, lectures, workshops, contests and other opportunities in D.C.

Join us on Tuesday, June 25 downstairs at Meridian Pint from 6 to 8 p.m., where local photogs, Exposed winners, and your Exposed DC team will be there to toast to our new endeavor and talk to you – the photographers and photography-lovers – about how you’d like to see us contribute to this community.

Exposed DC is organized by Heather Goss, James Calder, Meaghan Gay, Sanjay Suchak and Megan Fogarty.