Hope in Shadows Vote 2017

Every year, the Hope in Shadows calendar photography contest is open to Megaphone's low-income and homeless vendors. The final 13 photos that make up the calendar offer an intimate look into the lives of our vendors.

In June, Megaphone vendors participated in photography workshops. Vendors were given single-use film cameras to capture this year's theme of "heart and soul." We received hundreds of photos that our community jury has narrowed down to a top 30 that showcase the talent, heart, and soul of our vendors.

Thirteen of these 30 photographs will be chosen for Megaphone's 2018 Hope in Shadows calendar, which is sold on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria. Help us decide which photos make it into the calendar!

Having a hard time choosing? There is a lot to look for in each photo. To find one that speaks to you, you can look for two main things: the visual, as well as the story. Visually: Is it creative? Beautiful? Well-framed? Colourful? And in terms of the story: What does the photo tell us? What questions does it ask? Why might this photograph be important, and to whom? The best photos are visually stunning and tell us a story.

This project is rooted in creating space for people experiencing poverty to tell their own stories, through their own lens. Hope in Shadows shows the beauty, joy, friendship, and hope that exist alongside the hardship in the lives of people impacted by poverty.

*Please note - photo titles below are working titles.