Hope in Shadows Voting Now Open
byVoting is now open for the photos that will appear in the Hope in Shadows 2025 Calendar, presented by Megaphone Magazine. Hope in Shadows is a photography project that shares the stories of people experiencing poverty and homelessness through their own lens.
Hope in Shadows Voting Now Open
The Hope in Shadows calendar project was created by Pivot Legal Society in 2003 and gifted to Megaphone Magazine’s vendors in 2016. Each year, the project engages up to 150 Downtown Eastside community members in a photo contest. Participants are provided a theme, disposable camera and training on how to gather consent from photo subjects, and sent out into the streets for 5 days to take images of their lives. Returned cameras are developed, resulting in up to 2,500 images for a jury of community members and staff to parse down to the Top 30.
Megaphone received over 2,000 photos for this year’s contest, which a community jury narrowed down to just 30 finalists. These top 30 photographs showcase this year’s theme: Snapshot – A Moment in Time. They offer an intimate look into what matters most to Megaphone vendors, storytellers and peers.
Despite communities grappling with poverty and social marginalizion being subject to extensive scrutiny and reporting, the media rarely captures the complete story. Hope in Shadows showcases photography that counters prevailing narratives and captures the essence of marginalized communities with familiarity and affection. It allows participants to reclaim their image.
Through award-winning photography featured in a widely circulated calendar, the project highlights lived experiences and prompts reflection on the barriers hindering equal participation.
Megaphone’s Hope in Shadows calendar is sold by Megaphone vendors on the streets of Vancouver. Vendors buy each calendar for $10 and sell them for $20, keeping the profit and earning a meaningful income. Follow Megaphone on Facebook for more info.
Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt is a monthly columnist for Megaphone Magazine.
