Once again, the Knight Arts grantee and quickly rising star of the Philly arts community, the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC), is hosting Philly Photo Day on October 18. This fourth annual iteration of the event will see thousands of professional and amateur photographers point the lenses of their cameras and phones at every crack and crevice of this ever-surprising, diverse and photogenic city of ours.

Photo by Ida Juliano-Eddy for Philly Photo Day 2012.

After the day of framing, snapping, flashing and the subsequent editing, there will be a massive exhibition from November 14 through December 28 of every image captured within the city limits on October 18. So far, each year the participation has risen, and the occasion is becoming one of the most visible artistic ventures in the region… not least of which because of PPAC’s expansion to partner with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. This joint effort will see 20 large-scale neighborhood photo murals created by local community centers. These will be the city’s first digitally printed photo murals and will remain on display for six months after they are hung in December.

In addition, PPAC will mount 40 selected photographs on billboards throughout the area and expand its exhibition to 10 satellite locations in collaboration with neighborhood cultural centers. This process is meant to increase the event’s breadth and open up the project to an even wider and more varied audience in the area, reaching out to traditionally unreached segments of the population.

Additional community partners in the area will also provide logistical and instructional support. Fleisher Art Memorial will be providing a free digital photography workshop on Friday, October 18. The class, led by Stephanie Burese, will assist individuals with composition, formal elements of looking at 2D art, and the basic functions of a point-and-shoot camera. The session will last from 1-4 p.m., ending with a tour of the neighborhood with a professional photographer in order to create interesting pictures culled from an everyday environment. Finally, participants will select one image to include in the Philly Photo Day 2013 exhibit.

The final display of images from this wide-reaching and impressive venture is surely worth checking out, but knowing about the event a couple of weeks in advance allows for even more participation on the part of the community. There is only one day to capture your favorite facade or unseen nook of Philadelphia, so be sure to have your device of choice handy on October 18!

Philadelphia Photo Arts Center is located at 1400 North American St., Philadelphia; [email protected]; philaphotoarts.org.