Ernesto Bazan / Courtesy the artist via LOOK3

This past weekend the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, welcomed the photography community for LOOK3: Festival of the Photograph. Hundreds of beautiful and moving photos were on display as part of over a dozen exhibits and presentations, providing nuggets of inspiration around every corner. Even the trees along Charlottesville’s downtown mall were transformed into open-air galleries, as giant prints by David Doubilet hung between their branches.

During interviews and presentations, images depicting powerful stories were given additional meaning when the photographers candidly spoke about their own experience working on their project. Lynsey Addario presented a collection of her work of more than a decade on women’s rights in Afghanistan, rape in Congo and closing with maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. Her touching stories of compassion for her subjects moved the audience to a standing ovation.

As the festival concluded its fifth installment, there was no doubt about the power of photography in telling stories. While those with storied careers were celebrated, there was also a refreshing reminder about the importance of the future of photography for those getting into the field. Two of the featured photographers touched on this in their presentations. On opening night, Stanley Greene was asked about the fact that he frequently recommends the work of upcoming photographers to his own editors, even those working on the same topic as him. Greene responded:

I believe in the community of photography. I believe in the idea of photography. I believe we have to give each other a helping hand. It’s like passing a baton or the handing off of the torch. I think it’s important to bring up photographers who have fallen through the cracks. It’s important for all of us, when we discover talent, to try and help them.

Stanley Greene/NOOR via LOOK3

Kabul, Afghanistan - July 2008 -- Russian Cultural Center

Stanley Greene / NOOR via LOOK3

Soukh ash-Shouyoukh, Northern Iraq -- April 2004 -- Road side bombing attack on a pipe-line.

The following day, photographer Ernesto Bazan echoed Greene’s comments when he eloquently encouraged budding photographers to follow their passion. Bazan followed his to Cuba, which had led to 14 years of working and living in the country. He said:

Be imaginative, be curious, be surreal, be yourself.

Do not ever lean on preconceived ideas or established schemes.

Let doubt always hover on in your soul: it's so wise and beautiful to change your mind. Find your voice. As I like to say: Keep the rest of your body still attached to the your heart and soul. You are the future, our future.

While the LOOK3 events ended this past weekend, all the exhibits are open to the public and will be up through the rest of June. For the complete list of exhibits and details, visit the LOOK3 website. For a play-by-play of the photographer interviews and presentations, visit the LOOK3 blog.

Ernesto Bazan / Courtesy the artist via LOOK3

Stanley Greene / NOOR, Courtesy of the artist via LOOK3

July 25th, 2011 Guvecci, Turkey: Jisr Shughur, Syrian Border village. School for Syrian refugees who cross over from the border camp.

Lynsey Addario / VII, Courtesy of the artist via LOOK3

Noor Nisa, 20, pregnant, and her mother, Nazer Begam, 40, who live in Weha village, a four hour drive by car to the clinic in Faizabad, wait along the side of the road to be transported to the hospital, after their car broke down, in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 14, 2009. Nisa's water had just broken. Her husband, Shir Mohammad, who had lost two wives and whose first wife had died during childbirth, was determined to get Nisa to the hospital but his borrowed car broke down, so he went to find another vehicle. Nisa, her mother and her husband were eventually taken by the photographer and her interpreter, who happened to be driving by, to the hospital where Nisa delivered a baby girl.

At the end of this week Charlottesville, Virginia will be taken over by hundreds of photographers – and photography aficionados – as they gather for LOOK3: Festival of the Photograph. What started out as an intimate gathering of friends sharing their work in the backyard of National Geographic photographer Nick Nichols (a Charlottesville resident), has grown into a polished 3-day event showcasing the best in photojournalism, documentary and fine art photography. Over the month of June, the exhibits – which are all open to the public - are expected to draw 25,000 visitors.

Even if you are unable to attend this year’s festival, you can virtually experience all the talks and events, which will be live-blogged on the LOOK3 blog. Also stay tuned to PhotoBlog. I will be heading to Charlottesville later this week and will be be posting a follow up to the blog from the festival.

Alex Webb / Magnum Photos, Courtesy of the artist via LOOK3

Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, 1993.

David Doubilet, Courtesy of the artist via LOOK3

Penguins on Ice, Chinstrap and gentoo penguins on a small ice floe near Danko Island, Antarctic Peninsula.

While LOOK3 is popular with those in the photography industry, involving the people of Charlottesville has been central to the festival’s past success. The city is home to the University of Virginia, as well as an active artist community.

“The beauty of Charlottesville is that it is the one place in America that has perfectly done a pedestrian mall that actually works,” said David Griffin, Visuals Editor at The Washington Post, who curated this year's festival together with National Geographic photographer Vincent J. Musi. “It is an urban space, and is a spine that is conducive to this idea of meeting and talking with people in a causal atmosphere,” said Griffin.

Ernesto Bazan, Courtesy of the artisy via LOOK3

Color images from Cuba.

Each year, LOOK3 invites a curator to select the featured artists and exhibits. Both Griffin and Musi have strong backgrounds in journalism and began their careers working in newspapers. Musi began working with National Geographic in 1993, and Griffin was previously the director of photography at the magazine.

“There’s a balance you want to achieve,” says Griffin. “You try and find an interesting mix of well-established and emerging artists that are a reflection of the time.”

Griffin and Musi’s newspaper and magazine backgrounds are evident in this year’s lineup. It was important for them to have a connection to the featured artists, helping the festival maintain a personal and intimate touch. This year's keynote presentations will be given by Alex Webb, Donna Ferrato and Stanley Greene. Also featured will be David Doubilet, Lynsey Addario, Bruce Gilden, Hank Willis Thomas, Camille Seaman, Robin Schwartz, Ernesto Bazan and Chris Boot. To balance this selection of photojournalists, the nightly slideshow projections will showcase more projects from the art photography field, including Todd Hido and Steve Fitch.

“If anyone has any doubts,” said Griffin. “[LOOK3] is about reviving the importance and power of still photography. I love all the innovative options, but the base you build upon is about capturing that single moment.”

Robin Schwartz, Courtesy of the artist via LOOK3

Trunk Sniff -- Amelia's World: Animal Affinity.