The fourth annual New York Photo Festival (NYPH), which lures photography professionals and creative people from across the globe to the waterfront neighborhood of DUMBO, opens this Wednesday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 15^th. According to the organizers, it will display over 3,000 photographs, attract over 14,000 attendees, and present over 40 events across 11 venues.

This year’s main exhibitions, PHOTOGRAPHY NOW: engaged, personal, and vital, curated by Enrico Bossan and Elisabeth Biondi, offer distinct perspectives on a shared theme: the state of documentary photography today. Bossan’s show, entitled Hope, features the work of young photographers who, in his words, “neither provide a faithful representation of reality nor create an illusion, but who have impressed me with their ability to capture the essential aspects of life.” These artists include Olivia Arthur, Clemence de Limburg, Matt Eich, Simona Ghizzoni, Andrea Gjestvang, Sean Lee, Margo Ovcharenko, Andy Spyra, Mikhael Subotzky, Ali Taptik and Peter van Agtmael. Read Adriana Teresa’s interview with Enrico Bossan.

Left: Alejandro Chaskielbe, The Hunter. Right: Shaul Schwarz, from Narco Culture. Copyright the photographers, courtesy New York Photo Festival.

Curated by Elisabeth Biondi, Subjective/Objective argues that documentary photography today is remarkably vibrant and creatively thriving, despite the bleak financial picture and vanishing support from a publishing industry challenged by digital media. She has selected photographers who refract reality through their own distinct visions, often venturing into more personal visual languages. Subjective/Objective will include the work of Alejandro Chaskielberg, Stefano De Luigi, Carolyn Drake, Martine Fougeron, Balazs Gardi, Jessica Hines, Ethan Levitas, Irina Werning and A Yin. Read Adriana Teresa’s interview with Elisabeth Biondi.

In addition to their respective exhibitions, Bossan and Biondi are jointly curating a room of work by photographers Shaul Shwarz and Richard Mosse, as well as Under the Bridge: Projections of a Revolution, a unique body of photographs and videos that document the unfolding revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa. The works, created specifically for this one-night-only event, will be projected simultaneously within the newly renovated Archway of the Manhattan Bridge on Thursday, May 12.

For five days in May, the waterfront neighborhood of DUMBO opens its doors to these exhibitions as well as another 14 featured exhibitions and numerous indoor and outdoor slideshows, symposia and parties with a vast range of topics are part of the picture. For an hour-by-hour schedule of lectures, and portfolio review lineup, or to purchase tickets, please visit the website.

This just in from the New York Photo Festival organizers: 

The New York Photo Festival has partnered with Leica Camera to present two of the highlights of this year's festival (NYPH'11): The Leica Photo Scavenger Hunt, May 12-14, and the Leica Akademie Lectures, May 12-15. Both offer opportunities for photo amateurs and professionals to become intimately acquainted with Leica's state-of-the-art cameras.

The Leica Photo Scavenger Hunt will allow photographers to discover the borough while experiencing Leica's coveted X1 and M9 cameras. Representing mastery in optics and mechanics, high-quality design and outstanding craftsmanship, these cameras will be available for loan for up to three hours on a complimentary basis. Participants in the scavenger hunt will follow clues, encounter iconic Brooklyn landmarks and capture some of the fascinating and historic sites in DUMBO in breathtaking quality.

The best images from the hunt will be selected by Leica and showcased in a pop-up exhibition and reception on Saturday, May 14, 5:00-7:00 P.M. at 55 Washington (ground floor).

The Leica Photo Scavenger Hunt will be offered Thursday, 5/12 through Saturday, 5/14, 12:00-7:00 P.M. The starting point is the Leica booth located in the storefront at 1 Main St. A credit card and ID must be provided in exchange for the borrowed camera. Participants may bring their own SD memory card or purchase one on-site.

Editor's note: DART is a media sponsor of the New York Photo Festival.