Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and FotoDC are proud to announce a first ever collaboration highlighting the region’s booming restaurant industry through an innovative photography contest and exhibition.  

Launching this week on the heels of the much talked about FotoWeekDC, Rammys in Focus will showcase the people and faces in the Washington, D.C., area’s food community. It will engage professional and experienced amateur photographers from around the region, capturing images from all sides of foodservice, the juried results of which will debut at the 33rd annual RAMMY Awards and Gala, Sunday, June 7, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 

To build the Rammys in Focus collection, FotoDC is soliciting 20 photographers to embark on a six-week assignment to capture high-quality portrait photography of the restaurants, food, staff, and diners that define the region’s dining scene.  Interested photographers can apply to be a part of Rammys in Focus by registering online on or before Jan. 1, 2015. 

Winning applicants will be given a stipend for materials to photograph a series of five restaurants and/or events in January and February 2015, submitting a minimum of 150 photographs per assignment. Winning photographers will receive two tickets to the RAMMYS, where their work will be recognized during a special presentation.  

In addition, the photos will be included in a special gallery exhibition in summer 2015. 

“With Rammys in Focus we hope to capture some of the truths about life in and around our area’s restaurants," says Kathy Hollinger, RAMW president and CEO. "The industry today is exciting. It is hopeful, and at the same time full of all the stress and fire that comes with it. I think the exhibition will be a way to tell our members’ stories in a very personal way.”