INUVIK
Organizers of the Arctic Image Festival are preparing to showcase images of life above the Arctic Circle in the event's second year of operation.

Peter Clarkson, one of the original founders of the Arctic Image Festival, and Weronika Murray, festival co-ordinator, stand with one of Terry Halifax's landscape photos from the inaugural festival from 2014. Festival organizers plan to commemorate Halifax, who passed away suddenly last week at the age of 54. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Over three days the festival will showcase photography, offer free workshops for aspiring photographers, and host a number of themed displays, celebrating the rich talent in the town and region.

"The whole idea of the festival has been to celebrate photographers," said organizer Peter Clarkson. "So many people are taking great images and we wanted to allow people to showcase that work."

Clarkson said the festival has encouraged a number of professional and amateur photographers in the area to submit their images for the public to see.

"With smartphones and digital cameras, photography has become something people use all the time now," he said. "We want to promote the Arctic and the people documenting the beauty of the region."

The festival will host two theme displays during the three-day event - one on the 80th anniversary of the reindeer herd's arrival in the region in 1935, and one showcasing portraits of elders in the community.

Clarkson said the elder portrait display came out of Robert Alexie Jr.'s love for photographing elders in the communities. Alexie Jr., former president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, died last year.

"Robert really loved capturing elders and we decided to pay tribute to the elders and those who take photos of them," he said.

Each display will feature a number of images from a variety of photographers and Clarkson said he hopes to be able to display the images at various other events and festivals throughout the year.

The festival will also host presentations from 20 photographers who will present a series of 20 images. Each presenter will have 20 seconds to talk about each image.

A number of workshops on wildlife, portrait, photojournalism and Northern lights will be held professional photographers.

Peter Mather from Whitehorse will be hosting free workshops on wildlife and Northern lights, as well as photojournalism and storytelling through images.

Maja Swannie Jacobs of Prince George, B.C., will offer workshops on portrait photography and Instagram. Jacobs will also join Inuvik photographer Adrienne Talbot to teach an introductory workshop on photography for people interested in learning basic techniques.

A tribute to town councillor Terry Halifax, an avid photographer and one of the original founders of the festival, is currently being planned, said Clarkson. Halifax passed away suddenly last week at the age of 54.

"He was an important member of the photography community here," said Clarkson. "So we want to do something, but just aren't sure what that will be just yet."

Through grant money provided by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, festival organizers were able to purchase a large printer to reproduce images in a high-quality manner, up to 111 centimetres or 44 inches in size.

"We thought it would be a great asset for the community," Clarkson said, adding it's the first of its kind in the town.

The festival hopes to use it throughout the year with other organizations, events and artists as a fundraising tool for future festivals.

Visit the Arctic Image Festival website for more information.