Daniel Power is the Founder and Publisher of the 2007 Lucie Award-winning publishing company powerHouse Books. He has done sales and marketing work for Aperture, Artforum, and Parkett. He co-founded Distributed Art Publishers in 1990 and started powerHouse Books in 1995. Power launched the powerHouse Gallery in 2003, and in 2006 he moved the gallery, bookstore, and publishing company into the powerHouse Arena. Since its founding, powerHouse Books has published and distributed more than 500 photographic and illustrated books. powerHouse Books also incorporates an artists’ agency, and publishes a magazine.
 
 
NYPH: Considering the vast audience and exceptional interest generated by the New York Photo Festival in its first year, can you elaborate on aspects you would like to expand as well as your expectations for this second edition?
 
Daniel Power: We’re adding a new, human element to it in the form of the Review Pavilion, where aspiring and established photographers can attend workshops, have their work reviewed in portfolio sessions, attend presentations, and congregate in a dedicated area.
 
NYPH: The festival creates a certain aura and atmosphere. Within this environment, what is the public impact you hope for and the message you would like to convey to the audience?
 
DP: Joy and excitement. Bringing the art form and celebration of photography to life.
 
NYPH: In founding the festival, you have established an amazing, long-awaited placement and exploration of photography within the modern art world. What are your thoughts on the “future of photography” as the festival continues to explore the seemingly endless possibilities of this artistic phenomenon?
 
DP: We’ll see more emphasis on the consumption of the image on a daily basis, in the form of the less-exalted methods we are used to: Flikr groups, Blurb books, even personalized avatars for social sites. The classic photojournalism paradigm is fast fading, being replaced with boatloads of cell camera shots, two-minute shorts, and simultaneous Tweets. That will work its way into what we look at in a festival format.
 

NYPH: Explain the origin of the idea for the festival and how it eventually came to be. What do you consider your biggest accomplishment within the genetic makeup of the festival?
DP: Frank and I felt the U.S., and New York City in particular, needed an international photo festival; this is the world capital of photography, yet there was nothing celebrating it on an international scale for a short, concentrated period of time. Our biggest accomplishment has been making it work, and making it something to talk about and get inspired by.
 

NYPH: One might say you’ve reached the height of your career in creating such a well-received showcase. Do you believe this event signifies a peak in your career, or do you foresee a never-ending opportunity for growth and expansion within the medium?
 
DP: Gee thanks. It’s all downhill from here? Oy vey. I would like it to grow organically if it does grow, and if not, just be a cool little festival where a fun time is had by all. That’s living, baby!