Winning photographers in the annual Hope in Shadows contest were recognized for their images today (October 8), as the 2015 calendar was launched in the Downtown Eastside.

Among the photos in this year’s calendar is the cover shot “Ray of Light”, a self-portrait of Sonia Samuels outside her Downtown Eastside home on a sunny evening.

The photograph was one of 38 winning entries chosen from thousands of submissions from more than 250 participants, according to Pivot Legal Society, which coordinates the project.

"It's really awesome what they do for our community down here—get us to be recognized," Samuels said in an interview.

"We’re stereotyped as drug addicted or whatever, but there’s people down here, they all love and care for everybody and respect each other, no matter what condition they’re in."

Jennifer Brown's photo "Heart of the City" won a Downtown Eastside community choice award, and is featured as the February photo in the new calendar.

The image shows her daughters Shayla and Lexi holding their arms in the shape of a heart around their younger brother James and other family members.

Brown noted her daughters had the idea for the shot, which was taken in MacLean Park near their home. As part of the three-day contest, participants were each given 27-exposure, single-use cameras.

"The kids had fun—they loved it," said Brown, a first-time Hope in Shadows participant.

The 2015 calendar also pays tribute to late Downtown Eastside activist and poet Bud Osborn. Hope in Shadows vendor Peter Thompson's photo of a memorial wall for Osborn is the May image.

In the photo caption, he indicates the wall "points to Bud's legacy and illustrates how much people in the community care about each other".

Thompson was recognized for multiple photos this year, including another shot featured in the calendar of the Army & Navy store reflected in a large puddle.

Between 150 and 200 people will be selling the new calendar around the city. Vendors, who are trained by the organization to generate employment opportunities, buy the calendars for $10 and sell them for $20 to earn an income.

“The Hope in Shadows calendar helps to break down stereotypes associated with the Downtown Eastside and marginalized people in general,” project coordinator Carolyn Wong said.

"Vendors are helping make Vancouver a better city by bringing communities together and building compassion through the stories these photos tell."

Pivot Legal Society executive director Katrina Pacey noted the calendars are not only sold in B.C., but are sent to destinations including the United States, South Africa, and Europe.

"This calendar is transforming communities and transforming society and really creating the social change that I think we’re all fighting for," she told the audience gathered at the Downtown Eastside awards ceremony.

The Hope in Shadows project is now in its 12th year. This 2015 winning photos will be featured at exhibits during the Eastside Culture Crawl and next spring.