Stephen Cohen, producer of the highly acclaimed art fairs photo l.a., photo new york and artLA, is pleased to announce photo san francisco 2005, the 6th Annual International San Francisco Photographic Art Exposition.  The event will be held July 21- 24 at the historic Festival Pavilion at the Ft. Mason Center and will feature the finest photographic art ranging from rare 19th Century photographic experiments to the most contemporary photo-based art including video and digital art. More than 80 premiere galleries and private dealers representing international and U.S. artists will be on display at photo san francisco 2005.  Confirmed exhibitors to date include San Francisco galleries Catherine Clark Gallery, Lincart, Barry Singer Gallery, and Stephen Wirtz Gallery; Los Angeles galleries: Stephen Cohen Gallery, Paul Kopeikin Gallery, Apex Fine Art and Peter Fetterman Gallery; New York galleries: Foley Gallery and Frederieke Taylor Gallery; and European galleries: Czech Center for Photography, Walter Bischoff Galerie (Germany), Gallery 19/20 (France), and Lumas Gallery (Germany).  Highlights of the exhibition will include works by world renowned contemporary artists Diane Arbus, Thomas Kellner, Tseng Kwong Chi, Lauren Greenfield, Tracey Snelling, Nick Brandt, and vintage pieces by Harry Callahan, Walker Evans, Ansel Adams, Margaret Bourke White and Edward Weston. "Since we debuted photo san francisco six years ago, in 2000, the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from critics, collectors, gallery owners, artists and students has been tremendously gratifying," says Stephen Cohen, producer of photo san francisco and owner of the Stephen Cohen Gallery.  "We are very proud to continue to host this highly anticipated event, and look forward to exhibiting a diverse and powerful collection of photographs, artist installations and book publishers that will exceed the expectations of the international photography community." photo san francisco 2005 will highlight several politically and historically important installations including stirring images documenting the French government’s involvement in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide provided by France’s leading public advocacy organization Survie; a selection of photographs from the international independent medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) spanning 20 years of its 24-year history in Afghanistan; and images created by emerging artists of Chinese ancestry from the Chinese Artist Network.  The show will also include exhibitions by the California Historical Society and The Mexican Museum, in addition to photo-based work created by students from the San Francisco Art Institute and California College of the Arts. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, July 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. to benefit Instituto Terra. Founded in 1998 by Lélia Wanick Salgado and internationally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado, Instiuto Terra seeks to create positive social change through restoring degraded Brazilian Atlantic forests, promoting environmental education and raising ecological awareness, and strengthening the economic and social fabric of the communities in the Rio Doce Valley.  Guests at the opening will enjoy a special preview of all the wonderful works of art on display as well as a hosted cocktail reception.   "San Francisco’s scenic Fort Mason is the perfect setting in which to bring together people who appreciate works of beauty, whether natural or created, and who are dedicated to seeing them endure," says Kelsang Aukatsang, U.S. representative of Instituto Terra.  "We are delighted to accept photo san francisco’s support of our conservation efforts in Brazil’s Atlantic forests." In conjunction with the exhibition, a lecture series will take place July 22-24 with special guest speakers including Mary Virginia Swanson, photography consultant; Stephen Perloff, editor for Photo Review/Photograph Collector; and internationally acclaimed photographers Bill Owens, Todd Hido and Catherine Wagner.  A panel discussion entitled Trends In Collecting Photography In The 21st Century also will be held on Sunday, July 24.  Exhibition hours are Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23, 12p.m. to 7p.m. and Sunday, July 24, 12p.m. to 6p.m.  Tickets are $15 for a one-day pass and $25 for a three-day pass (includes an expanded catalog).  Lectures are $10 per person, per speaking engagement, and onsite collecting seminars are $70 (includes a 3-day pass and an expanded catalog).  A $5 student discount for lectures and the fair will be given to guests with valid I.D.  Tickets to the opening reception are $50 per person.  All exhibition, lecture and opening reception tickets are available for purchase in advance or at the door.  Seminar tickets should be purchased in advance.