Show, Don't Tell

For two years, www.houstonitsworthit.com has invited us to give reasons why, despite the heat, humidity and hurricane risk, Houston is worth calling home. Some are shout-outs to favorite bars and restaurants, some are sentimental (“It’s an international city with the heart of a small town”), and some are snarky (“I enjoy the workout I get running from the numerous cars that don’t yield to pedestrians here in Houston”). But all extol the virtues — or at least the uniqueness — of the city without resorting to tourism bureau clichés.

But a picture is worth a thousand words, and site creators David Thompson and Randy Twaddle recently called for photographs showing why Houston is worth it. Today, more than 600 of the photographs they received are on display at “Show Us Why,” an exhibit at the Houston Center for Photography.

“We wanted to see the city in all its complexity and idiosyncrasy,” says Twaddle. They received photographs of landscapes, architecture and festivals, but most common were shots of people, such as a motorcyclist and a horseback rider conversing at an intersection, or a couple barbecuing around the Christmas tree. He says this theme echoes the sentiments of the site.

“We get a lot of comments about clubs and restaurants,” says Twaddle. “But most posters said the city was worth it because of the people.” 7 p.m. “Show Us Why” runs through August 7.

Fri., Aug. 4, 7-11 p.m.; Aug. 5-6, 12-6 p.m.