Photo North Festival
What an amazing opportunity it was to head to the Photo North Festival in Leeds, over the weekend. I had heard about this festival before but wasn’t sure when or where it was taking place. However, on Saturday morning (25th March) I was having a casual look through Instagram and information about this festival came up that it was happening right then and only a short drive away in Leeds! Of course I could not let an opportunity like this go to waste so I tried to rally some peers and friends to come along because I didn’t want them to miss out either and off we went and it was such a great and comfortable environment full of like-minded, creative individuals.
There were some great installations and some very interesting people present on the day that I had the privilege of speaking to. There was a wide array and range of creators there in different capacities. Photo North Festival regards itself as “unique photography event is aimed at the professional photographer, art-enthusiast, keen amateur and students”. This was made very apparent from what I witnessed myself.
I had the great pleasure of speaking to a few practitioners and representative of photographic organisations. Some of which included representatives from GuruShots, The British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP), Village Books, The Royal Photographic Society (RPS), and a few others, and I was also able to have a great discussion with Chris Floyd, a very well-established, and widely renowned photographer in the industry. (I even bought a copy of his book “Not Just Pictures” that he even signed for me!)
Chris Floyd
After speaking with Chris, who was a very polite and encouraging man, it was so interesting to learn a bit more about his career first hand from his perspective. We discussed how he adjusted from initially working in film to modernising to digital processes of making but now he can delve back into film because of current trends. He shared anecdotes about different shoots he had been on, the reality of volume of work differentiation over different times, and he even wished myself and others luck in our careers as well as offering some advice for working. All in all an invaluable experience meeting Chris Floyd and his kind nature spoke volumes of how he has become so successful because that’s the sort of person you would want to work with.
The British Institute of Photography (BIPP)
Prior to this encounter, I was not entirely aware of the BIPP. I had heard of similar societies and groups but the BIPP happens to also be the oldest/longest standing photographic community having been established in 1901. The representative that spoke so highly of the institute exchanged contact information with myself and said he would be looking into my work in the case that I decided to sign up as a member of this organisation which I am heavily considering as it is a great avenue for networking and making more connections in the industry.
GuruShots
GuruShots is a very different photographic community. It does entail a membership[ but not that requires subscription or payment. It is more of a sociable and connection-based platform that is broadcast on an international scale with contributing artists from across the globe. The representative that spoke to us about the company explained that he, himself, is more of a hobbyist and that his job within the company is more to do with organising the curation of exhibitions which they do multiple of every month showcasing different themes from different competitions and challenges they put out on the platform. Every week there are more than 150 themes and contests so there is something for everyone. It seems like a great opportunity for exposure and also meeting more photographers that have some passion for the craft.
All in all, Photo North Festival was a great success and I certainly look forward to attending again next year!