Guernsey Photography Festival 2014 – Photo © Sam Harris
Firstly, let me say what a fantastic experience i had at the Guernsey Photography Festival. The GPF might be a relatively small photo fest but it’s certainly packs a punch. It’s always stimulating for me to meet other photographers, see their work and talk photography. In Guernsey there was no shortage of any of that and the caliber of the work selected was excellent. It was a real honour to be included, something for which i am most grateful.
There were about 15 photographers in attendance from across Europe. I was lucky to be able to join them all from Australia with thanks to a grant that i received from The Department of Culture and the Arts for Western Australia.
Most of the photographers in attendance were hosted in the homes of festival staff and volunteers. A nice touch that allowed us to better connect with the community and experience some wonderful Guernsey hospitality. Thank you again Joanne and family for hosting myself and Londoner Jason Wilde. We had a great time and truly appreciate you opening your home to us.
Jean-Christophe Godet opens the GPF 2014
‘Faith, Family and Community’
GPF is a themed festival and the 2014 edition was Faith, Family & Community. Festival director Jean-Christophe Godet opened the GPF at the splendid St James Concert Hall. Legendary Magnum photographer Abbas was the guest of honour and presented work spanning his career. Liz Hingley gave a fascinating presentation on her series ‘Under Gods’ and John Angerson was in conversation with J-C Godet. whilst showing his excellent body of work on the Jesus Army, ‘Love, Power, Sacrifice’. There were also screenings of four slideshows (including my series ‘The Middle of Somewhere’) all with live piano, especially composed and performed by Angus McRae, with thanks to a collaboration with Victor Hugo Music Festival. Having Angus interpret my work was a great bonus and hearing his piano score played live with my images up on the big screen was a wonderful. You can watch it below (shot on my iPhone:) and please turn up the volume!!
Below are a few highlights from the many fantastic works exhibited at GPF 2014. It was so hard to select just a few… Everyone’s work was so inspiring, i enjoyed so much of it!
Please note, all copyright © belong with the respective photographer as credited. All names and titles are hyper-linked to take you to the photographer’s website.
David Moore’s ‘Pictures from the Real World‘ was the fore runner of much activity that followed in British photographic history. It’s first showing was in 1988 in a special edition of Creative Camera selected by Martin Parr. I really loved seeing this work, raw and yet sensitive… Recently published as a book of the same title by Dewi Lewis. It sold out quickly and prices are on the up, so if you find a copy, grab it fast!
Pictures from the Real World (1987-88) © David Moore
Pictures from the Real World (1987-88) © David Moore
Pictures from the Real World (1987-88) © David Moore
New York based Israeli Elinor Carucci photographs her twin daughters for her series Mother. I found it fascinating to see the work of other photographers who also photograph their children.
an image from ©Elinor Carucci’s series Mother waits to be unwrapped and hung…
- ©Elinor Carucci’s series Mother
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Photographed over 20 years, English photographer John Angerson’s portrait of The Jesus Army (a religious sect founded in Northampton, UK in 1969) is a profoundly sympathetic authorial style which does not judge, or even simply chronicle, but seems to penetrate the very skin of the religious sect… You can but John’s book ‘Love, Power, Sacrifice, published by Dewi Lewis here.
© John Angerson
© John Angerson
© John Angerson
UK photographer Liz Hingley presented her series Under Gods, an intimate look at the multifaceted colourful world of urban faith along the Soho Road in Birmingham, England. An area rich with cultural diversities and religious practices. Liz’s beautiful book ‘Under Gods’ is published by Dewi Lewis and well worth purchasing.
© Liz Hingley – Cannon Street Baptist’s Baptism
© Liz Hingley – Temple maintenance by Thai monks
© Liz Hingley – Polish Catholic carol singers
Legendary Magnum photographer Abbas exhibited work from his extensive archive in a series titled Faces of Christianity
from the ©Abbas exhibition Faces of Christianity
from the ©Abbas exhibition Faces of Christianity
Arno Brignon is a French photographer who has been photographing is daughter Josephine for several years now. I really enjoyed his work. Especially interesting for me as Arno is also a father photographing his daughter…
© Arno Brignon – from his series Josephine
© Arno Brignon – from his series Josephine
© Arno Brignon – from his series Josephine
Jason Wilde is a London photographer with a great sense of humor and irony. His talk at the Performing Arts Center was one of the most entertaining, at times hilarious talks i’ve seen.Jason lives on the ‘Clarence Way Estate’ in Camden, London, where he has witnessed over the years the rapid diversification of the cultural mix of his community. In an attempt to record this transformation Jason started collecting hand written notes that he found discarded on the estate. Silly Arse Broke It is a collection of those found notes and messages placed against wallpaper backgrounds. So very revealing about much of the day-to-day life in his hood.
Jason Wilde next to his display panel in Market Square and during his excellent talk.
© Jason Wilde
Spanish photographer Inaki Domingo had a very interesting exhibition Ser Sangre. A collaboration with his family whilst on holiday, over a period of weeks. He reexamined the concept of the family album. Inaki has a book Ser Sangre soon to be published. I was fortunate to see a preview of the final dummy. Defiantly one for the list!
Inaki Domingo hanging his exhibition ‘San Sangre’
© Inaki Domingo from the series Ser Sangre
© Inaki Domingo from the series Ser Sangre
Gemma Padley from The British Journal of Photography in conversation with (Left to Right_ Alfonso Amendros, Andrei Nacu and Inaki Domingo
Gemma Padley from The British Journal of Photography in conversation with (Left to Right_ Alfonso Amendros, Andrei Nacu and Inaki Domingo at the Performing Arts Center.
Frenchwoman Scarlett Coten’s powerful yet sensitive and thought provoking Mectoub looks at Arab men, in a post Arab Spring environment and questions the notion of identity in societies in which the question of individual freedom, genre and sexuality are the origin of massive political, economic and social change.
© Scarlett Coten
© Scarlett Coten
© Scarlett Coten
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