Despite being the busiest person on earth Jon Eland found time to write a guest blog post about Leeds Photo Week…
Leeds Photo Week is upon us – another week highlighting something of importance to someone – but we were quite shocked that a city the size of Leeds has no special, city wide event to celebrate this wonderful art-form and pastime; not to mention the commercial aspects of photography!
Exposure Leeds – a group of individuals ‘serious about photography’, who work in an open, sharing and friendly manner thought the city needed such an event and so this year’s first celebration was born.
Running 1st to 7th September we have pulled out the stops to bring a selection of activities and opportunities for everyone to take part in – this certainly isn’t about photo-geekery or elitism! Across all seven days we have guest articles, photo challenges, hints and tips, competitions and other useful information posts appearing on our blog/website
Back in the real world we have Ian Beesley talking about social documentary photography at our monthly Talk&Social event at Leeds Met’s Old Broadcasting House – join us from 6pm-9pm on Weds 1st.
On the 2nd we’re inviting everyone to the opening of ‘The Best of Leeds, Vol1’ – a selection of some of the most ‘interesting’ images of Leeds on photo-sharing website, Flickr.com. Come along and find out what makes them interesting and join the discussions around how images are shared and owned in an increasingly internet-based world. The exhibition is displayed via projection from dusk every day to 7th and will have a shoppers opening on Saturday 4th from 12noon- 8,00pm.
We’re aware loads of people would like a few hints and tips to improve their photography – so we’ve pulled together a couple of great events at the weekend. On Saturday we’re running ‘Beyond Snapping’ – a series of talks mixed with social and help desk opportunities to ask Exposure Leeds members about your own photography. Talk will cover aspects such as -tips for taking better photos, how to edit your images and what to do with images once you’ve taken them. An additional workshop on creating a camera from a match box is available. Sign up here
On Sunday we’re heading over to Chapel Allerton – where the Arts Festival will be in full flow with our ‘Weekend Coffee Break’ – a chance to socialise, walk and take a few photos along the way. This will be a more casual environment in which to discuss photography techniques with members of the group. We’ll be starting with coffee in the 3 Hulats at 10.30 and setting off for a walk through nearby Gledhow Valley before arriving in the centre of Chapel Allerton village and the arts festival.We finish off on Tuesday 7th September with a dusk photo shoot in Holbeck’s historic Temple.Works.Leeds – joining Leeds Strobists who will be trying out new techniques with flash and Phil Kirby who will be helping those attending to lear more about the building as they photograph it. As this event ends the week of festivities, there may just be a celebration pint (or two) afterwards.
We’re very excited about this series of events – even more so because this coincides with 18months of running and our move to becoming a social enterprise – but more of that later.
All I and the other members of Exposure Leeds want is for everyone else to get involved, see how easy it is to improve your own photos and to see the wonderful images of Leeds and by Leeds photographers.
Jon Eland is a founder director of Exposure Leeds and enjoys his own brand of art-photography