Nick Turpin and guest creative directors, Kristin Van den Eede and Olly Lang, to once again create an unrivalled gathering in the world’s capital of street photography. Originally founded by Jason Reed of the Observe Collective, this annual event has become a highlight of the street photography calendar.”
Travel
I was very excited on Friday morning traveling up to Exeter airport in the early hours. I arrived in London City airport for 7:45am, which meant I had the day ahead to explore London and capture some interesting street photography. I thought I would visit the hotel first to drop off my luggage, I had been to the Holiday Inn hotel before and knew where it was, so it should be an easy process, or so I thought! I got to the hotel and to my surprise, my booking could not be found on the system, after having a manic month getting MARRIED I thought I mustn’t have booked a hotel. After a stressful few minutes, it was discovered that I had been prepared and booked, but I was in the wrong hotel! A quick tube journey found me at my correct destination.
The Art of Street
“Buy a good pair of comfortable shoes, have a camera around your neck at all times, keep your elbows in, be patient, optimistic and don’t forget to smile.”
I walked for 12 miles around London from the London Bridge to Brick Lane in Shoreditch, and I found the most interesting place to photograph was around the tourist parts and Brick Lane as these areas had more unique and interesting characters. I also looked for where the venue was for Friday night’s ‘meet and greet’, I saw that Nick Turpin was in the venue setting up for the weekend ahead, we had a quick catch-up. I was then really excited when I spotted out of the corner of my eye my image in the ‘street swap exhibition’, I was very honored and privileged to have my work displayed again in an exhibition in London.
Fast Forward to the Evening!
Walking to the event I was getting very excited to see who would be attending the evening. Looking at the list of professional photographers coming to the event as guest speakers; I was hoping to brush shoulders with the likes of Matt Stuart, Zed Nelson and Simon Roberts. Photographers who I have been studying on my BA (Hons) and researching their work.
The people attending this event were all so welcoming, approachable and friendly. I have been to events before and found people to be awkward to talk to and socialise with, so this event was easily the most comfortable one yet. Sharing the same interests with others also helps to spark conversations! After the welcome party, most of the people moved onto the pub down the road from the event. I found this to be the real ice breaker where I was able to really get to know the attendees.
Saturday
I turned up early Saturday to book myself onto the workshop with Nick Turpin as there was only eight places available, I really wanted the opportunity to be involved with this and learn more from Nick. The event started with the usual coffee, welcome and introduction to the events of the day.
“For over a decade, Simon Roberts has photographed events and places across Britain that have drawn people together in public, communal experiences. This has often been an implicit theme of his work, the apparent desire for common presence and participation and the need to share a sense of belonging, suggesting something distinctive about our national character and identity.
Whilst Roberts’s interests have often gravitated towards evolving patterns of leisure, and the consumption and commodification of history, he has also chosen to photograph events and places that have a more immediate, topical significance in the turning of Britain’s recent history, and which – summoning the sense of a national survey – collectively form a visual chronicle of the times in which we live.
Merrie Albion ranges across several of his projects from the last decade, projects that have explored not only our leisure landscape but also our social and political landscape. The book registers a distinct shift in approach, and tone, from his work in We English. Roberts has exchanged the element of discovery and revelation evident in his earlier travels through England, for a form of ‘reporting’, in which he responds to subjects and places that are already firmly positioned within the public consciousness – defining locations in our recent national story.”
The book Simon was discussing was called Merrie Albion, his knowledge about the genre was amazing, and photographing in a style that includes landscape and people, I was completely immersed within his talk, powerful and thought provoking. I managed to catch five minutes with Simon who was very down to earth and a pleasure to meet.
Exploring the Borders of Street Photography
This was a really interesting debate exploring where the street photography sits within photography; does street lie only on the urban streets? With a panel discussion we explored the borders of where street ends and starts. This was a heated debate and towards the end of the discussion the overall feeling was that the boundaries within the genre of street photography are blurred, but as more people photograph street, the more we will understand where the genres true direction lies.
Spotlight - “my time to shine!”
Watching the five spotlights go before me made talking about your work in front of over one hundred people seem easy! The talks were all very interesting and thought provoking, despite having my upcoming presentation in the back of my mind.
I was talking about my project called ‘Fixed Wing’, where I photographed the Air Show in my local area, my project was different to everyone else's because it was of an event with a street twist, having photographed the people watching the event. I walked up onto the stage feeling nervous to be talking in front of the heavy weights of street photography. When I finished my talk many people were really interested to hear and see more of my work. I felt accepted in the community of street photography. I felt so good after my talk! I have since been contacted by a camera club to discuss my work in the future and I feel my presentations within street photography is positive for the community.
If you have the opportunity to present your work, do not hesitate, it is a great experience!
Street Walk with Nick Turpin
This is the first time I have been on a photography walk and workshop, which I booked on the Saturday morning with Nick. This walk was very enlightening being able to talk and walk with a professional street photographer, but also see how his mind works when creating images was so interesting. We walked around in a small group with a range of abilities. I felt that I have learnt a great deal from Nick and I cannot wait to put this into practice.
Sunday - “when legends visits”
It was rumored all weekend we would be graced with Joel Meyowitz on the Sunday of the weekend event, I had doubts as to whether Joel would make the event, I was over the moon when I realised he was in the building.
Matt Stuart
Matt’s talk was about his latest work which I found interesting how the boundaries of street photography can be used within a documentary sense, I was blown away by Matt’s engaging images of the USA and his travels. Matt’s work has only got better and better, he is definitely a street photographer to keep an eye on and to be inspired by.
Joel Meyerowitz
Meeting this amazing photographer was a dream come true, I have researched and written about Joel in my BA (Hons) and have been inspired by his work time and time again. His words of wisdom were to stop focusing on social media and what other people’s photography, in-terms of there being so much imagery taken that focuses on your work, and to concentrate on what it is you produce and to create and showcase where the passion lies.
Overall Thoughts
The weekend has been one of the most interesting and thought provoking events I have been on focusing on the street photography, I will be keeping this date in my calendar for next year!
