Photography Events in the UK

Photography festivals happen all over the world. They are events that generally celebrate photography in all of its forms and technicalities. People travel all over the world to experience photography festivals, showing how interesting and useful they are. Many events offer portfolio reviews for the public at a price, which can be an extremely effective way of gaining feedback from photographers with many years of success and experience. It can also be a way of networking and achieving the interest of others and resulting in a few contacts that may be useful in the future. Discovering photographers and their work is also a positive of these events, it could lead to a new interest in their work and maybe even meeting them. Overall it is a great way of seeing different parts of the country, or even the world if you explore that far of these photography events, but mainly because of the knowledge that is gained from talking and listening to people in the photography industry. Below are three forthcoming events in the UK.

Format Festival
Format International Photography Festival is one of the UK's leading festivals of photography and media held in Derby, which occurs every two years and this year is held from the 13th of March to the 12th Of April. Every category of photography is included here, from every field you could possibly think of. It is known for bringing forward new work of the best practitioners in the photography world and focuses on the opportunities that can be developed for the people who are involved themselves, but also for the audience. Each of its festivals adopts a theme every year it happens and this year concentrates on "Evidence". The way in which the festival is structured around included its exhibitions, commissions, international open call, events, talks and performance, but also master classes and portfolio reviews. I would definitely be interested in visiting this event as it seems to be organised by people who are passionate about photography and media, but also offers a range of photographers work and an insight into other important factors of photography.

The Photography Show
The Photography Show is one of the most well known events in photography that is held in Birmingham NEC in the UK and is from the 21st-24th of March. It holds possibly everything that is linked photography over its four days at the NEC. A few of its popular events are its photographer speakers on its "Live Stage", who are always big names in the industry, a few from this year includes Don McCullin, Martin Parr, Tom Stoddart and Tim Flach, giving an insight into their careers and what has made them so successful. Other events that go on, is kit demonstrations that offer the chance to see the latest equipment used and also how to use them of a range of camera's. Software demonstrations such as lightroom, adobe and photoshop, the best skills shown from the experts that will talk you through the best tips and tricks of retouching images. Also many different genre's of photography such as Street and Garden photography master classes. These are just a few to name of what goes on at the Photography Show and there are many more to list. The show's website was very useful of what is happening and what are the best things to go to. I would definitely like to visit this event as it offers a range of useful photographic skills to be learned and also an interesting insight in to different area's of photography and equipment.

Photo London

Photo London is held at Somerset House in London from the 21st-24th of May and as it describes its self as a "Unique" new photography event. It is its first time as an event and will feature a international photography fair that will hold 70 exhibitors including many major photography galleries and publishers from around the world. It will had a range of photography from every genre and will hope to engage new audiences for photography and show new talent and promote the concept of photography as a whole that will draw different crowds from all over the world and from the UK to this new and exciting event in our countries capital. The website does not really give away that much information, but shows the exhibitors being included and where it will be held. I think this event has the potential to be successful, but maybe in a few years could be a lot better.