Word on the grapevine was that the London Festival of Photography formerly known as the London Street Photography Festival had gone bankrupt. Which was a hell of a disappointing piece of news.
What a terrific festival it was, especially in the first year. A quick look at the home page of the website and scroll down to ‘Photographers and Contributors’ reveals a fantastic array of portfolios from street photographers all over the world. The festival was very, very ambitious and passionate, with a genuine understanding and knowledge of street and documentary photography, and photographers and the issues they care about. For example, the Shoot Experience team behind the festival produced this excellent video which aimed to “test the policing of public and private space by private security firms”.
So, I hadn’t heard any confirmation of the rumour about LFP and was hoping it couldn’t be true… But yesterday, an email arrived in my inbox promoting the LFP’s international street photography award under another name (and organiser): Fotoura Internaional Street Photography Awards 2013. Which seems to confirm the rumour. However, I’ve email Brett Jefferson Stott, the festival director to ask him directly – if he replies, I’ll post the reply here.
[edit Saturday December 29 2012 message from Brett “yes the company went bust and the intellectual property sold to Fotoura so they may be resurrecting some aspects of the IP, exactly what I am not sure as I am not involved.”]
So what of Fotoura and the new award? The questions that come immediately to mind:
- Who are the judges and are they respected?
- What are the Terms and Conditions and do they respect photographers’ Intellectual Property?
- What about the entry fee? How much and is it worth paying?
What about the entry fee? How much and is it worth paying?
I would say yes for the following reasons:
It will help promote street photography internationally and in the UK, especially in London. Which is where I live and work so I am biased – but I do really like that they’re going to exhibit a winner (by popular vote) from every country that is represented (so if you come from a tiny under-represented country you’re in for a good chance of being in a London group show!).
Blurb are still supporting it, so you can’t lose – you get a book worth what you pay in entry fees.
The first prize is generous, including £2,000 cash and a fancy point-and-shoot wifi camera.
Entry is half price before 1 January according to the email announcement (and you can update your entry later).
Who are the judges and are they respected?
David Gibson and Peter Dench – both very respected street photographers (and probably both thought of as very down-to-earth hard workers who put in the miles); John Maloof, famous (OK within the niche of SP) for his purchase and promotion of the Vivian Maier archive and Richard (Rich) Garner, founder of Fotoura (fair enough).
What are the Terms and Conditions and do they respect photographers’ Intellectual Property?
The answer looks to be an easy and confident YES. The T&Cs look very favourable and include the following: “Fotoura supports Pro-Imaging’s Bill of Rights [http://artists-bill-of-rights.org/guides/guides/bill-of-rights-introduction/] to protect the right’s of photographers.” Interestingly, they also include a detailed specification (21) against photo manipulation which includes the words “You MAY NOT add or remove elements from your photographs.” Which sets the competition firmly within the ‘traditional’ street photography ethos.
I get the impression from the T&Cs and ‘definition of street photography‘ that this competition is not looking to blur any boundaries. You know where you are with it and it’s not trying to be all things to all people. Candid, and not staged or manipulated. I’m not against either of the last two, but I think it helps so set clear parameters. Some people feel that perhaps the original London Street Photography Festival lost it’s way when it expanded and dropped the ‘Street’. That may be true, as the zeitgeist seems to be many people responding to greater and greater choice by becoming more and more focussed on niche areas.
The ‘hometown’ theme is cutting straight back to essentials:
“The point is not to capture the things that are obvious or clichéd markers of a particular place, or even necessarily to capture those subjects that define a place to you personally; rather, we hope you will take this opportunity to find new ways of looking at familiar things, and to show how the camera has facilitated your engagement with these subjects.”
FAQ ‘Can I submit my holiday photos?’ Answer: “No…”
So I’m in and I’m going to enter now.
Well, after I’ve had my breakfast.
Erm brunch.
Frankie Sinclair 