The London Gallery West is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the final edition of Picture Post.

Considered to be the UK equivalent of Life magazine in the UK, Picture Post was published from 1938 until 1957. After only six months it was already selling more than 1.6m copies a week. However, sales fell with the advent of television.

The exhibition, curated by Colin Jacobson, senior lecturer in photojournalism at the University of Westminster, is running until 12 October. For more details, visit the gallery's website.

Le Book’s networking event, Connections, has started in London today at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Pimlico, Pauline Lockwood and Deborah Sterescu were there to report.

The event gathers more than 1000 photographers, agents, art directors, fashion and photo editors, along with key executives in the fashion and music industries. Guests include representatives from Vogue, Vanity Fair, and the National Portrait Gallery, among others.

'The event is a face-to-face version of the book. It is a business affair where key creatives in the industries get to meet in person. We get approximately 2000 visitors over two days,' LeBook’s London office director, Fabien Duverneuil, tells BJP.

'Photographers don’t expect to come out of this event with a job. The key is to talk to people, network, and hope that people take away some of your print materials and most importantly, your web address. That way, people can see the work of the photographers we sign,' says Niall Horton Stephens of the Horton-Stephens agency based in London.

Connections has already been to Paris and New York this year, and is in its third year since its launch in November 2005.

In addition to organising the event, Le Book publishes a nine volume contacts book that covers photography, illustration, production, and art direction. The first book was published 27 years ago in Paris.

Visit www.lebook.com.

As part of LeBook’s Connections networking event, a full house of photographers, agents, and art directors gathered at a lecture titled “Images Making History” last Friday. Deborah Sterescu reports.

The speakers, British designer and art director Neville Brody of Research Studios, Italian creative director Giorgio de Mitri of Sartoria Communications, British creative director Terry Jones of i-D Magazine, and Dutch creative director Erik Kessels of Kessels-Kramer, spoke on the state of today's market.

“We [photographers] have to try and understand how to represent reality nowadays,” says de Mitri. Photography is supposed to inspire people, and this is something that people have forgotten. People forget what natural means. We have to bring photography back to where it belongs – that is reality'.

Authenticity, going back to your roots, and having no fear were the three essentials mentioned for any good photographer. To make a powerful statement, the simple things in life need to be appreciated, says Brody.

“We’ve gotten into rigid guidelines of what we should do. We have a sensation we want to communicate and we work from there. It’s backwards. It’s not coming from an exploratory place, but from a controlled one. We have to make trouble and make thought,” he says.

Japanese photographer Satoshi Minakawa came to London in 2005 and hit the ground running, signing up with respected agency Blunt and shooting for blue-chip companies such as Land Rover. He was BJP's cover star back in April 2007, and has been going from strength to strength ever since - I like to think we had a hand in it but I have to admit it's down to his own hard work too, particularly on his 'Customized' personal project.

Depicting the modified bikes, cars and trucks of Japan, these crazy images have now won a solo show all of their own at DIY lab theprintspace, London, 27 November - 14 January 2009. Get along there and get inspired, for your photography if not your wheels.

Ever wonder what happens to the clothes you donate to charity?

Photographer Tim Mitchell decided to find out, travelling to northern India with an anthropologist, following a trail that passed through recycling operations through to bustling market places.

The resulting story, India Recycled, can be seen at one of London's hidden gems, the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill (be sure to check out the stuffed walrus and other exotica in the museum's Natural History Gallery), which runs to 25 January.

This Thursday evening (27 November, 7-8pm) there's a free talk based around the exhibition, with the photographer, anthropologist and photographic historian Helen James all contributing.

Havana. Ministry of Industry. Ernesto GUEVARA (Che), Argentinian politician, Minister of industry (1961-1965) during an exclusive interview in his office © René Burri

On 04 December, photographer René Burri will present a lecture on his extensive work in Cuba; from his iconic portraits of Che Guevara to his more recent studies of Castro’s Cuba in the early 90s.

He has spent considerable time in the country and has been a frequent visitor since the 1960s, when he first shot the Ministry of Industry, Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara.

The talk is held in conjunction with the exhibition ‘Cuba: 50 years of Revolution’ which is on from 03 December 2008 till 30 January 2009.
To view some of the pictures click here.

The group exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and shows Magnum Photos’ long engagement with the country.

Included here are Eve Arnold’s images from before the revolution, of the unfolding of events in 1959 taken by Burt Glinn and Bob Henriques, portraits of the main protagonists, Fidel and Che by René Burri, Elliot Erwitt and Andrew St George and of life under Castro in the crumbling beauty of Havana by Alex Webb, David Alan Harvey and Christopher Anderson.

Rene Burri’s talk starts on 04 December at 6.30pm at The Cochrane Theatre. Tickets are £8 (£5 for concessions). Booking is essential: info@cochranetheatre.co.uk or call 020 7269 1606.

‘Cuba: 50 years of Revolution’ is open from Wednesday to Friday, 11.00am till 4.30pm at the Magnum Print Room.

PhotoEspaña, the International Photography and Visual Arts Festival, is calling all aspiring photographers to sumbit their work for a portfolio review. Descubrimientos PHE Madrid is open to photographers of all nationalities, ages and disciplines. If successfully selected, the artist will have the opportunity to present their work to a panel of eight reviewers and will have their work displayed as part of a collective exhibition in the Official Section of the festival. Reviewers include Mónica Allende from the The Sunday Times Magazine, Vincent Marcilhacy from Agence VU and Lesley A. Martin from Aperture Foundation. The closing date for submission has been extended to 25 January. Register at www.phe.es/descubrimientos_en. Winning reviews will be held at the Complejo el Águila in Madrid on the 11, 12 and 13 June.

Photograph © Jonny Hyams

Young photographer Jonny Hyams' work goes on show in the Association of Photographers' Gallery this week, part of his prize for winning Vice Magazine and Crtl.Alt.Shift's recent competition.
Hyams fended off competition from photographers all over the world, who submitted images exploring Gender, Power and Poverty. He went to India this January to photograph the SANLAAP project, which works for the rights of women and children. Images from the project will be on display from 19 - 27 February, alongside Hyam's original winning picture and entries from the other 15 finalists and the judges involved, including Ben Rayner, Valerie Philips and Vice's photo editor Alex Sturrock.
'When you look at the news these days it's either stuff about idiotic celebrities or doomsday reports about how the world's bankers are all going to hell,' says Vice magazine's editor Andy Capper. 'Past the mainstream media scrum there's a whole world out there of human stories that to me are far more important than famous people or money. The reason why we're involved in this campaign with Ctrl.Alt.Shift is to let people know about the work they're doing in parts of the world where basic human rights are still being totally ignored. Please take time to look at what's going on here.'

The Royal Photographic Society will be delving through the past 170 years of photography with the launch of a series of events over the spring and summer.

Titled The Real Thing? - Staging, Manipulation and Photographic Truth, the series will focus on all images manipulated, collaged or purely staged throughout photography’s history; a wide-scope indeed. So far announced are a day of talks from contemporary photographers, including Mitra Tabrizian discussing her work such as Surveillance (1989) at the University of Westminster on 25 April. Also The National Media Museum in Bradford will hold events on 11 July.

Historical perspectives along with the contemporary will be analysed, such as the hot topic of how new technologies are used in relation to photojournalism. By combining these issues with historical practice, the lectures by the RPS hope “to explore the enduring relevance of staged photography and the consequences of its myths, metaphors, facts and fictions.” If that’s whetted your appetite, tickets for the lecture are available now.

So, how do you attract photography assistants to an event relevant to that of harnessing their photographic skills? The answer: Belly dancing, according to photography outlet Calumet.

On 29 April Calumet will be staging an event exclusively for assistant photographers at their flagship store in Euston, in the company of a professional ‘stunning belly dancing duo’. The evening will involve an ‘expert rental team’ alongside Profoto representatives to demonstrate the latest camera gear, whilst providing detailed product knowledge.

Photographers will be encouraged in ‘test driving the kit themselves’. In addition, Calumet are inviting assistants to submit their ‘best ever’ images for the Assistants Photo Contest 2009, with a chance to win a £1000 rental package from Profoto.

Wiggle on down to Drummond Street at 6.30 pm, 29 April, for a spot of photographic ‘danse du ventre’.

Sonalle, a photographer and recent contestant in BJP's annual Project Assistance Awards, is seeing her work exposed from this week at the Housmans Radical Bookshop in London (5 Caledonian Road).

Image © Sonalle.

The launch takes place on 18 April at 5pm. Ethnic Minority Domestic Violence Survivors is Sonalle's on-going project. As an Indian, British-born female, 'I am aware of how domestic violence can often be accepted as a part of everyday life, especially so as not to bring “shame” upon the family name. I have discovered that the mentality of many ethnic minority women is to just accept and not question what happens to them.' she says.

'Education and raising awareness could change this. This project aims to raise awareness through representational portraits of ethnic minority women with text describing their experience. These women suffered from domestic violence but have sought help and are now beginning their independent lives.

Most women were met through refuges and domestic violence organisations. Some of these women still weren't ready emotionally or psychologically to speak about their experience and so were unable to participate fully.

Most women wanted full anonymity so photos had to be taken to represent them whilst hiding their identity. They were asked to choose an expressive part of the body which was then photographed, experimenting with the natural light available. Digital media was used to allow the women to see the photos immediately. This made it possible for them to criticise and choose the images to be used. As some women in the refuges had no family or friends, this project provided an escape from the everyday life of the refuge, which could often be quite lonely.'

For more information, visit www.sonalle.com.

New York city is continuing its quest to be at the forefront of contemporary photography with the 2nd New York Photo Festival to be held next month.

Held in the up-and-coming DUMBO neighbourhood (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), the festival is aiming to compete with the more established International festivals of Europe and Canada. Featuring the four curators William A. Ewing (Director of the Musée de l’Elysée), Jody Quon, Chris Boot, and Jon Levy of Foto8, it follows on from last year’s inaugural festival.

Organisers Daniel Power and Frank Evers feel that New York, being the ”world capital of photography” deserves a festival of it’s own. After the relevant success of the inaugural festival last year, the plan was originally to stage it over 10 days. Perhaps an overly ambitious statement, this has since been reduced to four days in line with 2008.

With a photographic eye focused very much to the future, the organisers aim to explore how images are viewed on a daily basis through websites such as Flickr, blogging and the plethora of social media issues; linking in with how “the classic photojournalism paradigm is fast fading”.

Running from 14-17 May, the event will feature hundreds of photographers and artists, seminars, workshops, book signings and the 2nd New York Photo Contest running alongside. For further information visit www.nyphotofestival.com.

Image © Rinko Kawauchi

Rinko Kawauchi and Martin Parr got the Still Moving Images workshop off to a flying start on 01 June, with a fascinating 'In Conversation' at a packed-out venue. Kawauchi talked about the random element in her images, adding that when her images are organised into a series she often feels they have something to tell her.

Kawauchi is teaching 10 students all week in a workshop organised by Still Moving Images, a not-for-profit company started by photographer Leonie Purchas and friends.
Still Moving Images announced on 01 June that they've secured a second photographer to conduct a workshop in November - Swedish photographer JH Engstrom. Check out the organisers' website or this blog for more details as they're announced.

Image © Martin Parr/Magnum Photos

Magnum Photos member Martin Parr is giving a talk on his current exhibition, Parrworld, on 14 July at London's Southbank Centre.

Part of the Southbank's London Literature Festival, Parr will talk through some of the themes and inspirations in his work, which include everything from other photographers to Saddam Hussein watches. Parrworld is a large exhibition drawing together the photograher's collection of ephemera and presenting his latest project, Luxury. It's already been on show in Munich and the Netherlands, and moves to Paris' Jeu de Paume from 28 June - 27 September. From 17 October - 10 January 2010, it moves to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

The Southbank Centre talk costs £9, and must be booked in advance.

The Redeye Photography Network is staging a National Photography Symposium from 19 – 21 June, in partnership with The University of Bolton and Chetham’s Library.

Based in Manchester, the symposium is aimed at professional photographers and includes speakers such as Magnum Photos’ Chris Steele Perkins, the National Media Museum’s Greg Hobson and Financial Times photography specialist Francis Hodgson, as well as BJP deputy editor Diane Smyth. The event will cover topics such as the Gowers’ review, pres photography rates, the right to photograph in public and stock photography distribution.

The event costs £75 (£65 concession) until 11 June, £85 (£75 concession) 12 – 18 June and £95 (£85 concession) on the door. Tickets for Saturday only cost £35 on the door. BJP readers qualify for a £10 whenever they book – click ‘Enter Discount Code’ online and enter bjp1.

Financial Times photography critic Francis Hodgson got Redeye's National Photography Symposium off to a flying start this morning with a fascinating opening address on photography's place in British culture. Pointing out that London, unlike other major capitals such as Paris and New York, lacks a national photography museum and that there isn't a single full time photography critic on a UK newspaper, he urged those working in photography to do more to raise its profile.

'Photography is a great deal more important than our shared culture is able to identify,' he stated. 'It is absolutely the medium of the 21st Century and the "problem" of digital has been absorbed quite easily. Yet we, as professionals in the UK, have not been able to articulate how it matters across the board. We lost Photo London and photography continues to be marginalised in our museums and universities. Photography is absolutely not marginal, it is the most important medium.

'The UK lags behind France, Germany and the US in the shared appreciation of photography, and we are actually falling further back. I was at a picture conference at a very well-respected monthly magazine in London recently where the level of discussion was literally "This is great" and "This is shit", and what was "great" was what had been signed by Rankin, because nobody could be bothered to look beyond the signature. We haven't made sure that attention is paid to our discipline in the way that it is to poetry, novels or TV. But we need to do so because otherwise the business will go elsewhere.'

The National Photography Symposium's panel debate on photographing in public proved a hit with delegates, with Jess Hurd, David Hoffman and Andrew Wiard speaking to a packed room in Manchester's beautiful Chetham Library.

The three speakers considered various ways in which photographers' right to photograph in public is currently restricted in the UK. Wiard, referencing Princess Caroline of Monaco's ground-breaking case at the European Court of Human Rights, discussed individuals' "reasonable expectation of privacy" and how this is applied to public places. Hurd recounted her experience of police use of the 2000 Terrorism Act and 2008 Counter-Terrorism Act, including how it has incorrectly stopped her legitimate press work. Hurd was searched at the 2008 Climate Change Camp despite showing her press card, for example, and recently won an written apology from the force as a result. Hoffman, meanwhile, described the increasing surveillance of photographers by the Forward Intelligence Team, a part of the UK police force which uses photography and film to record demonstrations. Members of the audience, meanwhile, added their experiences of photographic restriction in privately-owned public spaces such as shopping malls.

'I urge photographers to read up on their rights and, if they are unlawfully stopped, to publicise it as widely as possible,' said Hurd. 'This could be via the media, their union or their colleges if they're students. It doesn't matter how we do it, the important thing is that we keep the issue under discussion.'

Magnum photographers Chris Steele-Perkins, Thomas Dworzak and Abbas discuss Afghanistan tonight, in an event chaired by Peter Beaumont, foreign affairs editor at The Observer.

All three photographers have produced extensive work in the country, which has long been subject to occupation and exploitation by larger, wealthier states. British forces remain in Helmand province: the Obama administration's future plans for the region have yet to take shape.

Afghanistan: A Panel Discussion starts at 6.30pm in the Cochrane Theatre, London WC1B 4AP. Tickets are £8, £5 concessions.

The London Art Book Fair takes place from 25-27 September at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, with 80 art and photography book publishers offering up to 40% off their wares. Thames and Hudson, Steidl, Photoworks, Phaidon and Trolley Books are all there as well as companies such as Tate Publishing, Frieze and Studio Voltaire. Talks and booksignings are also taking place throughout the weekend - Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin are in the study studio from 12.30-1.15pm on Sunday while Robin Maddock, Iain Sinclair and Hannah Watson (managing editor of Trolley Books) are in the same place on the same day from 2.30pm-3.15pm.

Getty Images and Flickr have united to pay tribute to the passion of photography. Getty Images’ gallery has opened its doors to host an exhibition of photographs licensed through the picture agency’s Flickr collection.

With over 800,000 user accounts, Flickr is one of the largest photo sharing networks bringing together communities of photographers from around the globe. In this exhibition Getty Images wants ‘to show the diversity and range of quality photography on offer at Flickr, showing a range of subjects from family to fantasy’ Tom Hind of Getty Images told Alex Christofides.

Although this is in part directed to commercial clients and aimed to maximise marketing potential, the exhibition also offers photographers a platform to exhibit their work. ‘It’s good for building contacts and you don’t know where the work could lead’ says photographer and contributor Daniel Lee.

The exhibition will continue at Getty Images Gallery, London.