Photomonth Photofair 2012!


Above photo by student Adam.

Last Saturday PCL were once again at the Photomonth fair in Spitalfields. It was a fantastic day surrounded by all sorts of photography related stands and like minded people.

We had a litte competition to add a bit of fun and excitement to the day, which comprised of an old fashioned darkroom bag filled to the brim with cameras and a few other “random” items just to make it interesting. Contestants were asked to guess how many cameras were in the bag using just their hands in 60 seconds.
And it wasn’t as easy as people thought!

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Photography Course London Olympics & Paralympics Competition

It’s competition time again at Photograhy Course London!

We want to see all of your photos from the Olympic Games, including day trips to the Olympic park, events you may have been lucky enough to go and see, picnics in the local park while watching the Games on the big screens, or if you had your own version of the Games with fun activities and prizes!
Whatever it was you were up to, enter you photos into our competition (a maximum of 3 per person) and you could win a £50 voucher to put towards any of our courses.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Good luck everyone!

Closing date: Sunday 16 September, Midnight
For more details on how to enter simpy follow this link – www.facebook.com/groups/pcl.competition

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A Tutor talk with Jon Mortimer on 16 August at Photography Course London

Some new and exciting developments are on the horizon at Photography Course London in the coming months: since we have such a talented array of tutors that share their industry knowledge with our students on our courses every week, we are excited to announce a series of Tutor Talks at our premises. We feel these talks will offer a wonderful opportunity for our wide audience of photography enthusiasts to come and meet our great tutors, and peak into what they are upto when not tutoring, and a perfect platform to liase with our industry-expert tutors in a social setting oustide of the classroom. All over a friendly drink or two, how grand!

The date of the first session is with Jon Mortimer who will be sharing some recent work from his project documenting the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France, one of the premier vintage car racing events in the world. The event in its 6th year of running in the French town of Le Mans, hosted hundreds of historic cars during the first weekend of this month and has become one of the must-attend classic car shows and races in the world.

Jon Mortimer, who tutors the beginner and intermediate DSLR courses at Photography Coures London, will be discussing his images taken over the last 3 events and describes them as  “a celebration of times gone by and the passion of the few that keep these days of endurance, honour and valour alive.” He has worked as a professional photographer for over 15 years and has worked with photographic luminaries as Annie Leibovitz, Patrick Demarchelier and David Sims. Jon has worked regularly for The Observer Magazine, The Independent, Eurostar and Adidas, and his sitters include John Malkovich, Ralph Steadman, Beth Ditto and Damian Lewis.

So do join us for this exciting new addition to the Photography Course London calendar, and come meet Jon over a drink or two!

  • Address: 7 Zeus House, 16-30 Provost Street, Shoreditch, London, N1 7NG (map)
  • Date: 16 Aug 2012
  • Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm with a chance for questions as well.
  • RSVP: info@photographycourselondon.com by 14 August 2012
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I’dlovetodothat came to PCL!

Carly from I’dLoveToDoThat, a website aimed solely at women who want to find more time for themselves, providing a whole range of activities, courses, workshops and so much more, attended our Beginners Intense Foundation of Digital Photography Course.
Watch the video and see what she got up to!

Sign up to Idlovetodothat and become a member to discover a whole range of new and exciting activities you never even knew exsisted! www.idlovetodothat.com

To see the whole range of Beginners DSLR courses that we run here at Photography Course London, simply click the link 
www.photographycourselondon.com/beginner

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And the winner is….

Let me introduce to you, the winning photo from our latest ‘Street Life’ competition and the lucky winner of years subscription to SOURCE magazine…


© photo by Siobhan Ferguson

Congratulations to Siobhan Ferguson!
Siobhan has won a years subscription to SOURCE magzazine, a leading photography magazine focusing on reviews, news, features and portfolio reviews
www.source.ie/index.php

The theme for this competition was ‘Street Life’, but the photo also had to be taken on a camera phone (just to add in an extra little twist!) and we think this photo sums it up very nicely indeed!
To see all of the entries into the competition and join up yourself, just follow the link
www.facebook.com/groups/pcl.competition

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London Festival of Photography

Some truly exceptional events and workshops are on offer this coming June, showcasing some exciting world-­class photography right here in London, taking places in various venues throughout the capital, for the London Festival of Photography. Now in its second year, with an expected 50 000 attendees, 18 exhibitions and over 30 events are planned for June at venues including the British Library, Tate Modern, V&A, Guardian Gallery, King’s Place, Museum of London, British Museum and many more. This year’s theme Inside out: Reflections on the Public and the Private explores the changing boundaries between the public and the private, and the festival will present work responding to the theme as both physical and metaphorical concepts, highlighting the role of photography as a tool for documentation, expression and collaboration.

Launching just in time for the Queen’s Jubilee The Great British Public embraces the spirit of patriotism by documenting the life, work and rituals of the British in their many incarnations and includes new work from Magnum photographers Martin Parr and Chris Steele-Perkins. Further afield, The Gaddafi Archives ‐ Libya Before the Arab Spring sheds light on Libya’s recent tumultous history through images of Gaddafi’s residences and state intelligence ministries collected by Human Rights Watch director Peter Bouckaert and photographed by photojournalists.

Minnie Weisz’s Camera Obscura combines deserted spaces with a documentary approach, highlighting the materiality of architecture through camera obscura. Spanning the last seven years, these photographs are born out of the artist’s interest in the identity of spaces, with only traces of human elements included through the use of found objects. The International Street Photography exhibition received over 2,400 entries and comprises of an impressive selection of 16 shortlisted finalists of global talent. It will take place in a pop‐up gallery space on London’s famous Oxford Street, where the winner will also be announced.

Running in conjunction with the festival, a 5-day masterclass workshop with Chris Steele-­‐Perkins  will give participants the opportunity to polish their work under the guidance of this experienced Magnum photographer. Another rare opportunity includes a 4-day masterclass workshop with 2011 World Press Photo Award winner Jodi Bieber. The workshop will explore ways for photographers to incorporate their personal vision and voice into their photographic work and have their portfolio reviewed as well. Bieber won photography’s top prize with her haunting story about Bibi Aisha in Afghanistan which featured on the cover of Time magazine. Bibi was 18 when she fled her husband’s house, complaining of beatings and abuse. She escaped to her family home, where the Taliban arrived one night and demanded that the girl be handed over to face justice. She was taken away to a mountain clearing, where she was held down by her brother-in-law, while her husband first sliced off her ears and then cut off her nose.

The festival opens to the public this friday, many exhibitions are open during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend 2, 3, 4 & 5 June. For more information visit https://lfph.org/

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A Portrait of British Sub-Culture

Rich Mix, one of our neighbours in the heart of vibrant Shoreditch, is currently hosting a gritty and seminal collection of photographs by Paul Spencer as part of the Best of British Festival that probes the underbelly of British sub-culture through theatre, film, music and vintage photography.

Portraits include bikers, strippers, outlaws and spankers to more recogniseable images of  Elvis Costello, Robert Carlyle, Vivienne Westwood, Tank Girl and Blur. The essence of Punk, skin, mod and street gang roots are uncovered and shown in their raw beauty, as part of this unseen and edgy archive of the British Image. This free exhibition runs from 2 May to 3 June and is shown in the Mezzanine Gallery at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London. Exhibition listings for June and July are also found below. Go and enjoy!

Krystian Data & Monika Jakubowska Photography
Wed 6 Jun – Sun 1 Jul / 10am – Till Late / Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498 / Free / Mezzanine Gallery
Come and enjoy two spectacular photographic exhibitions – Polish and Ukrainian – as part of the East in East: Euro 2012 Festival.

Larysa Polishchuk Secrets

Wed 6 Jun – Sun 1 Jul / 10am – Till Late / Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498 / Free / Café Gallery
Kyiv-based photographer Larysa Polischuck-Rusina’s beloved city, stories of friends and random people, intimate moments of family life – everything she sees, percepts and then captures become an artistic narrative, simple and clear, yet full of hidden meanings and space for imagination.

Showcase Cities
Wed 20 Jun/ Wed 18 Jul / 6pm / Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498 / Free / Main Space
The platform for emerging artists. Beautifully presented, brilliantly lit exhibitions offering a fantastic opportunity to see emerging artists display new works and ideas, plus live music from a selection of excellent unsigned bands and soloists.

East End of Islam
Thu 5 Jul – Sun 29 Jul / 10am – till close / Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498 / Free / Mezzanine Gallery
The East End of Islam is a black and white photographic exploration of the Muslim community in Tower Hamlets and their relationship with the East London Mosque.

Krystian Data & Monika Jakubowska Photography
Wed 6 Jun – Sun 1 Jul / 10am – Till Late /
Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498, www.richmix.org.uk / Free / Mezzanine Gallery
Come and enjoy two spectacular photographic exhibitions – Polish and Ukrainian – as part of the East in East: Euro 2012 Festival.

Larysa Polishchuk Secrets
Wed 6 Jun – Sun 1 Jul / 10am – Till Late /
Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498, www.richmix.org.uk / Free / Café Gallery
Kyiv-based photographer Larysa Polischuck-Rusina’s beloved city, stories of friends and random people, intimate moments of family life – everything she sees, percepts and then captures become an artistic narrative, simple and clear, yet full of hidden meanings and space for imagination.

Showcase Cities

Wed 20 Jun/ Wed 18 Jul / 6pm / Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498, www.richmix.org.uk / Free / Main Space

The platform for emerging artists. Beautifully presented, brilliantly lit exhibitions offering a fantastic opportunity to see emerging artists display new works and ideas, plus live music from a selection of excellent unsigned bands and soloists.

East End of Islam

Thu 5 Jul – Sun 29 Jul / 10am – till close / Rich Mix, 35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Liverpool Street Tube, Shoreditch High Street Station or Bethnal Green Tube, Info & Booking 020 76137498, www.richmix.org.uk / Free / Mezzanine Gallery

The East End of Islam is a black and white photographic exploration of the Muslim community in Tower Hamlets and their relationship with the East London Mosque.

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Sony World Photography Awards

This year’s Sony World Photography Awards at Somerset House showcases some of the best contemporary range of photography in various photojournalism, fine art and commercial categories. This is the second year in which the awards have been held in London with over 112,000 image entries from 171 countries – the most entries seen to date. Mitch Dobrowner was awarded the prestigious L’Iris d’Or title for his series of images entitled Storms, winning a $25,000 cash prize and Sony’s latest digital imaging camera equipment, but some other striking images also caught our eye at the exhibition. Donald Weber won first place in Current Affairs, for his Life in the Exclusion Zone series documenting the haunting effects of the Fukushima nuclear disaster on Odaka in north-eastern Japan, which rendered the 13,000 populace area into a ghost town. In the same category, second place was awarded to Fernando Alfonso Brito Lizárraga whose images of Mexican drug casualties are additionally haunting in their own right, both photographers hinting at mankind’s destructive capabilities through different subjects. Another striking collection from Alessandro Grassani chronicles a Mongolian family’s struggle through recent harsh winters alongside their herd of sheep.

These thought-provoking series among many others are well worth visiting, a true showcase of photographic commentary for 2012, on until 20 May. We are giving away a pair of tickets daily for this exhibition, follow @PCLTweet for details.

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Win a years subscription to SOURCE magazine!

Our May competition has started, and this time we’ve added an extra twist!
Using your mobile phone as your camera we want you to capture what you think represents ‘Street Life’.
Using your phone as the camera is a great way to explore the concept of street photography and street life. Most people have a phone with a camera and they are always with us, making them the perfect partner for shooting on the streets and capturing those one off unique shot

THE PRIZE
The winner of this months competition will win an amazing year long subscription to SOURCE magazine! SOURCE is a great magazine that has features, news, reviews of different photographers, specialist collumns and much much more.
Find out more about SOURCE here – www.source.ie

To enter you must become a fan of Photography Course London on Facebook. Once you are a fan click the link below to enter and find out more details!
Link: www.facebook.com/groups/pcl.competition.

The closing date is  30 May

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Ideas Tap & Magnum Photographic Awards party

We were lucky enough to be invited to the Ideas Tap and Magnum Photographic Awards Launch party on Monday evening.
It was a great evening that showcased the finalists and winners of both categories in the Ideas Tap photographic award, along with some interesting yet rather tasty canapes and a glass of wine!

The winner of the 16-22 group was Maria Gruzdeva with her photographs based in her homeland of Russia. She wanted to focus on the idea of Identity, and how people find their own. After living in Russia for 17 years and now living in England, Maria started to think about the history of her country and how it can shape people and the way they live their lives.

See more work by Maria on her website

The winner of the 23-30 group was Roman Sakovich. These images are influenced by the bigger nations and unions like The Soviet Union and the way in which the culture and country itself is shaped. This project is far from completed however. Roman wants to move onto the people and how they are living, by either leaving the country or coming to it as a totally  new citizen.

See more work by Roman on his website

To see more images from the evening follow this link – www.ideastap.com
For more information about the Ideas Tap photographic awards click here www.ideastap.com/Opportunities

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