future of photography?
July 21st, 2008
What does the future hold for photography?
The panel attempted to answer this question at the Waterfront Hall last Thursday as part of TransBelfast.
Adam Turkington was joined by two representatives from Belfast Exposed, Ciara Chambers (Archive Manager) and Pauline Hadaway (Director), who spent far too long talking about their super archive of photographs rather than contributing much to the topic at hand as well as trying to tell us about the benefits of the social internet for sharing photographs.
Alongside them Hugh Russell, former Olympic Boxer, now acting editor of the Irish Times who suddenly gave me all these great ideas that I can become a photojournalist, that it’s not hard to get into… [or not].
Moochin Photoman, AKA, John Baucher, a local photographer with his finger on the pulse around Belfast and a good knack of being in the right place at the right time, he likes to experiment with various techniques such as his latest project; TtV (Through the Viewfinder), with an exhibition planned around this theme.
Finally, flown in from London, Pennie Smith of The Clash‘s London Calling album cover fame, with an apparent bitterness towards the Internet and little desire to turn to digital, still clutching her rolls of film.
As an audience of digital photographers sat on, listening to the speakers preaching that skills in the darkroom are essential and how not enough images are printed these days I ended up really thinking what the future does hold for photography?
Should I just give up now?
More thoughts later in the week.
The photographs by Gingerpixel, Andy, Mark Leetch, Moochin Photoman, Red Mum, Alan in Belfast and myself will be on display on the second floor of the Waterfront Hall until 10th August 2008
