Established in 2009 by Redeye the photography network, the third National Photography Symposium will be held in Liverpool from 13-15 May 2011. Dubbed “The most important forum in UK photography” by the Financial Times, the event is aimed at photographers at every level, and those working in other fields who are interested in photography - curators, writers, students, academics, buyers, editors and collectors.To find out more about the programme visit the website below.

Website: National Photography Symposium

Press Release

National Photography Symposium 2011 Liverpool 13-15 May

“The most important forum in UK photography” – Francis Hodgson of the Financial Times

The National Photography Symposium comes to Liverpool with a stellar line-up for its third event.

Established in 2009 by Redeye the photography network, the event is a place for photographers to talk about the most important issues of the day, show their work and enter discussion sessions on topical issues such as this year’s ‘Photography, Espionage and The State.’

The Symposium will be in Liverpool in partnership with the Bluecoat as part of the Look 11 photography festival.

Already gaining a reputation amongst those in the industry it is a place where ideas are borne and campaigns are started. In 2009 the Symposium discussed the stop and search powers under the Terrorism Act. Following this came the ‘I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist’ campaign throwing the issue under the spotlight.

The event is aimed at photographers at every level, and those working in other fields who are interested in photography - curators, writers, students, academics, buyers, editors and collectors.

It covers every type of photography: fine art, photojournalism and documentary, community, editorial and commercial, museums, galleries and archives, libraries, higher education and agencies.

Speakers this year include Paul Seawright, the first editor of Source magazine and a leading photographer and artist from Belfast.

Christin Leach from the Sunday Times said of him: “Photography brings him to places where he can find himself, paradoxically by losing himself. Seawright is good at making himself invisible. Other photographers who travel to places of conflict and poverty often leave the viewer pondering the inescapable question of how they felt as they pressed the shutter. Throughout his career, Seawright has worked towards negating his presence. Often he achieves this so completely that viewers feel they are the only ones witnessing the scene. It’s an expert illusion.”

As part of the series of speakers on Photography, Espionage and The State,

Sara Jayne Parsons will be speaking about Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) a British diplomat, archaeologist, linguist, photographer and possibly a spy. Bell was instrumental in the political and cartographic formation of modern-day Iraq.

Gary Austin who formerly worked for the armed forces supplying the UK intelligence services, is now a photographer investigating surveillance and privacy. He will talk about some of the ways the intelligence services use photography.

“Such a powerful line-up makes this one of the must attend events of the photographic year.” Pete Jenkins, NUJ.

To find out more about the programme visit http://uknps.org.uk/

National Photography Symposium is on at the Liverpool Bluecoat from Friday May 13 until Sunday May 15. Ticket holders are offered the chance to show their work.

Tickets are available at http://npsmay2011.eventbrite.com/

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