London Street Photography Festival

THE London Street Photography Festival brings together some of the most creatively interesting, London-based photographers currently operating in the area, as well as those held in high esteem no longer with us. The photography festival takes place at different venues across London, ranging from the traditionally established stalwarts like the London Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert, to less well-known spaces like the unique German Gymnasium.

All of these disparate hosts tie the London Street Photography Festival together into a complex knot, offering the public glimpses of the city’s bigger picture. 

The festival also incorporates a variety of smaller hosts that are less conventional spaces for galleries like The Water Poet, as well as venues tailored for these sorts of occasions like The Camp. All of these disparate hosts tie the London Street Photography Festival together into a complex knot, offering the public glimpses of the city’s bigger picture. The photography chosen for display represents the wealth of diversity the city offers. With the inevitable myriad of culture inhabitants come across daily, this is naturally reflected in the breadth of work. The exhibition celebrates a candid appreciation of London’s subjects, covering anything from unfamiliar eccentricities to the strikingly familiar. The stage is set from the public domain and beyond, encorporating the ultra modern, whilst also reaching back to the past with Walter Joseph’s 1940s street markets. \

Mishka Henner, 'No Man's Land' © Mishka Henner/Panos Pictures, No Man’s Land

There is an international awards show, which is generally nothing like the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition, excepting that the public also submit their own work. Yet here submissions are narrowed down to just a few elite finalists displayed sleekly and focusing on the competition’s best work. The festival features workshops in which those in the know share talks, walks, tips and guides on what to look for when photographing the street from exhibiting photographers. The ‘Stand your Ground’ and ‘Why does street photography make us paranoid’ events raise important questions relating to media law and taking pictures whilst confronting the zeitgeist head on.

'Bus Stories', Mimi Mollica © Mimi Mollica, Bus Stories

One of the most instantly captivating photographers is Dougie Wallace, who photographs the carnage amidst the torrent of the London party scene. His opening night is on the 7^th July at The Camp. Other work reveals a more luminous, incandescent depth of quality, captured more subtly, such as Toby Smith’s night-time pictures.

 'The French', Nick Turpin © Polly Braden and David Campany.

Through the fresh perspective of a keenly focused camera, the London Street Photography Festival offers original glimpses through the shutters of unique people with equally unique visions.

Walter Joseph © Walter Joseph Collection, courtesy the British Library