PhotoFrome

01/05/2025

PHOTO|FROME IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER - TISH MURTHA

Visitors were invited to vote for their favourite artist exhibiting at Photo | Frome, and sign up to be entered into a sweepstake for a £250 MPB voucher to spend on used photo and video gear at MPB.com. For group shows or open calls, we asked visitors to keep track of the names of individual artists. With over 200 artists featured, it was quite a challenge. Thank you to everyone that took part.

TISH MURTHA

Patricia Anne ‘Tish’ Murtha left home to study at the School of Documentary Photography at The University of Wales, set up by Magnum Photos member David Hurn. After graduating in 1978, she returned to Newcastle and set out to document ‘marginalized communities from the inside’. Unlike other photographers who came to document poverty in the region, Tish lived it as the third of ten children of Irish descent, brought up in a council house in Elswick in Newcastle.

This photograph from Elswick Kids (1978) by Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

26/04/2025

PHOTO|FROME IS ALSO ABOUT PHOTOBOOKS

DON”T MISS THE LAST DAY TO STUDY AND HOLD THESE MAGICAL OBJECTS
FROME LIBRARY, 09:30 - 16:00 TODAY

We had entries from 40 countries. Two categories - Published & Unpublished books.

PUBLISHED BOOKS: Details at https://photofrome.org/photobook-published-winners/

The overall Festival Winner was awarded £500 for the strongest published submission which also resonated with this year’s festival theme – inEquality. There are also special mentions for considerations of sustainability in design, and several highly commended books.

OVERALL WINNER: Henri Airo ‘War Is A Disaster’ (Finland)

CONSIDERATION OF SUSTAINABILITY IN DESIGN: Daniel Chatard ‘Niemansland’ (Netherlands); Uta Genilke ‘SACRE’ (Germany); Elaine Pessoa ‘Transitus Naturalis’ (Brazil)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ruth Monteil Arias ‘ANIMA’ (SPAIN); Alexandre Silberman ’NATURE’ (France); Marcel Top ‘Reversed Surveillance’ (Sweden)

UNPUBLISHED BOOKS: Details at https://photofrome.org/festival-2025/unpublished-photobooks-finalists/

OVERALL WINNER: Anai Tirado Miranda ‘To Be Like Everyone Else - Para ser como todos)’ (Mexico)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Donya Asakereh ‘The Generation Of Mothers’ (Iran); Esther Garrison ’Trans-Siberian to the Closed City’ (Sweden); Arkadiy Korobka ‘Projection of the Wave on the Psychological Barrier’ (Russia)

VERY MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

25/04/2025

PHOTO|FROME’S LAST WEEKEND

MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT MISS ANYTHING!!

One of Photo|Frome’s principal installations features Joss Barratt’s photography taken whilst working on set with acclaimed director Ken Loach. Loach is known for his focus on marginalized communities, which includes ‘Carla’s Song‘, images from which we are pairing with Susan Meiselas‘ renowned documentary on Nicaragua. By combining fiction and reality we explore the same issues but from totally different angles, giving new perspectives. The work of Nick Hedges, Tish Murtha, Roland Ramanan, Paul Seawright, Jim Brogden, and Fast Forward: Women in Photography is also featured alongside other Ken Loach films.

Other indoor and outdoor exhibitions take different creative approaches to the theme. This includes Sujata Setia’s ‘A Thousand Cuts’, Valentina Sinis‘s ‘Were Afghan Women to Unveil their tales‘, Evgeniya Strygina’s ‘Home from Home’, and Tim Smith‘s ‘In the world but not of it‘, and Lucy Sewill‘s ‘Visible Women‘. Outdoor exhibitions include Joanne Coates whose work explores rurality, hidden histories, and income-based inequalities, Gideon Mendel‘s ‘When I’m 40‘, and Sarah Palmer’s ‘Wish You Were Here’.

Don’t miss the Open Call shortlist, and go see the Photobooks at Frome Library. Students from Falmouth University, Boomsatsuma, Bristol and Frome College are also exhibiting, as are local collective Frome Wessex Photographic. And visit our partner Roseberry Road Studios, in Bath.

LOTS GOING ON!

MORE DETAILS at https://photofrome.org/exhibitions/

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

22/04/2025

DON'T MISS OUR ONE-DAY FORUM & DISCUSSIONS EXPLORING HOW RURAL INEQUALITY IS EXPLORED IN PHOTOGRAPHY - CLOSING WEEKEND OF PHOTO|FROME

Saturday 26th April, 10:00 - 16:30. Registration from 09:30. Silk Mill, Frome.

‘These Poor Creatures’ is a quote from ‘Rural Rides’, a book published in 1822 by journalist, economist and politician William Cobbett. The book is a travelogue made on horseback from London through the West of England. When he reached Frome he observed that ‘These poor creatures at Frome have pawned all their things …’

As the only UK photography festival located beyond a major town or city, Photo|Frome is an apposite forum to explore rural inequality:

* How does the representation of poverty and inequality differ in a rural context compared to that of an urban experience?
* To what extent does photography obscure or reveal rural poverty and inequality?
* What part can photography play in communicating these differences and idiosyncrasies?
* Whose stories and what aspects of the rural experience should image-makers be addressing?

We are delighted to have confirmed Tessa Bunney, Jennifer Forward-Hayter, Seren Metcalfe, Naomi Wood, Kirsty Mackay, Andy Thatcher, Denise Felkin and Jermaine Francis.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

Details at

'These Poor Creatures' Photography, Inequality, and the Countryside A one-day forum of panel discussions exploring how rural inequality is being examined in contemporary photography Silk Mill Studios & Gallery | Merchants Barton, Frome BA11 1PT Saturday 26 April9:30–16:30 £20–£35 **TICKETS NOW...

19/04/2025

LOTS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Photo|Frome offers a full weekend of workshops for all levels of expertise and interest - many FREE for families.

SOME JUST WALK IN TODAY :-)

1. ‘MY WORLD’ STUDIO WITH JOSS BARRATT | RISE, Whittox Lane | Saturday 19 April. FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 10–13 YEARS, ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT. Create a photograph that says something about your world in a professional set up. Bring along one or two items that matter to you. 3 SESSIONS - starting 10:00, 11:00 & 12:00. FREE, BOOKING PREFERRED.

2. ‘CYANOTYPES’ WITH ANJALIKA BAIER | RISE, Whittox Lane | 14:00 – 15:30 Saturday 19 April. Cyanotype paper and plant material will be provided, however everyone is encouraged to bring along some of their own botanicals. FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN 5–13 YEARS. Just drop by. FREE.

3. BEFORE YOU PRESS THAT BUTTON’ WITH MARK SOMERVILLE | RISE, Whittox Lane | 10:00 – 13:00 Sunday 20 April. Bring your digital camera or smartphone. A morning spent with professional photographer Mark Somerville who will guide you through the basics of photographic composition. FOR STUDENTS & ADULTS. TICKETED.

4. ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY’, SMARTPHONE OR MIRRORLESS CAMERA WITH ROGER HYMAN | RISE, Whittox Lane | 13:30 – 15:30 Sunday 20 April. Roger will show how to get simple images with a smartphone, going on to using a mirrorless camera on a tripod to achieve stunning astro landscapes. He will also show how to get the Milky Way with a landscape. FOR STUDENTS & ADULTS. TICKETED.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

https://photofrome.org/workshops-2025/

19/04/2025

LOTS TO SEE - ALL VENUES OPEN

WHATEVER THE WEATHER, ENJOY A HUGE RANGE OF PHOTOGRAPHY TODAY.

One of Photo|Frome’s principal installations features Joss Barratt’s photography taken whilst working on set with acclaimed director Ken Loach. Loach is known for his focus on marginalized communities, which includes ‘Carla’s Song‘, images from which we are pairing with Susan Meiselas‘ renowned documentary on Nicaragua. By combining fiction and reality we explore the same issues but from totally different angles, giving new perspectives. The work of Nick Hedges, Tish Murtha, Roland Ramanan, Paul Seawright, Jim Brogden, and Fast Forward: Women in Photography is also featured alongside other Ken Loach films.

Other indoor and outdoor exhibitions take different creative approaches to the theme. This includes Sujata Setia’s ‘A Thousand Cuts’, Valentina Sinis‘s ‘Were Afghan Women to Unveil their tales‘, Evgeniya Strygina’s ‘Home from Home’, and Tim Smith‘s ‘In the world but not of it‘, and Lucy Sewill‘s ‘Visible Women‘. Outdoor exhibitions include Joanne Coates whose work explores rurality, hidden histories, and income-based inequalities, Gideon Mendel‘s ‘When I’m 40‘, and Sarah Palmer’s ‘Wish You Were Here’. Students from Falmouth University, Boomsatsuma, Bristol and Frome College will also be exhibiting, as will the local collective Frome Wessex Photographic.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

https://photofrome.org/exhibitions/

17/04/2025

Lovely to welcome the legend that is Ian Berry, Magnum, to Photo|Frome today.

16/04/2025

AS YOU WALK AROUND FROME, LOOK FOR THE STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE POSTERS, DIFFERENT FOR EVERY VENUE

And the venue numbers match those in the printed Programme - pick one up so that you don’t miss anything!

Thank you Susan Meisela, Joss Barratt, Sujata Setia, Evgeniya Strygina, Tim Smith, Valentina Sinis, Frederic Aranda, Missy Macdonald, Yehven Karankewych, Anna Kovaleska & Tahiri Hutton

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

15/04/2025

A WEEKEND OF WORKSHOPS AND FUN!

1. ‘THE HUNGRY EYE’ WITH RICHARD MORRISON | Bandstand, Victoria Park | 9:00 – 13:30 Saturday 19 April. Photowalk around Frome on techniques to further develop your unique visual viewpoint. ALL AGES, 16+. TICKETED.

2. ‘MY WORLD’ STUDIO WITH JOSS BARRATT | RISE, Whittox Lane | Saturday 19 April. FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 10–13 YEARS, ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT. Create a photograph that says something about your world in a professional set up. Bring along one or two items that matter to you.

3 SESSIONS - starting 10:00, 11:00 & 12:00. FREE, BOOKING PREFERRED.3. ‘CYANOTYPES’ WITH ANJALIKA BAIER | RISE, Whittox Lane | 14:00 – 15:30 Saturday 19 April. Cyanotype paper and plant material will be provided, however everyone is encouraged to bring along some of their own botanicals. FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN 5–13 YEARS. Just drop by. FREE.

4. BEFORE YOU PRESS THAT BUTTON’ WITH MARK SOMERVILLE | RISE, Whittox Lane | 10:00 – 13:00 Sunday 20 April. Bring your digital camera or smartphone. A morning spent with professional photographer Mark Somerville who will guide you through the basics of photographic composition. FOR STUDENTS & ADULTS. TICKETED.

5. ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY’, SMARTPHONE OR MIRRORLESS CAMERA WITH ROGER HYMAN | RISE, Whittox Lane | 13:30 – 15:30 Sunday 20 April. Roger will show how to get simple images with a smartphone, going on to using a mirrorless camera on a tripod to achieve stunning astro landscapes. He will also show how to get the Milky Way with a landscape. FOR STUDENTS & ADULTS. TICKETED.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.
MORE INFORMATION https://photofrome.org/workshops-2025/

14/04/2025

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF ANOTHER PHOTO|FROME EXHIBITION - BOOMSATSUMA BA STUDENTS AT THE SILK MILL STUDIOS & GALLERY

Students from Boomsatsuma, Bristol, exhibit a varied selection of images and photographic process on the festival’s inEquality theme. This exhibition is co-curated with Amin Yousefi, Photo|Frome’s 2023 Student Awards winner.

Toby Gaell is seen here, installing his work.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

13/04/2025

A brilliant evening at Photo|Frome. 'In Conversation' with Susan Meiselas, Joss Barratt and Ken Loach. Inequality, fact and fiction in a thought provoking (and sold out!) discussion. And huge thanks to our small but world class team, especially Joao Diniz Sanches

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.

12/04/2025

THE RIVER WALK OUTDOOR VENUE WAS VANDALISED, BUT THE WORK IS NOW RELOCATED!

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF GIDEON MENDEL & SARAH PALMER IS NOW IN THE GARDEN AT THE LOVELY ROOK LANE CHAPEL

Gideon Mendel’s ‘When I’m 40’, in partnership with Beaford is a cross-generational initiative with a group of nine and ten year old children in North Devon providing a unique perspective on our global climate emergency from the viewpoint of the generation who will be most affected. In a series of workshops led by the Beaford team, a group of eighteen local children and their parents explored how rising tides may affect places that they know and love during their lifetimes. The children all created their own placards, questioning what their chosen locations might be like in 2050 when they are grown up.

Sarah Palmer’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ straddles the realm of journalism and fine art, questioning the conventional limits that both of these worlds hold for the viewer and artist alike. ‘Wish You Were Here’ explores vacation culture amidst the climate crisis, and how it plays, often unconsciously, into what’s known as last-chance tourism. This is a trend whereby travellers visit destinations that are being irreparably changed by the climate crisis and will eventually vanish altogether. The more tourists who visit these environments, and the more widespread the climate crisis becomes, the more last-chance tourism grows.

Photo|Frome is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Our Official Sponsor is MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.