BOP (Books on Photography) Bristol 2023

Today was the first "unofficial" face to face meeting for my MA Cohort.

I set off early (as always) and arrived about 8:45am. A quick look around soon told me that absolutely nothing was open until 10am.

I find it much easier to be sat In a room and have people walk in than walk in when people are already there but the cafe did not open until 10am so I was left with no choice but to wonder a bit and then wait outside for my cohort to arrive.

Around 9:45 som people began drifting in and I met a few of the gang (you know who you are) for in person introductions and a chat before moving into the Bocabar for a cuppa.

I have to say (not just because they may read this) what an incredibly lovely bunch!

Jessie, one of our tutors, joined us and it was really nice to meet him in person.

After a nice chat and a hot chocolate those that had booked or the first talk, myself included, left to attend.

The first talk was by Alicia Bruce and it was very informative, interesting and thought provoking. A synopsis of the talk can be found below.

Alicia Bruce will talk about her new photobook I Burn but I am Not Consumed. In this work Alicia presents a portrait of a Scottish coastal community in conflict with Donald Trump, who in 2006 announced plans to create what he said would be ‘The Greatest Golf Course in the World’. This resulted in the Scottish land losing its accreditation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

This project documents the extraordinary people who stood up to money, power and bullying to save their land and home from a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

I stayed seated after this talk as I was booked for the next one (below)

This was a fascinating talk by the Spanish (and heavily pregnant) photographer Lua Ribeira.

This again was a reply inspiring and fascinating talk (synopsis below) and I was compelled to purchase her book which she kindly signed for me.

Magnum Photos’ Lua Ribeira will talk about her photobook Subida al Cielo (Ascent into Heaven), published by Dalpine. This is Lua’s first monograph and features five series created between 2016 and 2020. In each body of work presented in the book, Lua uses photography to create spaces of encounter and collaboration that can transcend structural separations.

While the work is informed by its relation to historical documentary photography and representation, Lua often uses theatricality as a strategy to transgress prevailing political dimensions and partially remove the context in which she has become immersed. The pictures aim to deconstruct the purely documentary image and enter a space where the influence of mythological, archetypal and religious imagery resonates, especially in the representation of the human struggle.

The day was wonderful, meeting my cohort, the books on offer and the talks were a brilliant start to this journey.

I have been inspired to rethink my FMP and add a much more personal element going forward.

Watch this space!