Not surprisingly, it’s been turning heads for the past three weeks. Now Damian Fantato looks back on a festival of world-class photography

A FESTIVAL of “world-class” photography exceeding expectations, according to the organiser.

Photography Oxford, a three-week festival, the first of its kind in the city, concluded yesterday after attracting about 30 leading photographers from around the globe to the city.

Oxford Mail:

Paddy Summerfield's work depicts the final months of his mother's life. She had Alzheimer's disease and Mr Summerfield's father was her full-time carer

It also featured a series of renowned speakers, including former ministers involved in the Northern Ireland peace process such as Lord Trimble.

The festival was organised by Summertown photographer Robin Laurance and it was opened by culture minister and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.

Oxford Mail:

Nora by Rory Carnegie

Mr Laurance said: “It has gone incredibly well and I think it has exceeded our expectations.

“At least two of the films at the Phoenix Picturehouse were sold out and our discussions were oversubscribed.

“The turnout has been very good and we have had a great deal of positive feedback. I wanted to bring world-class photography into the regions and into our region in particular.

“There is plenty of world class photography in London but when you look for the best outside London it is pretty hard to find.”

Oxford Mail:

Brothers by Wendy Sacks

Mr Laurance is a photojournalist who has worked for The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The New York Times and the Washington Post.

During his career he has taken portrait pictures of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and artist Francis Bacon.

The Oxford Mail’s sister paper The Oxford Times is the official media partner of the event and pictures from the newspaper’s Osney Mead archive were exhibited at the Ashmolean Museum during the festival.

Oxford Mail:

Sister Anne Verena by Joanna Vestey

The Sarah Wiseman Gallery in Summertown played host to an exhibition of pieces from Rory Carnegie’s Association of Photographers award-winning Port Meadow Dogs series, while the Mathematical Institute hosted work by Mariana Cook, which focuses on those people who risk their livelihoods and lives to pursue justice.

Laura El-Tantawy’s pictures of modern Egypt were exhibited at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Oxford Mail:

Spektrum Eins by Matthias Heiderich

Oxford has a long history of photographic pioneering – William Henry Fox Talbot, regarded as the founder of photography, took a series of famous pictures of the city in the 1840s.

And Broad Street-based Henry Taunt was one of Victorian England’s most prolific photographers.

His maps and guides, illustrated by photographs of the River Thames, played a major role in developing the Victorians’ love of the river and leisure pursuits including rowing, camping and steamer trips.

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