Assignments 2024 | The BPPA Exhibition ON TOUR

France's Caroline Garcia dives in an attempt to return the ball to Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova during their women's singles tennis match on the fifth day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2023.France's Caroline Garcia dives in an attempt to return the ball to Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova during their women's singles tennis match on the fifth day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2023. Photo - Adrian Dennis / AFP)

The best of British press photography has come to Port Sunlight in a new exhibition.

The British Press Photographers’ Association are bringing their annual exhibition, ‘Assignments 2024 – The BPPA Exhibition’, to the beautiful Bridge Cottage within historic Port Sunlight. It is the first time the exhibition has been presented in Merseyside and follows a successful showcase in London’s Southbank.

The exhibition is a showcase of the best 100 photographs from members of The BPPA, celebrating the best of press photography. Over the summer, a changing display of 50 photographs will take over Bridge Cottage, one of Port Sunlight’s most distinctive Arts and Crafts-style houses. The exhibition is presented in partnership with Port Sunlight Village Trust, the independent charity responsible for preserving and promoting the village.

Curated by five leading industry figures, this year’s exhibition covers stories from March 2023 through to the spring of 2024 and will feature everything from sports and entertainment through to politics and protest with royals, celebrities, and global events as seen through the eyes of the association’s photographers.

Founded in the mid-1980s, The BPPA has sought to promote and inspire the highest ethical, technical, and creative standards from within the industry, and once again is set to deliver an exhibition of photographs from the cutting edge of journalism.

Thanks to the support of Canon UK, Assignments 2024 is FREE to attend, with donations to Port Sunlight Village Trust welcome.

This year’s curators were photojournalist David Burnett, Reuters UK and Ireland Chief Photographer Suzanne Plunkett, photojournalist Steve Back, Press Association photographer Jane Barlow, and Getty Images sports photographer Justin Setterfield.

  • Assignments 2024 is FREE to attend.
  • The address is 10 Bridge St, Birkenhead, Wirral CH62 4UP
  • It’s open between Wednesday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, between 8th June and 1st September 2024.

Assignments 2024 | The BPPA Exhibition opens in London

Photo: ©Elliott Franks

The British Press Photographers’ Association presents its annual ‘Assignments’ exhibition celebrating the best of press photography from its members.

Curated by five leading industry figures, this year’s exhibition covers stories from March 2023 through to the spring of 2024 and will feature everything from sports and entertainment to politics and protests with royals, celebrities, and global events as seen through the eyes of the association’s photographers.

Founded in the mid-1980s, The BPPA has sought to promote and inspire the highest ethical, technical, and creative standards from within the industry and once again is set to deliver an exhibition of photographs from the cutting edge of journalism.

  • Assignments 2024 is FREE to attend.
  • Open from 11am to 6pm daily between 24th May and 2nd June 2024.
  • Covers 5 floors of The Bargehouse on London’s Southbank, part of Oxo Tower Wharf.
  • Once again the BPPA bookshop will return during the exhibition.

The Bargehouse can be found on Google Maps here , you can use the post code SE1 9PH or on What3Words the location is lovely.spirit.voted

ASSIGNMENTS 2024 – THE CURATORS

We are delighted to reveal our panel of curators for Assignments 2024: The BPPA Exhibition will be David Burnett, Suzanne Plunkett, Steve Back, Jane Barlow and Justin Setterfield. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our curators for being involved in this project and feel they are a true reflection of the industry in 2024. We look forward to seeing their final selections in London and Wirral later this year.

 

David Burnett

David Burnett (born Salt Lake City, Utah 1946) learned photography at the Olympus High School yearbook, and later shot pictures for the yearbook (mostly sports) at Colorado College (BA Poli Sci ’68.)  His career as a rocket scientist was thwarted by a not-to-be-named math professor who mumbled during Calculus class.   He began working as a freelancer for Time, and later LIFE magazine in the late 1960s, spending two years covering the war in Vietnam.   Following the demise of LIFE Magazine weekly in 1972, he joined the French photo agency Gamma and traveled the world for them before subsequently founding Contact Press Images, in New York in 1975.  His work for news magazines in Europe and the US has included politics, sports, and portraiture as well as the news.  He has covered every Summer Olympic Games since 1984, as well as the 2002, 2014, and 2018 Winter Games, and photographed every American President since John F Kennedy. His awards include ‘Magazine Photographer of the Year’ from the Pictures of the Year Competition, the ‘World Press Photo of the Year’, and the Robert Capa Gold Medal from the Overseas Press Club. He has produced photographic essays for Time, Fortune, GEO, Paris-Match and ESPN Magazine.  He served on the World Press Photo Jury in 1997, 1999, and chaired the Jury in 2011. In 2018 he was awarded the Sprague Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Press Photographers Association.   He is the author of three photographic books: “Soul Rebel – An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley”,   “44 Days : Iran and the Remaking of the World,” pictures taken during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and the recently published “l’Homme Sans Gravité”  (“Man Without Gravity”)  a collection of five decades of sports pictures.

Suzanne Plunkett

Suzanne Plunkett is a veteran photojournalist who has worked as a staff photographer for the Associated Press in New York where she took one of the iconic photographs of the attacks at the U.S. World Trade on September 11, 2001. From 2003-2005, as Chief Photographer for the AP in Indonesia, Suzanne managed a team of five Jakarta-based photographers and a large network of freelancers following the Bali Bombings and during the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Suzanne worked as Bloomberg’s UK senior photographer before joining Reuters as a staff photographer in London for seven years, where she covered the 2012 Olympics, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, London Fashion Week, one royal wedding (Will and Kate), two royal births (George and Charlotte) and spent many rainy days outside Downing Street and rainy evenings covering Premier League matches. Suzanne left Reuters in 2015 to teach and to freelance in London for clients that included the New York Times and CNN. She founded the UK chapter of Women Photograph – an organization that works to mentor and support the work of women and nonbinary visual journalists. Suzanne returned to Reuters last year and took on the role of chief photographer for the UK and Ireland.

Steve Back

Steve Back has spent 54 years in the business, including 30 years as a staff and freelance photographer on the Daily Mail. He can now be found most weeks on Downing Street covering politics. Steve said “It’s been an amazing journey which thankfully is still not over! Best job in the world.”

Jane Barlow

Jane Barlow has been a professional press photographer for over 20 years. After working for local papers and agencies including seven years with The Scotsman, Jane joined the Press Association in 2016 as a staff photographer covering news, politics, sport and features across Scotland and sometimes beyond.

Justin Setterfield

Justin Setterfield is a sports photographer for Getty Images covering events around the world with a focus on Football. He recently won the SJA Sports Photographer of the Year and SJA 2023 Football Portfolio awards.

ASSIGNMENTS 2024 – NOW OPEN

The British Press Photographers’ Association is pleased to announce that ASSIGNMENTS 2024 is now open for entries. The BPPA Exhibition will return to London’s Bargehouse on the Southbank in May 2024.
We can also now reveal that the touring leg of ASSIGNMENTS 2024 will be moving from Wales to The Wirral! Following its 10 day showcase in London the exhibition will travel to Port Sunlight in Wirral where it will be on display for 12 weeks. We are once again seeking the best of British Press Photography from our members.
  • Entries are open NOW until midnight on Friday 5th April 2024.
  • Each member can enter up to 10 photographs taken between 11th March 2023 and 5th April 2024 (inclusive).
  • You must be a full member of The BPPA to enter – if you aren’t you can join now.
  • Thanks to our generous sponsors at Canon UK it is FREE to enter although entrants whose work is selected will be asked to pay a fee of £50 per picture towards the cost of framing (capped at £100 max). Once the exhibition tour is complete, if you wish to keep your framed print there will be an opportunity to collect it.
  • Entries will be selected anonymously by a panel of curators drawn from across the industry.

Assignments 2023 – The Talks

Our Assignments LIVE theatre @ Bargehouse on London's Southbank

Assignments LIVE Theatre @ Bargehouse

 

The British Press Photographers’ Association is proud to be hosting another series of fantastic photography talks during Assignments 2023 – The BPPA Exhibition, hosted in our top floor theatre at The Bargehouse. We are once again set to hear some spectacular stories from members of The BPPA and guest speakers at this continuation of our ‘Assignments LIVE’ events.

We are delighted to present to you the following talks and panel discussions;

 

Wednesday 24th May 2023

 

1pm – TALK: War in Ukraine with Julian Simmonds, Peter Jordan and Jack Hill

During this panel discussion, national newspaper photographers Julian Simmonds (The Telegraph), Peter Jordan (The Sun) and Jack Hill (The Times) will discuss their time covering the war in Ukraine. This talk is a must for anyone who wants an insight into the challenges facing photographers working in the most hostile of environments.

CLICK HERE FOR WAR IN UKRAINE TICKETS

 

3pm – TALK: Panel discussion with the UK’s leading Newspaper Picture Editors

During this panel talk, national newspaper Picture Editors will discuss the day to day workings of a picture desk, what drives the news agenda, how to pitch, where they find photographers for commissions, how big jobs like the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and coronation of King Charles III are covered and how they choose the pictures that make the front pages of their respective national newspapers every day. This talk is a must for anyone who wants an insight in to the thoughts and daily life of a picture editor at some of the UK’s biggest papers.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURE EDITORS TICKETS

 

 

Thursday 25th May 2023

 

11.30am -TALK: Denise Maxwell – How I Turned My Side Hustle into My Main Hustle

To specialise or diversify? Denise will share her journey to becoming a full time photographer of 12 years, turning her hobby into a full time career. She will give tips on actions you can follow to achieve the same and make money from your photography and she will discuss the pros and cons of being a multi genre photographer in an industry that still advises most to specialise.

CLICK HERE FOR DENISE MAXWELL TICKETS

 

2pm – TALK: Photographer Chris Floyd – Not Just Pictures

‘Not Just Pictures’ is all about stories: from getting his first camera, to getting mugged, to believing one of his heroes would only want to buy the rights to an image because “he disliked it enough to want it removed from the public domain”. Often very funny, Chris’s talk is a rich dish that reveals what it’s like to pursue a life of photography and demonstrates how the camera is an incredible key that can unlock any door.

CLICK HERE FOR CHRIS FLOYD TICKETS

 

 

These ticketed talks take place as part of Assignments 2023 – The BPPA Exhibition, a FREE exhibition open from 11am to 6pm daily between 19th and 28th May and showcasing the best of press photography from The British Press Photographers’ Association.

Curated by 5 leading industry figures, this year’s exhibition covers stories from July 2021 through to the spring of 2023 and will feature everything from sports and entertainment to politics and protests with royals, celebrities, and global events as seen through the eyes of the association’s photographers.

More information can be found here.

Assignments 2023 – The BPPA Exhibition

Ukrainian soldiers in their foxhole defending the north of the city of Kharkiv on the second day of the war. 25 February 2022. EDITORS NOTE: This image can only be used in connection with Assignments 2023 - The BPPA Exhibition.

The British Press Photographers’ Association presents its annual ‘Assignments’ exhibition celebrating the best of press photography from its members.

Curated by 5 leading industry figures, this year’s exhibition covers stories from July 2021 through to the spring of 2023 and will feature everything from sports and entertainment to politics and protests with royals, celebrities, and global events as seen through the eyes of the association’s photographers.

Founded in the mid-1980s, The BPPA has sought to promote and inspire the highest ethical, technical, and creative standards from within the industry and once again is set to deliver an exhibition of photographs from the cutting edge of journalism.

  • Assignments 2023 is FREE to attend.
  • Open from 11am to 6pm daily between 19th and 28th May 2023.
  • Covers 5 floors of The Bargehouse on London’s Southbank, part of Oxo Tower Wharf.
  • Once again the BPPA bookshop will return during the exhibition.

 

 

How to find us;

Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House St, London SE1 9PH

Train
Blackfriars, Waterloo or Waterloo East

Tube
Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines) 5 minutes walk
Southwark (Jubilee line) 7 minutes walk
Blackfriars (Circle and District lines) 5 minutes walk

Car
There is secure underground car parking adjacent to the centre. The venue is within the Congestion and ULEZ charging zones.

Boat
Blackfriars Millennium pier or Festival pier

 

Image Credit: Julian Simmonds

Assignments 2023 – The Curators

Ahead of Assignments 2023 we are pleased to announce our complete list of curators. They are; 

Phil Coburn – Daily Mirror

Phil has been a news and editorial photographer for over 30 years. Whilst on assignment in Helmand Province in 2010, he was seriously injured when an I.E.D. blast hit the U.S. Marine MRAP in which he was travelling. Phil lost his lower legs, broke his back, and spent 4 months in hospital before returning to work later that year. His post-injury assignments have included dispatches from Gaza, Iraq, Yemen, Ivory Coast, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and numerous European jobs. Phil has worked for the Daily Mirror since 2002 and is a multi-award-winning photographer with a wealth of experience, we are delighted to have him on board as a curator for ASSIGNMENTS 2023.

 

Talar Kalajian – Agence France-Presse

Talar is the United Kingdom and Ireland photo manager for Agence France-Presse in London. She has previously been a photo editor at AFP’s main headquarters in Paris, regional headquarters in Nicosia, and Iberian Peninsula bureau in Madrid. Her photo editing career has taken her around the world, covering Middle East conflicts and World Cup tournaments, Winter and Summer Olympics, the coronavirus pandemic, and a long-reigning monarch’s historic funeral. We are thrilled by Talar’s involvement in the curation of ASSIGNMENTS 2023.

 

Matthew Fearn – The Telegraph

Matthew began his career as a photographer for The Press Association in 1998, working around the world shooting news and sport before becoming a picture editor. He was appointed Deputy Picture Editor of the Sunday Telegraph in 2007 and has been Picture Editor of The Telegraph since 2012. Matthew’s participation is a credit to The BPPA and we are delighted to have him as a curator for ASSIGNMENTS 2023.

 

Alan Crowhurst – Getty Images

Alan has worked as a contract photographer at Getty Images for the past 12 years. He has also shot for Associated Press, The Press Association, The Sunday Times, and L’Equipe. Alan specialises in photographing horse racing and was awarded the SJA’s coveted Sports Photographer of the Year in 2015. He also won the SJA Specialist Portfolio Award in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and we are honoured that he has agreed to be part of ASSIGNMENTS 2023.

 

Freddie Sloan – Hello Magazine

Freddie has worked in newspapers and magazines specialising in celebrity and entertainment for over 30 years. She is now Creative Director at Hello Magazine, a position that sees her commissioning celebrity photo shoots and working closely with photographers. Freddie is passionate about photography and we are thrilled that she has agreed to curate ASSIGNMENTS 2023.

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our curators for being involved in this project and feel they are a true reflection of the industry in 2023. We look forward to seeing their final selections in London and Cardiff later this year.

ASSIGNMENTS 2023 – NOW OPEN

The British Press Photographers’ Association is pleased to announce that ASSIGNMENTS 2023 is now open for entries. The BPPA Exhibition will return to London’s Bargehouse on the Southbank in May 2023.

We can also now reveal that ASSIGNMENTS 2023 will be heading to Wales for the first time! Following its 10 day showcase in London the exhibition will travel to Ffotogallery Wales in Cardiff where it will be on display for a whole month. We are once again seeking the best of British Press Photography from our members.

  • Entries are open NOW until midnight on Friday 10th March 2023.
  • Each member can enter up to 10 photographs taken between 3rd July 2021 and 10th March 2023 (inclusive).
  • You must be a full member of The BPPA to enter – if you aren’t you can join now.
  • Thanks to our generous sponsors at Canon UK and Fixation it is FREE to enter.
  • Entries will be selected anonymously by a panel of curators drawn from across the industry.

We are also pleased to announce the first of our 5 curators as Phil Coburn. Phil has been a news and editorial photographer for over 30 years, starting out covering the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland, before he began travelling, covering the genocide in Rwanda, the volcano eruption in Montserrat, Gulf War II, Hurricane Katrina and dozens of assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whilst on assignment in Helmand Province in 2010, he was seriously injured when an I.E.D. blast hit the U.S. Marine MRAP in which he was travelling. Phil lost his lower legs, broke his back and spent 4 months in hospital before returning to work later that year. His post injury assignments have included dispatches from Gaza, Iraq, Yemen, Ivory Coast, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and numerous European jobs. Phil has worked for the Daily Mirror since 2002 and is a multi award winning photographer with a wealth of experience, we are delighted to have him on board as a curator for ASSIGNMENTS 2023.

 

Click here for the rules and entry procedures

 

 

Photographs courtesy: Samir Hussein, Fabio De Paola, Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Elliott Franks, Danny Lawson/PA, Hannah McKay/REUTERS, Richard Pohle/The Times, Samir Hussein, Tom Nicholson, Samir Hussein.

Assignments 2023 – Coming Soon!

Assignments is back! The best of British press photography will once again be exhibited as The BPPA Exhibition returns!

We are pleased to announce that The British Press Photographers’ Association’s flagship exhibition ASSIGNMENTS will be returning to London in May 2023.

Here is what you need to know about ASSIGNMENTS 2023:

  • Entries open on Wednesday, March 1st and close on Friday, March 10th 2023.
  • Photographs must have been taken between 3rd July 2021 and 10th March 2023 (inclusive) so start digging through your archive.
  • You must be a full member of The BPPA to enter – But don’t worry if you aren’t… you can join now!
  • You can enter a maximum of 10 pictures this year.
  • It is FREE to enter thanks to our sponsors at Canon UK and Fixation!
  • Photographs will be selected anonymously by a panel of curators drawn from across the industry.
  • The full entry requirements and curator announcements will follow so watch this space!

 

Photographs courtesy: Samir Hussein, Fabio De Paola, Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Elliott Franks, Danny Lawson/PA, Hannah McKay/REUTERS, Richard Pohle/The Times, Samir Hussein, Tom Nicholson, Samir Hussein.

Assignments 2021 – The BPPA Exhibition

Stormzy performs at the 2019 BRIT Awards in London. 18 February 2020. EDITORS NOTE: This image can only be used in connection with Assignments 2021 - The BPPA Exhibition.

The British Press Photographers’ Association present their annual ‘Assignments’ exhibition celebrating the best of press photography from its members. Curated by 5 leading industry figures, this year’s exhibition covers stories from April 2019 through to the recent developments in the pandemic and will feature everything from sports and entertainment through to politics and protest with royals, celebrities and global events as seen through eyes of the association’s photographers. Founded in the mid 1980s, The BPPA has sought to promote and inspire the highest ethical, technical and creative standards from within the industry and once again is set to deliver an exhibition of photographs from the cutting edge of journalism.

  • Assignments 2021 is FREE to attend
  • Open from 11am to 6pm daily between August 27th and September 5th 2021
  • Covers 5 floors of The Bargehouse on London’s Southbank, part of Oxo Tower Wharf
  • Once again the BPPA bookshop will return during the exhibition

How to find us;

Train
Blackfriars, Waterloo or Waterloo East

Tube
Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines) 5 minutes walk
Southwark (Jubilee line) 7 minutes walk
Blackfriars (Circle and District lines) 5 minutes walk

Car
There is secure underground car parking adjacent to the centre.

Boat
Blackfriars Millennium pier or Festival pier.

Image Credit: Samir Hussein, Andrew Baker