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

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.