FORMAT EXPOSURE OPEN CALL
Deadline: 1 October 2014
Application fee: £15

“I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild and ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be.”
- Isaac Asimov
Photography was once considered the most accurate way to record truth. The photograph acted as a solid piece of evidence; indisputable proof of something, someone or somewhere. Since its discovery, photography has been employed as a silent witness to ideas, capturing events and representing a trace of the world.
Today, every two minutes, we take as many photos as the entirety of humanity took during the 1800s. On a daily basis, we use photography to evidence our lives; routines, friends, meals, encounters. Millions of seemingly insignificant moments are recorded and shared online, creating inconclusive portraits of individuals, places and events.
We can no longer consider a photograph an evidential document in every case. It can equally misrepresent reality as much as it reveals truths; questioning the historic phrase “the camera never lies”.
We are interested in the evidence of your ideas, your lives and the lives of others, today and throughout history. We are inviting submissions which explore the boundaries of photography and its connection to our festival theme, EVIDENCE, in original and genuine ways.
We are looking for submissions from across the medium of photography and beyond for the next edition of FORMAT International Photography Festival, taking place from 13th March – 12th April 2015, in Derby, UK. Submissions are welcome from artists/photographers, curators, collectives, archives, independent publishers and performers.
There are opportunities to show different kinds of works: wall based, installation, public space, screen based, interactive, digital, participatory, workshop and event based. Tell us more in the application form! All we ask is that you connect with the theme and photography/still image.
We are open to broad interpretations of the theme.
Think openly about the definition of the theme and you are welcome to take it in any direction you think relates.
Challenge us!
FORMAT has invited a panel of international experts from the field of photography to assist in the short-listing and selection of EXPOSURE artists.
The Jury for FORMAT15 consists of:
W.M. Hunt – Photography Consultant & Collector, New York, USA
Brian Griffin – Photographer & FORMAT Patron, UK
Erik Kessels – Curator, Director at KesselsKramer Publishing, Netherlands
Wang Baoguo – Chief Editor, Chinese Photography Magazine, China
Aaron Schuman – Photographer, Curator, Writer, Lecturer and Editor of SEESAW Magazine, UK
Tim Clark – Chief Editor of 1000 Words Photography Magazine, UK
Peggy Sue Amison – Artistic Director of East Wing, Dubai, UAE
Joanne Junga Yang – Director of Y&G Art, Seoul Photo Festival, Korea
Enrico Bossan – Head of Photography at Fabrica, Editor of Colors Magazine, Italy
Louise Clements – Artistic Director of FORMAT/QUAD, UK
FORMAT has partnered with a selection of great organisations to offer awards. These include:
Clifton Cameras Award – Canon Camera, EOS 70D EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens Kit*
FORMAT EXPOSURE Award - £1000
Ideas Tap Award - £1000
Paul Hill FORMAT Award - £1000
Genesis and Fujifilm Production Award - £1000 worth of framing and printing (on Fujifilm Crystal Archive paper)
The Photography Show Award - £500
SHOW ME PICTURES Award - £250
The Photocaptionist Award - £250 towards the production of a special image-text commission for the platform
*Prize value £999. No cash alternative.
This year the EXPOSURE open call will be hosted by IdeasTap. All submissions must be made via IdeasTap.com. Please ensure you follow the instructions outlined carefully otherwise your submission may not be valid. Download our step by step guide to the submission process. Submissions costs £15*.
*The submission fee charged is in aid of FORMAT Festival 2015 and directly contributes to the organisation and delivery of the festival for the benefit of all participants. FORMAT is a non-profit organisation.
Apply here: http://www.formatfestival.com/exposure