Contemporary
Contemporary Group ethos - Photography that conveys ideas, stimulates thought and encourages interpretation; photographs 'about' rather than 'of'.
Events
News
Recordings of the Zoom meetings
A follow-up to the recent event "Challenging The Status Quo: The Origins of the Contemporary Group"
Our Purpose
The RPS Contemporary Group is about photography which can and often does cross all conventional genres.
The working definition of the Contemporary SIG is:
Photography that conveys ideas, stimulates thought and encourages interpretation; photographs "about" rather than "of".
The objectives of the group are to:
- Provide a forum for presentation and encouragement of its members in pursuing production of coherent bodies of work with a specific role.
- Emphasise photography based on expressing ideas; on meaning and purpose, with sets of images to a theme rather than individual stand-alone photographs.
- It is about the “why” rather that the “what” of the photography.
- The Group will appeal to amateur members who look to achieve a longer standing value in their work, as an alternative to the well-trodden route of photographic salons, and to professionals pursuing work on personal projects to a theme.
- Encourage members to communicate their photographic vision.
Contemporary Photography
Number 93, January 2024
Concept
July 2024
Find out more about contemporary photography
Contemporary Group Member Benefits
- Contemporary Photography Our full colour print magazine, containing in-depth articles featuring the work of notable photographers from around the world is printed three times per year.
- Concept Our free e-magazine, keeping group members up-to-date on events and featuring the work of our members, book reviews and reports on regional group meetings. Available by email and on our website three times per year, alternating with Contemporary Photography.
- Postal Portfolios Member postal portfolios circulating in UK and Europe.
- Webinars Regular Zoom interviews with notable photographers about their work and practice, open to all.
- Regional sub-Groups holding local meetings Sub-groups meeting in the South West, East Anglia, the North West, Yorkshire and Scotland, and the Central Region joint Contemporary/Documentary Group.
- Active Facebook Groups The groups "RPS Contemporary" and "RPS Photobooks" are open to all.
- Active Instagram Group Instagram page @rpscontemporary open to all.
Contemporary Photography Journal
Back issues of the Contemporary Group's high quality journal are available here.
Contemporary Special Interest Groups Around the UK
Archive
A list of resources for contemporary photographers to keep themselves interested during their time in isolation due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Are you getting both our publications?
The COVID-19 Blogs
Blog by a Head Teacher in the British International School in Hong Kong who uses photography to silently observe and reflect what's going on around him.
Member Andy Thorpe's COVID-19 furlough project.
