Doc Cymru Collective

In this exclusive first interview with its four members, Ffoton explores the project behind Wales’ new photographer Collective - collaborating to document
the impact of Brexit on people across Wales.

Ffoton’s Emyr Young talks with DocCymru photographers Rhodri Jones, Kristina Banholzer, Roger Tiley and Glenn Edwards about their new documentary project in Wales and what it aims to achieve over the next three years.

Follow the photographers and development of the project on Twitter @DocCymru24

© 2021 Ffoton

Walking Cardiff : Book launch

Ffoton joined Newport-based photographer John Briggs for a special event in Cardiff on Saturday 9 November to launch ‘Walking Cardiff’ - a new book he collaborated on with author and poet Peter Finch and published by Seren Books.

l-r: photographer John Briggs, writer Peter Finch, and event Chair - novelist and literary critic Grahame Davies

“Walking Cardiff is a new book published by Seren and brings together twenty walks around the bustling capital of Wales in a guide that visits the new and the ancient, the difficult, the undiscovered, the lesser-knowns, the artistic, the entertaining, the quirky and the unexpected - uncovering Cardiff past and present for all to enjoy.”

— Seren Books

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The authors describing some of the more interesting walks around Cardiff. Image © Brian Carroll

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The animated Peter Finch describing the ‘psychic centre’ of Cardiff with photographer John Briggs capturing the moment. Image © Brian Carroll

To mark the launch of the new book, Seren hosted a free event in Jurys Hotel in Cardiff bringing together author Peter Finch and photographer John Briggs in conversation with Grahame Davies.

Our thanks to the authors and Seren Books for agreeing to record the event.

You can find out more about the book on Seren’s website - www.serenbooks.com

James Morris @ Ffotogaleri y Gofeb

The very special Ffotogaleri y Gofeb in Machynlleth played host to photographer James Morris on Saturday 14 September for a talk about the work he produced for his Time and Remains project on Palestine and some of the issues it raised for his photographic practice.

James was joined in conversation by writer and poet Damian Gorman, who also discussed his own work where he has tried to test if (and how) the written word, especially poetry, might have anything to offer at all in situations of real ongoing violence and civil unrest.

Photographer James Morris speaking in Machynlleth. Image © Brian Carroll

“The origins of these photographs lie in a pine forest, walked through at the start of my first visit to Israel when I came across the unexplained crumbling walls of seemingly ancient structures, a small stream running by . . . a plaque announced it as “an oasis,” “a recreation area, a place of water, of hope, of peace, of vision.” Later that day I found a film online depicting a recent visit to the same location by Israeli Palestinian citizens. Elderly men recalled that as children those remains had been their village, the terraces their fields, the water their spring; they had been made internal refugees by the 1948 war during what they called their ‘Nakba’; their village flattened, their right of return refused, a planned forest of imported pines veiling their former world. Such divergent interpretations of place were a potent introduction to the dislocation in their land.”

— PHOTOGRAPHER: JAMES MORRIS, PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTE IN TIME AND REMAINS OF PALESTINE, (2016)

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Writer & Poet Damian Gorman in conversation with James Morris. Image Copyright © Brian Carroll

Listen to the talk and audience Q&A below. Many thanks to James and Damian for allowing Ffoton to record their discussion.

James’ work was exhibited in Ffotogaleri y Gofeb as Time and Remains of Palestine - a selection of work conceived by the photographer during a period of time he spent in Israel and Palestine, and was open to the public (free) from 11 June until 5 October 2019.

You can find out more about the latest Ffotogaleri y Gofeb events and exhibitions via their website:
www.ffotogaleriygofeb.co.uk

Rituals of Intimacy - Photographers Talk

On Saturday 30 March 2019 Geoff Young and Diane Bailey, curators at Ffotogaleri y Gofeb in Machynlleth, brought together celebrated photographer and teacher John Blakemore along with Pete Davis, Marian Delyth, Peter Cattrell and Aled Rhys Hughes for a unique talk on landscape photography.

Rituals of Intimacy, taken from John Blakemore’s writings provided the inspiration to bring together Ffotogaleri y Gofeb’s Collection 1, a special exhibition featuring the work of the five photographers and was exhibited from November 2018 until 19 April 2019.

Many thanks to the photographers and curators for allowing Ffoton to record the talk and share the audio below.

Photographer John Blakemore

Image © Brian Carroll

Photographer Peter Cattrell

Image © Brian Carroll

Photographer Marian Delyth

Image © Brian Carroll

Photographer Aled Rhys Hughes

Image © Brian Carroll

Photographer Pete Davis

Image © Brian Carroll

CHAPEL - Paul Cabuts

Photographer and educator Paul Cabuts presented an enlightening and entertaining talk to accompany his new CHAPEL exhibition of photographs in The Workers Gallery in Ynyshir on Saturday 13 April 2019.

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Photographer Paul Cabuts presenting his CHAPEL talk in The Workers Gallery, Ynyshir

Ffoton had the pleasure of being amongst a large and friendly audience to hear Paul Cabuts give a talk on his Chapel photography. The full text of Paul’s talk is available on his website here >
Thanks to Paul for allowing us to record the talk and present it here.

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Paul Cabuts presenting his talk

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Gayle Rogers from The Workers Gallery tells the audience of the work and facilities offered by the Gallery to the local community before introducing Paul.

CHAPEL documented in the South Wales valleys by photographer, educator and writer Paul Cabuts runs:
4 April - 18 May 2019. Free entry

WORKERS GALLERY
99 Ynyshir Road, Porth, Wales, CF39 0EN

Check the Workers Gallery website for location details and opening times: www.workersgallery.co.uk