Founded in 1989, the Hereford Photography Festival has presented a broad range of international photography for seventeen consecutive years. The UK’s only annual photography festival, it has never lacked ambition or serious intent. Its mission is to promote Hereford as a centre of excellence in photography through an annual festival, supported by a year round programme of events, that engages and inspires local and national audiences and promotes photography as a critical cultural practice..

It is based on the belief that photography is an enjoyable, intelligent, and accessible way of visually approaching and understanding the world. By combining exhibitions and commissions from contemporary photographers, workshops, innovative community projects and opportunities for debate on current issues, the festival aims to promote photography which comments on and raises questions about cultural and social issues.

The festival realises the educational development opportunities which exist in photography and seeks to show the work of international, national and regional photographers, including students and amateurs, in a way that is accessible to audiences from all walks of life. It also brings works from all over the world and from various cultures to Hereford - which, although rapidly changing, is comparatively monocultural.

The festival works closely with local communities and educational organisations to provide opportunities that allow people to experience photography both as a powerful form of communication and as a means of highlighting regional issues. The aim is also to support the development of locally produced work to be shown alongside images from photographers from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds, and also some of the world’s most acclaimed photographers.

Download the 2005 festival programmes here:

part 1 [345k]
part 2 [488k]

2005 Festival Reviews and comments.

Elaine Constantine
Great composition, great photos, intimate... I am touched by the lives of people in such odd surroundings, perhaps we all live in odd surroundings but can’t see it.
Elaine Constantine’s work is awesome. I never expected to find my favourite photographer’s work to be exhibited here.
The old couples dancing are brilliant. I know what I want to do when I’m older... boogie!
Stunning and evocative exhibit. Strength, pathos, humour... all very human, all very real with their large scale prints. Very nice to see this.
Darryl Baird, U.S.A.

[Go back]

Simon Norfolk
Rich, stunning and impressive. Fine Shots, well observed. Again Simon Norfolk has exceeded himself in a beautiful and compelling exhibition, I am amazed.
Gemma Thomas - Upton upon Severn

Strong work.
Alex Thimm - Hereford

They all tell a story, past vs future, great exhibition.
Student, Warwickshire College

Two wonderfully moving pictures - the little girl with Aids and the tender couple dancing. Made it worth coming!
Wow! They are absolutely stunning. So still... so quiet... yet so powerful and speak volumes.
Harrowing and compelling images, beautifully lit. They spoke volumes to me.
N. Ball, Carmarthen College of the Arts

Really thought provoking work - very real. Thank you.
L.C. Watt

Wild. Will influence me.
Dave Smithson

Superb exhibition, powerful, thought provoking images. Most inspiring.
S. Brown - Gloucester

Excellent images - loved the wrecked housekeeping office.
Colleen, Chepstow

Really interesting photographs. I enjoyed them very much. The light in the darkness and the juxtaposition of trees outside what were windows of the hotel are quite surreal.
Sue

Very strong work - glad to have seen it.
Tom Freshwater, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell

Excellent, brings out the story from Hotel Africa and Camp Clara. Great work.
J. Clarke LRPS, Ludlow

Excellent work - I enjoyed it on lots of different levels.
The finest body of work I’ve witnessed this year! Simon Norfolk never fails to impress. Completely wonderful.
One word comes to mind... ’Wow’!

Moving and beautiful.
Peter Burden

Truly amazing photography. Well done.
I love this but the one with the little girl is really sad.
The work here today is awesome. Really enjoyed it. It will help me with my A level.
Tasha

Civilisation? I think not. No words can speak volumes. Strong, silent images - understood what the photographer was trying to say even before I read the literature relating to it. Ie. these photographs and their positioning next to each other work.

[Go back]

China/Hereford Childrens’ Project - Same Difference
Wonderful.
Very inventive concept... what more can I say. I do like them.
I like the dead mouse... so did the tootie tat!!
Oriental healthy eating.......who needs Jamie Oliver!?!