A Photographic Live ‘LIVE’ 2025

10.15am – Introduction: Dr Grant Scott

10.30am – The Story: Alys Tomlinson talks with Dr Grant Scott
Alys Tomlinson is a photographic artist based in London. She works mostly in black and white analogue on a large format camera, exploring themes of faith, ritual and identity.

Alys grew up in Brighton and studied English Literature and Communications at the University of Leeds. After graduating, she moved to New York for a year and was given her first commission for Time Out, before returning to London to study photography at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design. She later completed an MA in Anthropology of Travel, Tourism and Pilgrimage (Distinction) at SOAS, University of London, which tied in with her long-term, personal project about pilgrimage.

Her book Ex-Voto was published by GOST Books in 2019, and Lost Summer was self-published in 2020. Alys recently finished work on a feature-length documentary film Mother Vera co-directed with Cécile Embleton. Her latest project Gli Isolani (The Islanders) was published by GOST Books in 2022. She combines commissioned work for editorial, design and advertising clients with personal work, which she publishes and exhibits. Alys’s work is collected privately and is in the following collections: National Portrait Gallery (London), The Rencontres d’Arles Collection, The Bodleian Library, and the Amber Side Collection. www.alystomlinson.co.uk

11.15am – Q and A

11.30am – Break

11.45am – The Archive: Dr Michael Pritchard

Dr Michael Pritchard joined Christie’s, the fine art auction house, as a photography specialist in 1986 and grew their auctions of cameras and photographic equipment, setting many world auction records. Also working as an auctioneer, Pritchard became Director and International Business Director for collectibles for the auction house.

He joined the Royal Photographic Society in 2011 as Chief Executive, becoming Director of Programmes from 2018-2023. During his tenure he brought a renewed public profile for the RPS and oversaw an expansion in its public activities, growing its membership to the largest in its history. In 2024 he established his own photographic consultancy and continues to support the RPS. Pritchard continues to actively research the history of photography and regularly delivers conference papers and publishes across the field. He has taught the history of photography at De Montfort University and catalogued and organised the Kodak Historical Collection at the British Library. He edits the British Photographic History website and The PhotoHistorianmagazine. He gives regular talks and has broadcast on a wide range of photographic subjects. His book A History of Photography in 50 Cameras (Bloomsbury) was published by Bloomsbury. https://mpritchard.squarespace.com

12.30pm – Q and A

12.45pm – Lunch

2.00pm The Portrait: Chris Floyd talks with Dr Grant Scott:
Chris Floyd is a British photographer and filmmaker. His photographic work has appeared in some of the world’s most highly respected publications, including Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine and Wallpaper* among others. In 2022 he published his first monograph dedicated to the broad sweep of his career Not Just Pictures a 320-page volume, including his portrait work and 60 pieces of text that tell the stories behind some of his favourite pictures. Chris has produced commercial work for Apple, Avis, Glenfiddich, Philips, Sony, The National Lottery, and Virgin Radio. As a director he has produced moving image work for BMW, Anthropologie, Nissan, Mr Porter, Sleaford Mods, The Smithsonian, Space NK, UBS, and Virgin Radio. https://www.chrisfloyd.com

2.45pm – Q and A

3.00pm – End

The event will take place in the Digital Theatre, New Headington Hall Building. Information on the parking could be found here.