Here is your chance to engage with 10 of the most up and coming photographers who are practicing right now. Moving between documentary, fine art and reportage, these practitioners are making waves through innovative image-making and asking critical questions about the future of photography. Here is your chance to view the photographers of tomorrow – previous editions included Juno Calypso amongst others.

Join us for a morning of lively panels and find out who will win the Aesthetica Next Generation Award 2021.

Session 1: Interventions in Image-Making

10:00 – 11:00

Images have become part of everyday parlance. More than 300 million photos are uploaded to the internet per day, which doesn’t equate for the millions, perhaps billions, that we keep to ourselves. In what ways can we push the boundaries of the still image, to tell stories in new ways? This talented panel of photographers explores key issues across gender, identity and sociopolitics, focusing specifically on aspects of privacy, intimacy and the domestic space. In this illuminating discussion, we consider the materiality of the image, the presence of the photographer and the ways in which we can subvert expectations, both inside and outside of the frame.

Panellists:

• Lina Geoushy (MA Photojournalism and Documentary)

• Sophie Holden (BA Photography)

• Lauren Hillsdon (BA Photography)

• Giulia Grillo (MA Photography)

• Carmen Reichman (MA Photojournalism and Documentary)

Session 2: The Ethics of Documentary: Stories We Tell

11.15 – 12.15

Documentary photography is inherently based on relaying factual information for the viewer. But in photographing ourselves, and the world around us, what happens to the truth in the process? Can we ever ensure an accurate representation of our subjects? Can photographers ever create images devoid of an agenda or specific intention? And whose story is it to tell? This panel of photographers – predominantly working in photojournalism and portraiture – expand on these themes, offering new perspectives on history, memory and belonging, as well as the role of the lens in making sense of both personal and public experiences.

Panellists:

• Laura Gaggero (BA Photojournalism and Documentary)

• Lilia Kucher (MA Photojournalism and Documentary)

• Siqi Li (MA Photojournalism and Documentary)

• Minjie (Graduate Diploma)

Sessions 3: Awards & Winner Q&A

12.30 – 13:00

Every year Aesthetica and London College of Communication join us to present the Next Generation, which is an annual showcase of photographers who are pushing boundaries, and creating work that is adding to the dialogue around photography and the potential of the image. This year's shortlist consist of 10 photographers and one person will be selected to win the Aesthetica Next Generation Award, previous photographers in this series include Juno Calypso, so this is a rare opportunity to get a bird's eye view into the photographers of tomorrow. We will be announcing the winner live in the session and then there will be a 30 minute Q&A about their practice.

Next Generation: 10 Photographers You Should Know