Guernsey Photography Festival explores its identity

The second largest of the Channel Islands will be celebrating all things photographic as the month long Guernsey Photography Festival returns tomorrow (1-30 June).

This year's theme of 'identity' continues the festival's strong editorial focus which is expertly explored with well-chosen exhibitions by international photographers: Martin Parr, Richard Billingham, Carolyn Drake, Samuel Fosso and Tony Ray-Jones, whose photographs tend to be defined by their subjects' identities.

Emerging photographers will also be tackling the theme of 'identity', including last year's winner of the top photography prize Jocelyn Allen. Nelli Palomäki will be showcasing her exploration into classic black and white portraiture, while a joint exhibition from Adam Patterson and Dana Popa is compiled through return journeys to their respective homelands of Northern Ireland and Romania.

Not a photographer himself, but equally worthy of attention, Tim Andrews will show his project Over the Hill. Since being diagnosed with Parkinsons' disease, Andrews has been photographed by over 140 photographers in the last 4 years and will be inviting photographers to take his photograph throughout the festival in an endeavour to build on his ever growing collection.

Visitors can participate in workshops and guided tours of the displays in St Peter Port. Also on show will be the photographs taken during the festival's - film only - Photomarathon in which entrants had only 6 hours to take 12 photographs across 12 given topics. The festival promises to provide much excitement and inventiveness.

Sally Ashley-Cound