Rob Birrell’s Photography Blog

One of my images “Mobile Phone” has been selected for this year’s Shot Up North (SUN) Awards. The SUN Awards – now entering its 20th year – recognises and rewards the best commercial photography in the UK regions, working in the disciplines of Advertising, Design, Fashion or Editorial Photography. The 50 chosen images are currently exhibited at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel and after that set off on a coutrywide tour.

SUN AWARDS Exhibition Tour 2008/9
MANCHESTER – Lowry Hotel, 6 November – 2 December 2008
LEEDS – Design Innovation Centre, 7 February – 2 March 2009
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE – The Biscuit Factory, 6 March – 19 April

the SUN Awards will also be at these Calumet branches:
Liverpool (Special Edition) January 12 – 31
and then Sun Awards as follows
Birmingham April 23 – May 10
Nottingham May 12 – 31
Drummond Street June 3 – 18
Belfast June 22 – July 10
Manchester September 1- 31

In addition to being selected for the main awards the image is also available as a limited edition print at a cost of £245 unframed, including delivery Buy Print

I’m pleased to say that the above image of mine has been accepted into the 2008 People Show (formerly known as the Cravens Art Prize). The exhibition is open to painters, printmakers, sculptors, photographers, film and ceramic artists who live in the North East of England. It’s running at the Northumbria University Gallery until September 12th.

Photo Copyright Joakim Eskildsen

I visited Joakim Eskilden’s exhibition, “The Roma Journeys” on Friday at the Side Gallery in Newcastle.

Between 2000 and 2006 Joakim Eskildsen travelled in seven different countries photographing the life of the Roma and the conditions they face. The journeys, in India, Romania, Russia, Hungary, Greece, Finland and France, came about as a result of chance, coincidence and personal contact, rather than any process of meticulous planning. What the journeys open up on is somewhere and something beyond nations.

It was the first colour photography exhibition that I have seen at the Side but I was completely overwhelmed by both the quality of the photography and the printing. The exhibition runs until 14th June 2008 and I would heartily recommend it. Whether or not you can make it the book of the project is an excellent buy (The Roma Journeys by Joakim Eskildsen and Cia Lungile Rinne).

Firstly, I have to apologise, its been a bit quiet on the old blog for a while now. I’ve been pretty busy with one thing and another namely organising an exhibition of my work for the GLEAM Showcase 2008. I didn’t advertise it here lest it became some sort of rave. Anyway, if you didn’t make it along click through on the image to see a representation of what I exhibitied.

The showcase was the culmination of a 6 month programme run by GLEAM. The programme aims to help creative graduate entrepreneurs (like me) through the early stages of the startup of their businesses. 18 other businesses and myself took over a disused warehouse, 51 Lime Street in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley and converted it into an exhibiton and performance space for 9 hours of Thursday 1st May, 2008. All in all it was a great success and great fun was had by all.

Paul Alexander Knox (www.om-shantiphotography.co.uk) is having an exhibition at

The Decisive Moment Gallery, Blanche Pease Annexe, The Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington, DL3 7AX

from 29th March to 24th May 2008.

Its a quirky venue but having seen Paul’s previous work I’m sure that it will be well worth a visit. Good luck to him!