Calling all photographers for the Soho Small File Photography Festival

The Photographer’s Gallery (TPG) in Soho has announced an open call for its Small File Photography Festival—and everyone is free to enter. 

The festival promotes alternatives to high tech photorealistic aesthetics, aiming to encourage experimentation on different digital image formats and their unique visual qualities. 

The theme is connected to the research of Marloes de Valk, PhD researcher of a programme by TPG and the Centre for the Study of the Networked Image, on the ecological impact of the networked image.

Small and low resolution files can reduce the global CO2 emissions from digital media, while also contributing to the diversity of visual culture, according to TPG. 

The festival questions the endless aspiration for higher resolutions, and will continue to support the joy of tiny images and large pixels. 

TPG stated: “We are demanding—unleash creative r/evolution! We are demanding—destroy the large-file clichés of thinking that prevent us from imaging a world otherwise!” 

The Small File Photography Festival is taking place between 27th -28th January 2023, with the open call closing on 4th January. 

There are three categories to enter:

  • Dress to Compress: photograph of up to 100 Kb, along with the tools used and the steps taken to compress it.
  • Small is Beautiful: photograph taken with a camera that automatically creates small-sized files.
  • Show Me The Pixels: an image of up to 100 Kb using any visually fascinating compression process, such as dither-punk, pixel art, or any other image processing effects like glitching, ASCII or halftone.

The prizes for the winning entries include a trophy, an online exhibition, and a one year membership to TPG, worth £50.

TPG is one of the UK’s greatest centres for presenting and exploring photography in all forms, while also providing a home to an international community of photographers. The Gallery is open seven days a week, presenting a variety of exhibitions, events, talks, workshops and courses. Their specialist bookshop/cafe offers a space for the discovery and sale of photographic prints.

Enter the Open Call for the Small File Photography Festival.

Words: Anna Kamocsai | Subbing: Rui Liang

Voice of London

Recent Posts

Escaping the rent trap – Welcome to the UK’s housing crisis

As the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, renters are facing an…

2 years ago

Fashion trends prediction for 2023

According to various fashion editors, critics and publications, 2023 will be a mesh between continuing…

2 years ago

BLACKPINK take over the O2

The biggest girl group in the world shut down the O2 arena in December. The…

2 years ago

Does museum glass cause more harm than good to oil paintings?

With many paintings in danger of damage, are museums protecting the longevity of their valuables?…

2 years ago

Chelsea are undefeated since the World Cup as they face Man City on Thursday

Chelsea F.C. have gotten off to a good start since Christmas and haven't lost a…

2 years ago

Tottenham falls behind in the Champions League race

Tottenham Hotspur lost their first game since Christmas in a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa…

2 years ago