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Over the weekend Sophie Sherwood from Folk House Darkroom and I co-hosted The Art of Experimentation Symposium. This in-person event brought together presentations from contemporary artists and researchers who explore the possibilities of alternative photographic processes. Presenters investigated the role of experimentation and discovery within the creative process as well as how contemporary practitioners are using innovative and unique approaches to photography to explore the possibilities of light sensitive materials. We hosted our first informal show and tell at the symposium where attendees and presenters brought prints and portfolios to share and discuss. To close out the symposium, we also hosted a photo walk to help build networks and continue conversations from the symposium. Speakers included: Ainoa Burgos, Julie Corcoran, Marie Craig, Wendy Leocque, Riya Panwar, and Ola Teper.
Images by Fra Beecher, Sophie Sherwood, and Elizabeth Ransom
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 On the 25 July 2026 I had the pleasure of speaking alongside Clare Samuel from Feminist Photography Network in our panel discussion titled "Contemporary Feminist Photography" at the Experimental Photography Festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined in person and online. It was incredible to see so many familiar and new faces in the audience. A massive thank you to Clare for your incredible presentation. I was blown away by all of the inspiring artists that you shared. Thank you to the Experimental Photography Festival for inviting us to speak and providing us space to share the works by our favorite artists. And thank you to everyone who was able to join online. It is really special to have these discussions with so many people around the world.  It was an absolute pleasure interviewing Riya Panwar for this month's Women Alternative Photography Group Interview.
It was fascinating learning about how Riya explores themes of decay and ephemerality in her work. Head over to the Women Alternative Photography Group website to read the full interview.  Experimental Photography Festival Online Conference
Contemporary Feminist Photography with Women Alternative Photography Group and Feminist Photography Network Saturday 25 July from 17.30 – 18.30 Get your tickets This conference brings together two international platforms dedicated to thinking, producing and promoting contemporary photography from feminist perspectives. Women Alternative Photography Group and Feminist Photography Network will share their experiences, methodologies and recent projects, addressing different forms of collaboration, visibility, publishing and collective creation within the current photographic field. Feminist Photography Network will present its work through its editorial projects and online residencies, which connect artists from different geographical contexts. The presentation will focus on how the network creates spaces for exchange, support and dissemination for women photographers and visual artists, bringing feminist practices, collaborative processes and new forms of international circulation into dialogue. Women Alternative Photography Group will approach feminist photography from the field of alternative and experimental processes, exploring how manual, analogue and expanded photographic techniques can become tools for research, expression and critical positioning. Their perspective will bring a focus on materiality, the body, experimentation and shared creation.  Sophie Sherwood from Folk House Darkroom and I are so excited to announce the list of speakers for our upcoming event The Art of Experimentation Symposium. This symposium will bring together presentations from contemporary artists and researchers who are exploring the possibilities of alternative photographic processes. This symposium considers how contemporary practitioners are using innovative and unique approaches to photography to explore the possibilities of light sensitive materials.
Please join us in celebrating the following artists: Ainoa Burgos Julie Corcoran Marie Craig Wendy Leocque Riya Panwar Ola Teper Tickets to join The Art of Experimentation Symposium are now available through Headfirst and are offered on a sliding scale based on income. We would love for you to join us in person at Bristol Folk House for this exciting symposium. Event Details: The Art of Experimentation Symposium Women Alternative Photography Group and Folk House Darkroom 1 August 2026 10am - 3pm (In-Person) 40a Park St, Bristol BS1 5JG, United Kingdom  We’re thrilled to announce the open call for The Art of Experimentation: A Symposium on Alternative Photography. This symposium is dedicated to women, non-binary, and trans artists and researchers who push the boundaries of alternative photographic processes.
This symposium aims to connect artists, researchers, curators, and arts practitioners to reflect on the different ways in which alternative photographic processes can explore concepts that inspire women, non-binary, and trans artists. Women Alternative Photography Group and Folk House Darkroom invites papers, presentations and practice-based contributions in response to the conference theme experimentation. We are calling for applications that explore the role of experimentation and discovery within the creative process. Participants are invited to articulate how they use experimentation within different contexts, in practice, theory, or across different alternative photographic disciplines. In addition, this symposium aims to celebrate and build the community of alternative process photographers. We are particularly interested in hearing from students and emerging to mid-career women, non-binary, and trans photographers, cultural practitioners, curators, researchers, and scholars. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and encourage participation from artists of all races, abilities, and experiences. Our goal is to create a diverse and dynamic forum that reflects the richness of perspectives in the field of alternative photography. We believe that the inclusion of varied voices and experiences will enhance the depth and breadth of our discussions. At this years symposium to promote community and to provide a space to build networks we will have two social events including a photo walk where you can bring any camera you like with you on a short photo walk around Bristol. We will also have an opportunity for presenters to share physical work in an informal show and tell. Please indicate in the application below if you would like to participate in either or both of the social events. For more information please visit the Women Alternative Photography Group website.  It was an absolute pleasure to interview Nidhi Khurana for the April Women Alternative Photography Group Interview.
 It is such an honour to be included in the Analog Forever Magazine's list of 20 Experimental Photographers you need to know in 2026.
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Dr. Elizabeth RansomElizabeth is a lecturer in photography at Central Washington University in Ellensburg Washington. She is also an artist and researcher whose work explores the intersection of transnationality, feminism, and alternative photographic processes. Archives
August 2026
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