FORMAT PORTFOLIO REVIEW

Amak Mahmoodian (b.1980, Shiraz, Iran) is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist. She began her career in 2003 as a research-based photographer in Iran at the Art University of Tehran. Since 2007 she has been living in the UK where she practices as a visual artist. In 2015, she completed a practice-based PhD in photography at the University of South Wales.  

 Working with photography, text, video, drawing, archives and sound at the intersection of conceptual and documentary photography, Amak’s artistic practice explores the presentation of gender, identity and displacement, bridging a space between personal and political. Amak’s projects are produced across installations, books and films. Her work has been shown extensively and has won numerous awards. It is held in collections and museums, including the Tate Modern and Victoria & Albert Museum in the UK. She has published two books, Shenasnameh (RRB- ICV Lab, 2016) which was shortlisted for The Author Book Award at Les Rencontres d’Arles 2016 and Zanjir (RRB, 2019) which won the Photo Text Book Award at Les Rencontres d’Arles 2020.  

I am interested in personal works exploring the social and political issues to show what is beyond the frame and unseen. I would rather not see commercial work.   

Anne Nwakalor is a 2025 World Press Photo Contest jury member. She is the Founding Editor of No! Wahala Magazine, one of Africa’s first-ever contemporary photography magazine dedicated to showcasing authentic visual stories told by African creatives. She is also a Photo Editor and presently works as a Communication Expert within the development space in the UK and Nigeria.

Anne is interested in conceptual work and work that represents ancestral history and representation.

Ben Harman is the Senior Curator of Photography at the National Galleries of Scotland where he works on temporary exhibitions and helps to oversee a collection of over 55,000 photographs dating from the 1840s to the present day. Prior to joining NGS in 2024, he was the Director of Stills: Centre for Photography, Edinburgh where his curated exhibitions included a variety of solo and group presentations of new photography from Scotland as well as showcases of work by internationally renowned artists such as Markéta Luskačová, Ishiuchi Miyako, Cindy Sherman and Jo Spence. Ben is a Trustee of the Richard and Siobhán Coward Foundation which aims to promote the use of analogue photography and community photography to improve the health and wellbeing of young people.

‘I am excited about discovering a range of new work with a particular interest in uses of analogue photography techniques, content that raises awareness to social justice issues, content that draws upon historical research and collections, links to Scotland.’

Billy-Jay manages exhibitions for The Royal Photographic Society, responsible for the curation and delivery of exhibitions, call for entries, tours and other collaborative projects. Her curated exhibitions for The RPS have included most recently To Shine a Light / Who Dared to Dream, Only Human: Aneesa Dawoojee, as well as the RPS International Photography Exhibition. Billy-Jay’s key interests are accessibility for all, supporting emerging artists and photographers, community engagement and contemporary storytelling. Billy-Jay studied BA Documentary Photography at Newport (UWCN) with her degree show focusing on studies of a community in Ireland connected to her grandfather. She developed extensive experience in the commercial and advertising photography sector after graduating. 

Billy-Jay is interested in seeing all kinds of work including documentary photography, fine art, portraiture, editorial and projects that focus on raising awareness to political and social issues. 

Francesca Hummler has been the Community Manager of Der Greif, a contemporary photography organization based in Munich, since 2022. In 2024, she launched Der Greif’s Face-to-Face program at Les Rencontres d’Arles, offering free feedback sessions to photographers. This initiative provided tailored guidance to enhance portfolios and career trajectories, culminating in follow-up online sessions and a celebratory event showcasing participants’ work. She also spearheaded a symposium on AI in Photography in collaboration with FOAM Magazine, Photoworks, and The Photographers’ Gallery during Paris Photo 2024. 

Francesca graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Photography with distinction in 2022. As Der Greif’s Community Manager, she drives curation, partnerships, publications, and events. Previously, she worked as an Educational Delivery Manager and Photography Tutor at Photofusion in London, where she curated exhibitions and led community-focused photography programs, combining teaching, curriculum development, and career support for underrepresented groups. 

An award-winning photographic artist, Francesca’s practice focuses on identity, drawing from her experience as the daughter of German immigrants in the United States. She explores the archive, familial intimacy, and generational trauma through methodology inspired by photo-therapy. 

Francesca is interested in seeing work that  engages in personal ways rather than with the natural world.

Image by Amin Yousefi

Before joining Fotofestiwal, Franek co-founded TIFF International Photography Festival. He devoted a large part of his work to bringing up aspects related to the photobooks and popularizing them in Poland. This interest resulted in several exhibitions, lectures and cooperation with prominent figures from the world of photography and the publishing scene of photobooks. In the Fotofestiwal collective he is responsible for the festival program, coordination of exhibitions, events and publications.

I’m generally interested in socially engaged documentary practices and on the other hand also works that experiment with aesthetics and mixed media projects. I can provide comments on developing book project especially editing and sequencing . I’m not interested in fashion, nude and reportage. However if artist’s work is bending the this genres in playful way then I would be happy to see the work.

Jean-Christophe Godet is an international curator and founder of the Guernsey Photography Festival. He is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of a new major festival in France: GLAZ Festival (Rencontres Internationales de Photographie de Rennes).

Both festivals brings together major names in international photography with a host of emerging talent, for a packed month of exhibitions, projections, talks, educational workshops and community events.

Both festival concentrates mainly on contemporary photography including documentary and conceptual work. Jean-Christophe can offer various platforms for photographers through the festivals range of exhibitions, talks series and artist in residence programmes. Both festivals have developed close relationships with other major international festivals, galleries, agencies and publishers so JC can recommend people when appropriate.

For JC, a strong portfolio has to be coherent, innovative with a strong sense of artistic integrity. He is particularly interested in individuals who keep developing and maturing their work and strive to keep producing high quality projects over time. Reviewing a portfolio is above all about opening a dialogue with the artist. It is about creating an environment of attentive listening in order to deliver clear guidance and advice.

“I am interested in Contemporary Photography, Conceptual, Fine Art, Documentary, New Technologies, Performances, Videos”

Photo by Peter Franklin/Guernsey Press

Jonathan is a cultural programmer and producer. As Deputy Director at Photoworks he co-leads a national team that creates new ways to help visual artists to make new work with photography. Previous to this Jonathan was Executive Producer at Marshmallow Laser Feast, Director of Abandon Normal Devices (AND), and Senior Programmer at British Council where he specialised in commissioning and curating media art and cross-disciplinary collaborations within festivals that emerged in unusual places within cities. Jonathan’s career has given him an international perspective on arts practice, where he has commissioned nationally significant work within major UK institutions including the Barbican, the British Museum and the Tate Modern, and in countries around the world including Canada, Colombia, Mexico and India.

Jonathan is interested in seeing work at any stage of development. Particularly interested in cross-disciplinary and participatory practices.

Karen Harvey MBE is the Founder and Creative Director of Shutter Hub, the UK based photography organisation providing opportunities, support and networking for creative photographers worldwide. She founded the organisation to create a supportive community for photographers and to provide a platform for the development of ideas and careers. 

Karen has extensive experience of working within the photography industry, from curating exhibitions, publishing books and judging several photographic awards, to funding, commissioning and consulting, as well as undertaking her own photographic practice. She has reviewed portfolios in the UK, Europe and North America; at Unseen Amsterdam, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Belfast Photo Festival, London Photomonth, The Photographers’ Gallery, Getty Images Gallery, Griffin Museum of Photography, Photo Vogue Festival, the Photographic Resource Center, and more. 

Karen is dedicated to creating fair access to photography and opening up opportunities for everyone. She’d love to see work by creative photographers who are looking for support and direction, who want to exhibit their work, develop their networks, and connect with others. 

Louise Fedotov-Clements is the Director of Photoworks, a leading international contemporary photography and related media organisation established in 1995. Photoworks is a charity that produces exhibitions, residencies, commissions, learning programmes, awards, publications and a biennial festival www.photoworks.org.uk
CoFounder, and former Director FORMAT Festival 2004-2022 and previously the Artistic Director QUAD,, a centre for contemporary art and film 2002-2022. As a creative director, since 1998 she has led commissions, publications, mass participation art, film and photography programmes and exhibitions around the world. Currently she is also acting National Curator of Contemporary Art Forestry England and Co-Director of Earth Photo www.earthphoto.world Advisory Board Member for Archivo and Vice Chair of Inspirate
Louise writes about photography for catalogues and magazines in both print and online including Next Level, South Korean Photography, 1000words, co-editor of Hijacked III UK/AUS, PHOTOCINEMA. She is an international photography juror, advisor and nominator, a regular portfolio reviewer at festivals and galleries throughout Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

“I am interested in seeing all projects at any stage of development”

Malcolm is a curator, writer and organiser. He is the Director of Street Level Photoworks, a leading photography arts organisation in Scotland that provides artists and the public with a range of opportunities to make and engage with photography. He co-ordinates a programme which embraces different genres of photography and is extended through a network of local and community venues, regional art galleries, and through national and international partners. Recent exhibitions include Forever Changes – Contemporary Nordic Photography and Climate Change and forthcoming solo exhibitions by Colin Gray, Margaret Mitchell, Moira McIver and Simon Murphy. Exchange residencies include those with the Northern Photographic Centre (Finland), Kaunas Gallery (Lithuania), and Artlink (Ireland). Street Level manage the Photography Networks in Scotland platform which profiles exhibitions and events happening across the country and is a member of Scotland’s Workshops, a network of artists production centres in Scotland.  

Interested in viewing bodies of work in their early stages as well as substantially developed bodies of work from artists and photographers which blend experimental approaches, conceptual or issue based themes; photography as social practice; work that tells a compelling story; lyrical and narrative or abstract and non-narrative. Almost everything except fashion, commercial or classical modes of documentary. Prefer not to give advice to students as they should seek advice from their experienced tutors, peers and from existing resources available online. 

Niall Farrelly is Assistant Curator of Exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary and an independent writer with texts appearing in Plinth, Frieze, Museums Journal and Corridor8. At Nottingham Contemporary he has experience working on major thematic exhibitions such as Donald Rodney Visceral Canker (2024), Hollow Earth: Art, Caves & The Subterranean Imaginary (2022) and Assemble + Schools of Tomorrow The Place We Imagine (2022). He has also worked closely with artists to realise ambitious new commissions and solo exhibitions such as Daniel Lind-Ramos Ensemblajes (2025), Dora Budor Again (2024) and Eva Koťátková How many giraffes are in the air we breathe? (2023). 

Niall is interested in practices that engage with ideas around speculative futures, technology, internet and gaming culture, mythological pasts and human/nonhuman connections. 

Nicola is the Director and Stephen is the Project Producer of GRAIN Projects, an arts organisation dedicated to commissioning, facilitating and delivering ambitious, engaging and high quality photography projects, commissions, events and exhibitions. GRAIN is a hub, network and platform for contemporary photography and engages with people in the U.K and internationally to make co-curated and co-authored work.

They are interested in seeing bodies of work that have a clear subject or story to tell, which the photographer explores in an original way. This could be within documentary, portraiture, still life, fine art as well as socially engaged and collaborative practices. They are interested in a wide range of photographic genres and supporting emerging practitioners.

Ricardo Reverón Blanco is a curator, producer and writer currently working at Aspex Portsmouth. He is part of UnderExposed, a photography platform and collective dedicated to encouraging artistic collaboration. Having graduated from The University of Sussex with a First-Class degree in English Literature and a Distinction in Art History & Museum Curating, Ricardo has worked for Photoworks as Assistant Curator. Previous work includes positions at Fabrica Gallery, The Tower of London, Diep-Haven, The De La Warr Pavilion, the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts and being the Deputy Director of Socially Engaged Art Salon where he curated ‘The Force of Fantasy’ in 2019. His writing has been featured in Photomonitor, Typical Girls, the Photoworks Annual and he is an ongoing contributor for Photography+. During Peckham 24 (2021) he was contracted as production manager for ‘Light’ where under the guidance of Monica Allende, supported the delivery of the exhibition and its catalogue; designed by Sarah Boris and printed by Mörel. Ricardo continues to work on independent projects and collaborations. Ricardo’s practice is informed by collectivity and supportive methodologies for artistic production, dissemination and assimilation. 

Ricardo is interested in seeing practices that delve into queerness, new technologies, multimedia and installation.   

Sam Mercer is an artist, curator and producer. Since 2014, Sam has been working on the digital programme at The Photographers’ Gallery, London, curating a number of projects for their Media Wall and online, and assistant curating the exhibition All I Know Is What’s On The Internet. In 2019 and 2020, Sam co-curated Data / Set / Match, a year-long programme of commissions that sought new ways to present, visualise and interrogate scientific image datasets, followed by Imagin(in)g Networks (2021–2022), Aarati Akkapeddi – A-Kin (2022) and Between Worlds (2023). 

“I am keen to discuss ideas at any stage of project development. As this is my area of expertise, my focus is primarily on works that explore technological or ecological relationships of photography. I would prefer viewing bodies of work of a non- commercial nature by practitioners interested in honest feedback on their practice.” 

Sarah Gilbert is features photo editor for the Guardian with over 20
years experience. Previously, she was a picture editor at Conde Nast,
many UK based magazines, book publishers and newspapers, and spent
several years as the Guardian US Photo Editor. She has been a regular
juror on leading photography competitions and reviewer throughout
Europe, America and Africa, was a mentor on the Women Photograph
programme, and guest lectures at London universities.
Her specific areas of interest include portraiture and
photo-documentary projects, and photo essays that focus on social,
economic and climate issues, especially from emerging artists and
under represented communities.

Sarah is looking for something clever and surprising, but mostly work that show empathy with the subjects, and is of course, beautiful

Sebah is a freelance Producer and Curator. She is experienced in working at international world class festivals, projects and events. She is Co-Founder and Co-Director of ReFramed, a photographic based visual arts network based in the Midlands, supporting the community and artists who are from the Global Majority. She is currently Producer of Photography Champions at Photoworks and is Creative Producer on Stockroom, a new community space due to open in March 2025. Sebah was Coordinator & Curator at FORMAT Festival.

She reviews portfolios internationally and mentor’s artists. She has also curated a number of exhibitions as a freelancer, and with organisations across the UK. She was on the selection panel for Source Graduate Photography Online 2023 and NAE Open 2023. She has been on the Jury for UNSTUCK, The Ian Parry Scholarship,  RPS IPE 163 Open Call and BJP Portrait of Britain 2021 & 2023.

Sebah is the Curator for the exhibition, Culture Identified by Global Sino Photo Awards at Christie’s in January 2025. She has been the Curator for AIS Open, an international open call for women, since 2022. In 2023, AIS Open was the main exhibition at Korea International Festival of Photography. Steering Group member at FORMAT Festival and a Trustee at Royal Photographic Society and COMMUN.

Sian Bonnell is a UK based artist, living and working in Devon. Her work is concerned with concepts surrounding photography and its relations with objects, environment and performance. Sian’s work has been exhibited and published widely and is held in many public and corporate collections.

Sian established TRACE, the curation, publishing and mentoring project in 1999.

Artist books published under the imprint TRACE Editions include Wild Track the first book of poetry by Mark Haworth-Booth, Imagine Finding Me by Chino Otsuka and Villa Mona by Marjolaine Ryley. Between 2014 and 2019 she curated an annual exhibition of UK graduate photography, featuring over 250 images selected from 16 Universities for the Pingyao International Photography Festival held each September in China.

TRACE has supported artists for over 20 years at all stages in their careers, through mentoring. In 2022 Sian in partnership with Sebah Chaudhry and Haley Morris-Cafiero initiated the inaugural year-long TRACE Mentorship Programme for 24 female-identifying photographers over the age of 35, with generous support from the Genesis Kickstart Fund. Further iterations of the programme both online and in person are being planned for commencement in 2025 after the TRACE project relocation to Plymouth in the South West.

Sian is interested in seeing all kinds of work.

Vincent is an anthropologist and curator working on and around photography and archival practices. His work explores themes of time, memory, and the political imagination. 

Past curatorial projects include exhibitions at Peckham 24 (2022, 2021), Permanent/Temporary (London Design Festival 2022), Photobook Cafe (2022), Polycopies (2022), and Format International Festival of Photography (2021); and convening the talks and public programmes for the 2021 and 2022 editions of Peckham 24, together with Iona Fergusson. He has taught workshops and delivered guest lectures at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, The Photographers’ Gallery and GRAIN Projects amongst others; and regularly conducts portfolio reviews.  

Vincent’s current PhD project in the Department of Anthropology at UCL focuses on the everyday lives and political imagination of photographic archives and the images they house. His research is funded by the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (AHRC).  

He is based between London and Dhaka. 

Vincent interested in discussing narrative work, across a range of genres. He is just as interested in ongoing projects as finished ones. Also happy to discuss image/text, research practices in (and beyond) photography, and project development more broadly. Further areas of interest are book projects and independent publishing.

Vivienne Gamble is Stills Centre for Photography Director. Vivienne Gamble is Co-Founder and previous Artistic Director of Peckham 24 festival. Established in 2016, Peckham 24 festival of contemporary photography takes place annually during Photo London Week. With a focus on supporting new talent and experimental artists working with photography, the festival creates a vibrant takeover of a number of warehouse and gallery spaces across Copeland Park and the Bussey Building in the heart of Peckham’s artistic scene. Peckham 24 is proud to partner with the South London Gallery and the V&A. In 2023 the V&A launched the Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography in partnership with Peckham 24, bringing an exhibition of the inaugural winners of the prize to Peckham 24 2023. From 2015-2023 Vivienne ran Seen Fifteen Gallery, also in Peckham, Seen Fifteen’s programme was dedicated to contemporary photography, and the most recent curatorial project, The Troubles Generation, considered the legacy and impact of the Northern Irish Troubles on artists who were brought up in the shadow of the conflict. Vivienne lectures in photography and exhibition practice as an Associate Lecturer at University of the Arts, London.

Vivienne is interested in seeing complete bodies of work and projects that are ready for exhibition.