From the 17th November–5th January, The Royal Photographic Society’s International Print Exhibition is coming to Rook Lane Arts Trust in Frome. The exhibition is open to the public Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm.

The Royal Photographic Society was founded in 1853 and has staged the International Print Exhibition almost every year since. This year the exhibition will be showcasing a wide range of genres and styles - from artistic to documentary, and from portraiture to natural history.

The exhibition features professional, student and amateur photographers from around the world. The prints have been selected by a panel of well-qualified photographers from different backgrounds.

Featured in the exhibition is this year’s Gold Award winner, ‘Dead Deer’ by Gaby Wood. Her image was taken in Princetown, New Jersey, just before hurricane Irene hit the East Coast. “I went for a run early one morning and found this beautiful young stag, very recently dead. When I went back to get my camera I also hauled my children out of their game of dressing up – which is how my eldest ended up here: a little scared, a little devastated, wearing a tutu and not too close.”

The private view for the exhibition is on Friday 16th November from 6pm – 9pm which will be attended by photographers featured in the exhibition.

This is the first time the exhibition has visited Frome and Rook Lane Arts are delivering a series of related workshops and events for the local community with professional photographers in conjunction with the exhibition.

Events, Workshops and Lectures

Friday 16th November / 6pm until 9pm

RPS 155th International Print Exhibition private view

Come along to celebrate the launch of the exhibition with drinks, nibbles and music. Join local photographers and RPS members for a first look at this collection.

Saturday 17th November / 10am until 4pm

RPS 155th International Print Exhibition launch day

Workshops throughout the day at Rook Lane Chapel including….

11am – 2:30pm: Photography walks with Mervyn Clingan.

Photographer and former lecturer in photography, Mervyn, will offer guidance in camera skills at the chapel in the morning, and then after lunch will lead the group in a photography walk around Frome. Some cameras will be available courtesy of the RPS. Come along to learn new skills and for a new approach to the broad landscapes and unusual architecture that make Frome so appealing to photographers.  10 places available – please contact us to reserve a place. www.takingpictures.eu

11am until 4pm: Portraiture with David Partner / Still life with Martin Wade. International portrait photographer and director of the Association of Photographers, David Partner will lead a photography workshop using ProPhoto lighting from AJ's of Bruton and printing from the Print Room at Fotospeed of Corsham. Martin Wade will lead a workshop in still life photography, making use of the daylight in the chapel and his collection of large format vintage plate cameras. www.davidpartner.co.uk / www.aj‐s.co.uk / www.fotospeed.com

Saturday 24th November / 10am until 4pm

 Camper Obscura by FotoNow

 Drop in and join maverick photographers and university lecturers Matthew Pontin and Jonathan Blyth in their ‘Camper Obscura’, a mobile camera obscura in a 1986 VW transporter. Hop into the dark space to see projected obscura images, have your portrait taken and take part in this exciting community activity.  www.camperobscura.co.uk

Tuesday 27th November / 7pm

Lecture ‐ Ian Beasley

Join social documentary photographer and competition selector Ian for a lecture and discussion on photography practice. www.ianbeesley.com

Wednesday 28th November / 7pm

Lecture ‐ Aliceson Carter: Kodachrome – The End

Artist Aliceson Carter discusses her recent major project, documenting the last days of kodachrome and her journey to America to deliver her final rolls of kodachrome film to the processing plant. www.aliceson.co.uk

Saturday 1st December / 10am until 4pm

Photographers Day

From 11:30am Mervyn Clingan will lead camera skills sessions followed by photography a photography walk, taking in the weird and wonderful sights of Frome. 10 places available – please contact us to reserve a place.

From 1pm: Join photographers and gallerists, for a day of discussion and review. We will be welcoming Falmouth based Fine Art photographer Sian Bonnell who will discuss her work, and London Gallerist and author of 'The Art of Collecting Photography' Laura Noble who will talk about collecting photography. We will also be joined by fine art photographer Richard Learoyd who will be discussin his practice.

From 6pm: Laura Noble, Sian Bonnell, Richard Learoyd and other guests will be lead a critical discussion about the print exhibition. All are welcome for the debate: “What makes a good photograph?” www.sianbonnell.com  / www.lauraannnoble.blogspot.co.uk / www.richardlearoyd.com

Refreshments available throughout the day in the Rook Lane Arts café.

Monday 3rd December / 7pm

Lecture ‐ Vanessa Slawson

Documentary photographer, current Chair of the RPS Licentiate Distinctions Panel and one of the selectors of the exhibition, Vanessa will come to deliver a talk on the photographs currently on display. www.vanessapix.co.uk

Thursday 6th December / 7pm

Lecture ‐ Mervyn Clingan: A history of photography as an art form

Photographer and lecturer Mervyn discusses the history of image making, photograph manipulation, and the transition between photography and fine art. The lecture will be followed by questions and answers, plus an opportunity for discussion. www.takingpictures.eu

All of the activities and workshops are free to members of the public. Donations are very welcome.