Symposium

Yesterday saw the chance to attend the University of Westminster’s Virtual Photography Symposium, featuring a great range of speakers discussing the emergent roles of the photographic image in the shifting shape of computerised societies.

Many, many ideas featured through both talks and questions, which I’m sure will form future thinking behind the role of the still image into the flow of imagery.

My initial takeaways are:

·      Ownership of imagery continues to be as contentious in this digital wild west.

·      The idea that we can opt out of the digital quicksand is increasingly unlikely unless we are happy to miss out on so much.

·      Coupling of facial recognition software and web trawling presents further safety issues to women that need to be addressed urgently.

·      Finally, as stated, the future of the single still image may not be assured.

Thank you to Dr Paula Gortázar and David Bate for this symposium.