2nd – 7th August 2010
The Gallery at
The Custard Factory
Gibb Street
Digbeth
Birmingham

David Rann Opens Exhibition

I’ve been teaching photography at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
since early 2007 and the Advanced courses since early 2010. The peo-
ple taking part in the Transformations exhibition are from the first
couple of Advanced groups – and that’s probably the first thing they
have in common.

The second is that they all have a love of photography, a desire to ex-
press themselves or record the world around them through pictures.

Perhaps the third thing they all have in common is that twelve months
ago, I doubt if any of them suspected that they would be exhibiting
their photography in such a respected gallery, with all of the pressure,
self-doubt and soul-searching that this inevitably entails.

But this is a diverse group of people, with a suitably diverse range of
approaches and subject matter, united only by the theme,
“Transformations”. This theme clearly means different things to differ-
ent people and you will see how the Photosynthesis photographers
have chosen to interpret it.

Artists Hanging Work

Bear in mind, as you view this work, that these photographers have
produced these images alongside their “other lives” as employees,
employers, parents, spouses etc. This exhibition has developed from
seemingly improbable idea to reality in about six months – no small
feat, even for full-time photographers. The organisation and determi-
nation of the group has amazed even me.

As I see these images, I am filled with an overwhelming feeling of
pride that this talented group of individuals came together as a result
of a course that I was teaching. The quality of the images speak for
themselves. But I feel confident that each of these photographers will
gain a great deal from this exhibition and will go on to produce more,
and perhaps even better, work in the future.

My sincere congratulations to Photosynthesis on a great show, and my
thanks to everyone who helped, contributed, sponsored, or supported
and humored the group in the production of “Transformation”.

David Rann
Fotofilia

Opening Night

Photos courtesy of Pete Shipstone