Introduction
Given the shifting shape of photography in computerized societies, we are initiating events to discuss the new emergent roles of the photographic image in them. In this symposium, titled Virtual Photography, we have invited computer industry and educational specialists to present, exchange and discuss the different advances of computational and virtual images. The symposium aims to explore the implications of these changes for industry, education and individual creative producers, artists and photographers. Hosted at the University of Westminster, the first institution in the world to offer educational course on photography (early 1850s), this will be the first of several landmark events to consider the future of the photographic image and the implications for everyone involved.
Programme
9:30 Registration
9:45 Introduction: Prof. David Bate and Dr. Paula Gortázar
10: 00 – 11:30 Virtual Industries
How are still photographs integrated in virtual and augmented reality environments? What new roles do still images serve in extended reality environments?
Anders Printz, Photography Manager at Ikea, Sweden
Brandon Harper, AR Designer, HoloLens at Microsoft, California, USA
Robert Overweg, Innovation Catalyst and Virtual Photographer, Founder Adaptable Mindset Method, Amsterdam
Panel Discussion and Q&A, chaired by Paula Gortázar
11:30 – 12:00 Tea Break
12:00 – 13:30 The Future of Image Education?
What computational skills should photography students be taught and how might they be used in the context of an BA photographic arts course?
Richard Kolker, Lecturer in Photography and CGI Designer, Portsmouth University
Prof. Sophie Triantaphillidou, Lecturer in Computational Vision, University of Westminster
Dr. Christopher Fry, Lecturer in Contemporary Media Practice, University of Westminster
Panel Discussion and Q&A, chaired by David Bate
13:30 – 14:30 LUNCH BREAK
14:30 – 16:00 Virtual and Computational Arts
How are photographers integrating computational art in their practice? What are the critical issues and debates related to photography in computational arts?
Prof. Sebastian Schemieg, Artist, Designer and Lecturer at HTW Dresden, Germany
Dr. Ionna Zouli, Editor at Unthinking Photography, The Photographers’ Gallery, London, UK
Dominic Hawgood, Cross-disciplinary Artist, London, UK
Panel Discussion and Q&A, chaired by David Bate and Paula Gortázar
16:00 – 16:45 Plenary Session
17:00 – 18:00 Social Drinks
Conference conveners:
David Bate, Professor of Photography, University of Westminster, London, UK
Dr Paula Gortázar, Lecturer in Photography, University of Westminster, London, UK
Tickets
General Admission: £7.50. Students: £5.00 – includes lunch, tea and social drinks
Venue: University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London, W1B 2HW (Oxford Circus tube)
Contact: Dr. Paula Gortázar p.gortazar1@westminster.ac.uk
Registration: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-photography-symposium-tickets-318517242647
