Category Archives: News

Street Photography Workshop With Steve Simon and Edmond Terakopian

London | July 10-16 | 2022

Thrilled to announce that Steve Simon and I will be hosting a photography workshop in London, from July 10th to the16th, 2022. This fully immersive workshop will be focused on street photography and travel photography, with direction and feedback from us both, on a daily basis. Steve and I will share our own approaches and philosophies to capturing daily life, on the streets. You can see more about my work here.

Friends gather and perform parkour jumping tricks on the beach of the River Thames, during a heat wave bank holiday. Bankside, London, UK. May 06, 2018. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

For more information, please visit the Passionate Photographer Masterclass LONDON page.

A short Zoom chat between Steve and I, discussing our London workshop.

Those who know me, know how deeply I value workshops, the sharing of knowledge, thoughts, concepts and feedback. I’m a firm believer that one never stops learning. Every shoot brings unique circumstances and one learns something new every day. Having started as a passionate photographer in 1986, I turned professional in 1989, primarily as a photojournalist, but also as a commercial photographer, a social photographer and a short film maker. I thoroughly enjoy passing on knowledge and tips and helping those new to the industry, the hobby or a particular aspect of our work as professionals, to pick up new skills and further their career. Anyone who has been on any one of my workshops or presentations will hopefully vouch for my passion and energy for image making.

Photo: Steve Simon

The best way to really advance our craft, is to have a totally immersive experience. To dedicate the week and really focus the mind and soul, as well as sharpen camera skills. Photographing, exchanging thoughts, sharing of images, not just with Steve and myself, but amongst fellow workshop attendees too, is one of the absolute joys of such a photographic workshop.

Kinetika Bloco performing on London’s South Bank. August 15, 2015. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

We’ve kept the number to a maximum of eight, which means we can cater for a wider cross section of photographers, all the way from enthusiasts who want to learn about street photography and explore London with an inquisitive eye, to advanced photographers and professionals, who really want to focus their skills in street photography. This small group ensures much more personal attention to all attendees and creates a closer knitted group too, resulting in a much more productive experience.

Photo: Steve Simon

If you have any questions, do ask in the comments below, or contact Steve via the listing’s page.

The cost for the entire week’s workshop is $3000 (US Dollars). To make a booking and for details, please visit the booking page

We’re really looking forward to welcoming you in London and sharing a week of passionate, immersive and enjoyable photography.

Street Photography Gallery By Edmond Terakopian and Steve Simon

Three Wins At The 15th International Color Awards

Absolutely thrilled to receive the good news from Los Angeles that three of my pictures have been judged into the winner’s circle with honourable mentions and that two other images have been nominated, in the 15th International Color Awards, from close to 6800 entered images.

Many thanks to all the judges (The Armory Show, New York; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; The Art Channel, London; V&A Museum, London; Koller Auctions, Zurich; Preus Museum, Norway; Publicis Groupe, Warsaw; Fila, New York; Chung | Namont Gallery, San Francisco; Kolle Rebbe, Hamburg; Tilton Gallery, New York; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee; Cornette de Saint Cyr Auctions, Brussels; Podbielski Contemporary, Milan and RedKite NFT, London) and many congratulations to the other winners.

As some would have seen, I’ve started to branch out into creative still life photography, specialising in fountain pen and stationery. It was a thrill to see one of these pictures receive an honourable mention.

Here are the five chosen images. All photographs were made using Lumix cameras, using Leica DG, Olympus and Voigtlander lenses. The images were shot in raw, processed on an Apple Mac Pro with Eizo CG monitors and processed using Adobe LightRoom Classic and finished in Exposure Software’s X7.

Honorable Mention in Portrait | Coal Miner

Miner Ian Turner, at the end of his shift. Aberpergwm Mine is the only remaining operational coal mine in the UK. It’s the only source of high-grade anthracite in Western Europe. Aberpergwm Mine, Glynneath, Neath, Wales, UK. July 30, 2021. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian. Lumix G9 with Leica DG 50-200mm.

Honorable Mention in Photojournalism | Memorial Wall For Covid Victims

The wall of hearts grows as a memorial to loved ones taken by coronavirus. Each heart representing every one of the UK’s close to 150,000 victims (to date). The memorial is the idea of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group, which has called for an inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic. The National COVID Memorial Wall. North Wing, Lambeth Palace Rd, South Bank, London SE1 3FT. April 11, 2021. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian. Lumix G9 and Voigtlander 29mm F0.8 MFT Super Nokton Lens.

Honorable Mention in Still Life | Liquid Teal

“The Teal Breaker”. One of an 88 custom pen set. A concept by Bernardo “Mr Teal” Gomes, with the fountain pen made by John Garnham, nib tuned by Noah Maasarani (the Pen Doctor UK) and engraved by Ben Walsh, for the Fountain Pens UK group on Facebook. London, UK. November 28, 2021. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian. Lumix G9 and Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro.

Nominee in People | Coal Mine Shift Manager

Life around the mine. Shift Manager Miner Colin Evans, who has been a miner for 40 years, prepares the safety paperwork for the shift. Aberpergwm Mine is the only remaining operational coal mine in the UK and the only source of high-grade anthracite in Western Europe. Aberpergwm Mine, Glynneath, Neath, Wales, UK. July 30, 2021. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian. Lumix G9 and Leica DG 10-25mm Vario_Summilux.

Nominee in Photojournalism | Covid 19 Memorial Wall

The wall of hearts grows as a memorial to loved ones taken by coronavirus. Each heart representing every one of the UK’s close to 150,000 victims (to date). The memorial is the idea of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group, which has called for an inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic. The National COVID Memorial Wall. North Wing, Lambeth Palace Rd, South Bank, London SE1 3FT. April 11, 2021. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian. Lumix G9 and Voigtlander 29mm F0.8 MFT Super Nokton Lens.

The Seam Between Photojournalist and Artistic Photography

As the year comes to a close, I was truly humbled and moved when photography commentator Shira Shavit wrote a piece about my work on her extremely popular LinkedIn.

Opera singer Ida Ränzlöv, singing the part of Arminda, Anchise’s niece, waits backstage for her cue. Mozart’s La finta giardiniera. Dress rehearsal. Royal College of Music Opera School, Prince Consort Road, London. November 25, 2016. Photo: ©OEdmond Terakopian / 2016

Shira chose a backstage photograph of opera singer extraordinaire, Ida Ränzlöv, as a leading image and very kindly wrote the following about my work.

“I usually write about photographers who are not among the living. For photographers who have left a priceless legacy. That influenced me. Who left a mark on me. I have written very little about photographers while they are still alive. But this Is one of the pulse-pounding photographers and I am very attached to his work. A brave connection of a viewer In front of the work of the photographer – It’s a special bond . Edmond Is one of them. The seam between photojournalist and artistic photography – He symbolizes for me. Beyond being a photographer of supreme grace he Is also a wonderful human . Photographers show us the world, through the lenses of their eyes. I have a real and sincere fondness for observing the subject Of the world through the lenses of Edmond’s special eye.”

“Photography as a language, of all visual languages, Is known to be the most intuitive, completely unmediated and speaks directly to the brain. There Is a factor In photography that evokes the almost physiological response of the word / sound – wow. The wow factor – I found In his work.” – Shira Shavit, December 2021.

Shortlisted In CUPOTY

Close-up Photographer of the Year 03

Well, here’s a first for me! Being recognised for some macro work!


Delighted to share that one of my pictures has made the shortlist for Close-up Photographer of the Year, in the Manmade category of CUPOTY 03.
The image is a macro shot of the intricate nib design on my Montegrappa Merry Skull copper fountain pen.


Italian Flair; the intricate nib design on my Montegrappa Merry Skull Copper Fountain Pen. London, UK. May 08, 2021. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

The photograph was made using a Lumix G9 and a Leica R 60mm Macro lens and extension tube. Apologies for my lateness with this post, as the announcement was in October this year!

Second Place-A portrait that tells a story contest

Absolutely delighted to come second place in the WANDRD and Kodak Professional, “A portrait that tells a story” international photography contest.

Miner Ian Turner, at the end of his shift. Aberpergwm Mine is the only remaining operational coal mine in the UK and is the only source of high-grade anthracite in Western Europe. The produce from the mine is used in water filtration, stainless steel production and rechargeable batteries, to name some of its uses. Aberpergwm Mine, Glynneath, Neath, Wales, UK. July 30, 2021. Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian

The portrait was shot on a Panasonic Lumix G9 and Leica DG 50-200mm. The raw file was processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic and finished in Exposure Software’s X7.

Rather enjoying some of the prizes, including the very neat WANDRD PRVKE LITE backpack and the rolls of Kodak Portra, which will be put to good use! Photo: ©Edmond Terakopian

The Heartbreaking Loss Of Tom Stoddart

A Legend Of A Friend To Many, An Inspiration To Many More and A Legendary Photojournalist To The World

It was with exceptional sadness that I found that earlier today, Tom Stoddart had passed away. Absolutely devastating news.

Photographer Tom Stoddart at the Coach and Horses, Kew Green. October 04, 2009. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

One of the most amazing people I had the absolute honour and pleasure to meet and count as a colleague and a friend. 

We first met when I gatecrashed the National Geographic magazine’s party at Visa Pour L’Image, some time in the 1990s. Found Tom at the bar when I went to get drinks. With our beers in hand, we just started chatting like best friends, for probably over an hour! Kindness, wisdom, patience, all for the 20 something year old kid he’s just been practically accosted by! I was a huge fan of his exceptional work and from that evening onwards, became a huge fan of the thoughtful gentleman behind the camera. 

I’m heartbroken. The world of journalism has lost a true great and all of us who were fortunate to know Tom, have lost a true and inspiring friend. Every conversation with Tom was always interesting and usually, had a lesson in life too, garnered from his experiences photographing some of the worst in humanity, whilst always finding how the best in humanity can shine through in those dire moments and places.

You can see the breadth, depth and exceptionalism of Tom’s work on his Instagram, Tom Stoddart Photos.

Photographer Tom Stoddart at his Perspectives Exhibition, More London Riverside. August 08, 2012. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

When I got in touch with Tom last year, to say we were putting together a fundraising print sale for Médecins Sans Frontières’ Covid-19 fund, he didn’t hesitate to offer one of his amazing photographs. More than any one of the 42 photographers involved, he would constantly check in to see how things were going leading up to the sale and if he could help in any way.

The first time I had heard of MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), it was through Tom’s extraordinary work, documenting the famine and humanitarian crisis in Sudan in 1998. He had based himself at an MSF aid station, but had taken all the food and water he needed for his stay, as he refused to use up any resources which were there for the local population and the medical team who had gone to their aid. On his return, The Guardian newspaper published a selection of the images in August 1998, with one displayed prominently on the front page. At Tom’s request, the text included a phone for readers to donate to MSF. As a direct result of people seeing these images, more than £100,000 was raised for the charity. If memory recalls, Tom insisted the same conditions on other major publications and much more was actually raised. In fact the print that Tom donated to our print auction, was from this trip. A wonderful photography showing a rare moment of joy between siblings at Ajiep, in Bahr El Ghazal Province , south Sudan.

Through your exceptional work, ethos, compassion, empathy and depth, much admired and a true inspiration to us all.

We have all lost a legendary friend and a legendary photojournalist.

Rest dear Tom.

Photographer Tom Stoddart at his Perspectives Exhibition, More London Riverside. August 08, 2012. Photo: Edmond Terakopian

This short film interview with Tom is an absolute must watch.

Tom Stoddart | Witness from Neale James on Vimeo.

Galleries

A few links to obituaries and galleries, which give a taste of Tom’s absolute dedication, talent and empathy:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/23/tom-stoddart-obituary?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2021/nov/18/berlin-wall-blair-battlebus-tom-stoddart-career-in-pictures?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/image?events=775321301&utm_source=Pranvera+Smith%E2%80%99s+Events&utm_campaign=ee501da261-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_3_25_2021_12_14_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_06ebec4fba-ee501da261-515912542&mc_cid=ee501da261&mc_eid=03f692c9a9

In place of flowers, an opportunity to donate to the place that’s been treating our friend Tom Stoddart for over a year.

This memorial page is to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which is based at the Freeman Hospital where Tom was treated for 18 months.

Please donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tom-stoddart21?experiments=donate_now_track_click&successType=StaticDonateButtonClick&fbclid=IwAR2BUPdtBmn01HchHYxE7flOUUBi0LZWXqv6hSydykvB5TNiONg_-GmfscU