In Pictures: If You Leave Showcase celebrates the best contemporary photography
- Text by Alex King
- Photography by See captions
The best documentary photographers build compelling stories through weaving images together. They spend days, months, years getting to know the people, communities and issues they’re documenting, adding a new piece to the story with each picture.
But what if you had to grab people’s attention, hold their gaze and say everything you wanted to say with just one photograph?
If You Leave celebrates the best of contemporary photography which speaks in a single image – separate from any body of work. The 2015 IYL Showcase draws together twenty of the best single shots, selected by a panel of judges including Huck, It’s Nice That and Self Publish, Be Happy, from thousands of entries made by photographers from across the globe.
Benedetta Falugi selected by Huck
To see the 2015 If You Leave Showcase in its full glory, head down to the launch party at Hatch, London on Thursday December 3, 6-10pm.
After that, the Showcase will be will be displayed in locations across London, December 4-15, before heading to Berlin, December 18-29.
If You Leave began life as Laurence Von Thomas’ personal online visual diary in 2009. It has since become an invaluable resource for striking contemporary photography and developed into a Tumblr with nearly half a million followers, spawned exhibitions across the globe and four printed editions.
To take the next step, IYL went to Kickstarter to fund an ambitious open submission photography competition and whittled down the thousands of entries into the If You Leave Showcase 2014, accompanied by two complimentary editions of the brand new If You Leave Magazine – which launched at Huck’s 71a Gallery.
Check out the launch party at Hatch, Thursday December 3, find out more about If You Leave or grab a copy of the IYL Magazine.
IYL teaser video by Kasafilms and Anna Lann.
You might like
In photos: Black Texas life since emancipation
Kinship & Community — A new photobook and exhibition showcases the rich culture, history and community of African American folks in the Lone Star State, whose existence in the region predates colonial Britain.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Inside Parkuir: the art project queering sport, space and our bodies
Lie and play — Founded by Maria Laudes and Guiu Gimeno, it provides a framework for engaging, subverting, and celebrating the small details that make people unique – and queer.
Written by: Molly Lipson
Youthful joy & end-of-era poignancy at a London school prom
Leavers — For several years, Lewis Khan documented young people as they celebrated the last of their school days and the completion of their exams. The series is now collated in a new self-published photobook and short film.
Written by: Zoe Whitfield
Harry Gruyaert’s vintage, kaleidoscopic scenes of New York
A Sense of Place — For 50 years, the Belgian photographer and Magnum Photos member has been capturing NYC’s colourful chaos. A new photobook and exhibition showcase his unique, technicolour view of the city.
Written by: Miss Rosen
In the pit at one of the UK’s last stock car & banger speedways
Stock Car Racing Isn’t Dead — Photographer Liam McCarthy spent time in and around the Arlington Raceway’s circuit, capturing the diehard community that keeps the sport alive.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Inside Lower Duck Pond, the nicest town on the internet
/r/HaveWeMet — With a population of 2,500 and no fixed location, the subreddit is a space for roleplaying citizens to solve mysteries, host fictional events and ultimately connect. In an internet that’s often divided and toxic, Vicky Jessop hangs out in one of its most wholesome corners.
Written by: Vicky Jessop
