{"id":67305,"date":"2023-12-14T14:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T14:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=67305"},"modified":"2023-12-14T14:04:01","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T14:04:01","slug":"is-photography-still-a-viable-career-for-young-welsh-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2023\/12\/14\/is-photography-still-a-viable-career-for-young-welsh-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"Is photography still a viable career for young Welsh talent?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Despite some galleries in Wales setting up projects to support young photographers, opportunities are in decline, leaving artists wondering if the career they dreamed about might ever come true&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"emerging Welsh photographer with her work at an exhibition\" class=\"wp-image-67307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1366x768.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"emerging Welsh photographer with her work at an exhibition\" class=\"wp-image-67307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1366x768.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/Ffion-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ffion Denman believes artistic photography can provide space for a personal element and authenticity, which isn\u2019t much present in the commercial side of photography. Photo: Ffion Denman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">It\u2019s 6.30am in the morning. Marcell Berendi, a 22-year-old graduate, wakes up to the blaring of his alarm. At 7am, it\u2019s still dark outside as he hops on his bike and goes to work. If lucky, he might get to see the sunrise before the start of his shift in the supermarket warehouse at 7.30am. Next day the cycle continues. Photography, which should have been his career, is something he has very little time to think about.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berendi now lives a life common among photography graduates, who often end up in jobs that are unrelated to their degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Prospect, one of the UK\u2019s leading&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prospects.ac.uk\/careers-advice\/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree\/photography\">career websites<\/a>, 72.8% of photography graduates are employed 15 months after graduation. However, 34.6% of them end up working in sectors such as retail, catering and customer service. Compared to this, only 23.4% are in art, design and media-related jobs. Many others end up working freelance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berendi, who completed his BA in photography last summer, says the reality of starting a career is something that only hits once out of university. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to start.&nbsp;I assumed it would be. But it&#8217;s a lot harder to actually face it,\u201d he admits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Making it in the creative field<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Careers in the creative industries are compelling for young people, says Brian Carroll, 58-year-old photography enthusiast. Carroll, while a graphic designer by profession, has been fascinated by photography for a long time. He is now one of the two people behind&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ffoton.wales\/\">Ffoton<\/a>, a project bringing Welsh photography together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, there were 65,380 graduates in the field of design, creative and performing arts in 2022, according to the&nbsp;Higher Education Statistics Agency. This places the subject area in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hesa.ac.uk\/data-and-analysis\/students\/outcomes\">fourth place<\/a>&nbsp;for most graduates within one field.&nbsp;The competition for jobs is intense.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Photographer standing with his photos at graduate exhibition\" class=\"wp-image-67310\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Photographer standing with his photos at graduate exhibition\" class=\"wp-image-67310\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/marcell-2-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marcell Berendi says doing a degree in photography was definitely worth it as he got to explore the artistic side of the profession in a way he could not have done so otherwise. Photo: Marcell Berendi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While there are numerous universities offering photography degrees, what their graduates are missing are opportunities. Reminiscing on the past when he first got into photography, Carroll explains that some of the biggest employers of photographers used to be media organisations and photography studios. Due to the decline of local newspapers, there is a diminishing need for professional photography in the press. Meanwhile, studios do not provide a satisfying enough career progression, nor good salaries, he says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ffion Denman, 24, is a Cardiff-based emerging artist who started her journey in photography when she was 15. \u201cMy dad&#8217;s a photographer. So, I think that was my sort of way into seeing photography as an actual career rather than just a hobby,\u201d she says. While studying photography at an undergraduate level, she also grew concerned about her chances of making it in the industry. \u201cThe grind was so hard,\u201d she says, \u201cso I was like \u2018Am I driven enough to make it worth it?\u2019\u201d She eventually ended up doing a master\u2019s degree in curation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:45% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67312 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-770x1369.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-432x768.jpg 432w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-608x1080.jpg 608w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-1013x1800.jpg 1013w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-293x521.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67312 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-770x1369.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-432x768.jpg 432w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-608x1080.jpg 608w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-1013x1800.jpg 1013w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography-293x521.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/What-is-fine-are-and-documentary-photography.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>For those leaning towards the fine art and documentary side of photography, Arts Council funded initiatives are one way to find support in an otherwise tough industry. One such project is Ffocws, Ffotogallery\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2023\/11\/28\/up-and-coming-photographers-in-focus-at-ffotogallery\/\">current exhibition<\/a>, which was created to provide a platform for graduates and emerging photographers in Wales. This year\u2019s showcase features fourteen artists, ten of which are graduate artists from Welsh Universities. Their works will be on display until 12 January 2024. \u201cWe travelled around Wales and selected between what we thought were the most innovative and interesting works, making the most relevant comments on what\u2019s happening in society,\u201d said Si\u00e2n Addicott, director of Ffotogallery.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The exhibition also features four artists from Wales selected through an open call for the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffmade.com\/higgins-photo-initiative\">Higgins Photography Initiative.<\/a>This six-month-long mentoring programme is run by Cardiff MADE gallery, helping photographers develop their artistic portfolio. And while such projects can help artists get more exposure, their careers are still uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cClients don\u2019t want conceptual, clients want practical. \u2026 you need to be working with clients who are commissioning photography, not art,\u201d says Carroll, who has had nearly 60 conversations with photographers about their careers since starting Ffoton. Turning to the artistic side can make it more difficult to succeed in the industry, but it is not impossible, he concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A place for artistic photography<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite not working directly as a photographer, Denman found a way to turn her passion into work. The Cardiff-based creative often engages in workshops and freelance photography projects where she gets to help kids explore the world of cameras. She spent the first six months of this year in Argentina, teaching photography in different schools, while also working on her own photography project alongside it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>People have experiences and stories that need to be shared, and so there will always be a call for an artistic expression that\u2019s outside of the commercial world<\/p><cite>Ffion Denman<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Denman spent a lot of time abroad updating her father\u2019s photography archive. On her days off she would visit local shops, bakeries and community events to talk to people and take photos. Such journeys always involved a lot of unknown. New people, new stories, new connections. On some days she got home with new images, on others, with new acquaintances.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out why connections are key in photography, watch the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\"><blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/C01ak71otcC\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/C01ak71otcC\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/C01ak71otcC\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Eszter Gurbicz | Portfolio (@eszterg.journo)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat&#8217;s the point of having art, if it&#8217;s all commercial?,\u201d asks Denman. While she agrees that it is commercial photography that makes money, she says documentary and fine art photography serves a different role in society. \u201cPeople have experiences and stories that need to be shared, and so there will always be a call for an artistic expression that\u2019s outside of the commercial world,\u201d she argues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting on her experience, she considers herself lucky for getting an opportunity to explore her photographic practice. But it also ended in June. So, just like Berendi, for the past six months Denman has not had much time to pick up her camera.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meet the artists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Marcell Berendi<\/strong><br>Berendi is a 22-year-old Cardiff-based photographer, with a BA in photography from Cardiff Metropolitan University. He describes himself as a&nbsp;documentary and artistic photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">\u201cI&#8217;m really interested in working with film. It&#8217;s technically a lot more challenging than digital it is. When you click and take a photo with the digital camera, you can see the photo. \u2026 With film, you need to make sure the photo will be good before you take it. Also, film just has unique visual elements to it. There\u2019re different companies making film, so they have different colours and black and white is also different with literally every film. I enjoy developing the film, printing from it, making an image. I just like getting my hands dirty making an image, not just taking one,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berendi\u2019s work from his graduate project which explores the issue of surveillance is now exhibited at Cardiff MADE gallery\u2019s winter showcase.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram: @<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/marcellb_photos\/\">marcellb_photos<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ffion Denman<\/strong><br>Denman in is a 24-year-old Cardiff and Swansea-based creative, with a master&#8217;s in curating and collection, doing documentary photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPhotography can be something quite aggressive. You can take someone\u2019s photo without consent, or maybe you\u2019re just portraying this person in a way they don\u2019t want to be portrayed. \u2026 Having a sort of balance between giving and taking is really important in my photography work. So, it\u2019s about doing projects about community experiences, but also doing workshops that everyone can come to and inform the project, and how they would want to be represented,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She is one of the four artists who are now part of the Higgins Photography Initiative. Her work which is now exhibited at Ffocws talks about cultural displacement and the values of Welsh identity in Patagonia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram: @<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ffiondenman\/\">ffiondenman<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite some galleries in Wales setting up projects to support young photographers, opportunities are in decline, leaving artists wondering if the career they dreamed about might ever come true<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1028,"featured_media":67306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087,7935],"tags":[2420,8058,1020,7187,2520],"coauthors":[7933],"class_list":["post-67305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","category-work-life","tag-artists","tag-early-career","tag-exhibition","tag-photographer","tag-photography"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is photography still a viable career for young Welsh talent? - alt.cardiff<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Graduate artists struggle finding a job in photography as opportunities are in a decline, but there is still hope\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2023\/12\/14\/is-photography-still-a-viable-career-for-young-welsh-talent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is photography still a viable career for young Welsh talent? - alt.cardiff\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Graduate artists struggle finding a job in photography as opportunities are in a decline, but there is still hope\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2023\/12\/14\/is-photography-still-a-viable-career-for-young-welsh-talent\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"alt.cardiff\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" 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