Snap Happy picture of 2008

Thursday, April 03, 2008

The Liverpool Daily Post

IN what promises to be an astonishing account of Liverpool life during the city’s fabulous Capital of Culture extravaganza six well-known local photographers are out and about snapping people and events every day of the year.

Led by award winning lensman and publisher Guy Woodland the photographers are involved in an exciting project they have dubbed ‘0151 366 2008’ – referring to the Merseyside telephone code, the number of days in this Leap Year and, of course the year itself.

It is, says Woodland, another first for Liverpool and the greater region, which takes in all the Merseyside boroughs. “We thought it would be a great idea to collaborate and record the cultural celebrations, activities and general hubbub of life that will be a part of this marvellous year,” said Guy who has published a series of photo-essay books about Liverpool. And this, he reveals, is also the ultimate aim of the project that aims to chronicle the events as they unfold across the city and the impact on its people. “The plan is to publish a 400 page, lavish hardback book early in 2009 that will feature hundreds of photographs from the work of the team. It will be complemented by observations from a number of Liverpool writers and journalists,” said Guy, who explained that the intriguing venture is being run through his publishing firm Cities500.

The enthusiastic photographic squad includes Peter Carr, Neil Lloyd, Mark McNulty, Matt Wardle and Fiona Shaw. Fiona commented: “As the only woman amongst this celebrated bunch of photographers I am delighted to be a part of what we are convinced will become an historic log of Liverpool during this momentous year.”
The project is being meticulously updated daily on a specially designed website. As the days and weeks progress the photographers upload their images to the site and this will be the template for the book.

Already in the first three months, and with little publicity, the site has clocked up over 150,000 hits and the team is keen to invite the public to participate in an active way. “As people relish the emergence of Liverpool as a truly 21st Century City, and take part in the year-long celebrations, we believe that their input will expand the scope and depth of this intriguing project, and of course the planned book,” explained Wirral based Guy Woodland. “We want people to come to us with ideas for photographs,” he added.

Fiona Shaw went on: “We are all passionate about Liverpool and this is a wonderful chance to diary the defining moments, special events and every day occurrences that are shaping this amazing year. “We hope the website and the book next year will be a demonstration of the pride that everyone feels about Liverpool winning the Capital of Culture accolade and its earlier success in being awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for the waterfront,” she said.