Capturing Stories, Building Connections – Reflections from DocPhoto 8
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Explore the stories behind DocPhoto 8 in this Spotlight on Arts episode. Hear from photographers and curators about creativity, collaboration, and the evolving role of photography in documenting life, culture, and history. Listen now on Soar Sound.
The latest episode of Spotlight on Arts takes us to the basement gallery of Leicester’s Adult Education Centre, where the DocPhoto 8 exhibition recently concluded. This conversation brings together John Coster, Rob Watson, photographer Tony Shelley, and co-creator Vincy, who share their perspectives on what makes exhibitions like this more than just a showcase of images.
DocPhoto 8 stands out not only for the quality and diversity of the work on display but for the sense of openness and inclusivity it created. Unlike the formal or exclusive feel that often surrounds gallery events, this exhibition welcomed people from a wide range of backgrounds, offering an atmosphere without pretension. For Rob, this marked a turning point—proof of the value of sustained investment in community spaces where creativity can flourish over time. What once required persistent advocacy and negotiation is now taking shape as a genuine cultural asset.
Tony Shelley’s story adds another layer to the discussion. Once a professional product photographer, Tony reflects on how years of commercial work dulled his creative eye. Retirement and personal challenges reignited his passion for street photography, transforming it into something vital—a source of daily purpose and a form of medicine. His contribution to DocPhoto 8, titled Indecisive Moments, pushes back against the rigid pursuit of the “decisive moment,” instead celebrating spontaneity and imperfection.
The conversation also delves into the broader social role of photography, from documenting major events such as the Wapping dispute in the 1980s to capturing fleeting details of everyday life. These moments prompt questions about how visual records shape collective memory and public understanding. Today, with cameras in almost everyone’s hands, the boundaries of news and documentary photography have shifted. But does this abundance of images deepen our insight, or does it blur context and meaning?
For Vincy, co-curating the exhibition opened new challenges and opportunities. Moving from exhibiting her own work to organising a collective display meant balancing creative voices and navigating the complexities of layout and presentation. This experience highlighted how curation itself is a creative act—one that involves trust, negotiation, and letting artists find their own ways to tell their stories.
Underlying all these reflections is a bigger question about cultural participation in cities like Leicester. How do we create ecosystems where artists can connect and thrive, outside of institutional hierarchies or identity-based silos? And how can photography, whether through intimate street scenes or historical documentation, continue to provoke thought, conversation, and connection?
Listen to the full discussion to hear more about the ideas, stories, and personal journeys behind DocPhoto 8—and consider what role creativity plays in shaping not just images, but the communities around them.
