Two press photographers and a documentary film maker were arrested whilst covering protests by the campaigning group Just Stop Oil on Monday 7th November.  Tom Bowles and Ben Cawthra, both members of The BPPA along with BECTU member Rich Felgate were handcuffed and removed from two separate locations by Hertfordshire Police. A member of The BPPA’s Board has spoken to both photographers and, based on their accounts, we can report the following: Tom and Rich were detained by the police at 10.44am, accused of suspicion of conspiracy to cause a nuisance. Tom wasn’t given a chance to offer an ..read more

When the Press Photographers Association (PPA) first got together it wasn’t too promising. Only a few of the press photographers invited from each national newspaper bothered to show. It was a small gathering around a long table that gently rattled in the smoky gloom of a club called Duffers, nestling as it did beneath the railway arches that led trains into Farringdon station. It was early 1984, and the boys had gathered to hear our first Chairman and Founder outline his plans to create something new to represent the very best of press photography in books, exhibitions; above all to celebrate ..read more

At the association’s AGM in 2019 we started the ball rolling towards the creation of a new category of membership of The BPPA. As part of our role of “inspiring” we chose to do this by helping to guide and mentor the next generation of photographers wanting to join the profession. This is now becoming a reality and we are delighted to announce that the doors are open to anyone fulfilling the criteria: “Any person who is not yet working full-time as a press photographer but who is striving to achieve that goal either through working part-time in the industry or by studying on a course specia ..read more

In letters signed by The BPPA, the News Media Association, the Chartered Institute of Journalists, the British Association of Journalists and the Foreign Press Association in London and sent to the Editor of The Times and the Director of Communications, Marketing and Engagement for the Royal Parks the five organisations made it clear that restrictions placed upon news-gatherers excluding them from areas open to the public were unacceptable. The text of the letter to the Times said the following: Sir,  We are writing on behalf of professional photographers and journalists spanning the bre ..read more

Photo: ©Peter Macdiarmid/London News Pictures. 24 August 2022 Following the arrest of multi-award winning photojournalist Peter Macdiarmid whilst covering this morning’s Just Stop Oil protest at Clacket Lane Services on the M25, The British Press Photographers’ Association would, once again, like to remind Police Officers that journalists have a right and a duty to report the news. Mr Macdiarmid identified himself as the holder of a UK Press Card which is a form of identification officially recognised by the National Police Chiefs Council but the officers from Surrey Police chose not to check ..read more

The British Press Photographers’ Association present their annual ‘Assignments’ exhibition celebrating the best of press photography from its members. Curated by 5 leading industry figures, this year’s exhibition covers stories from April 2019 through to the recent developments in the pandemic and will feature everything from sports and entertainment through to politics and protest with royals, celebrities and global events as seen through eyes of the association’s photographers. Founded in the mid 1980s, The BPPA has sought to promote and inspire the highest ethical, technical and creative st ..read more

The British Press Photographers’ Association is pleased to announce that ASSIGNMENTS 2021 is now open for entries. Following a break of more than 2 years we are once again seeking the best of British Press Photography from our members to be exhibited at Bargehouse London in August 2021. Entries are open NOW until midnight on Friday 2nd July 2021 Each member can enter up to 10 photographs taken between 12th April 2019 and 2nd July 2021 (inclusive). You must be a member of The BPPA to enter – if you aren’t you can join now. Thanks to our generous sponsors at Canon UK and Fixation it is FREE to ..read more

Inside a COVID-19 ward, New York. 11 April 2020. © Adam Gray/SWNS for Daily Mail. The results are in for the first British Press Photographers’ Association Press Photographer of the year competition. We were delighted to receive more than 2400 photographs from 183 photographers, members and non-members, into the ten categories. The competition was then judged by our members, 140 of them took part, viewing the 408 entries. The photographer with the most votes in each category went through to be voted on by members of The BPPA board to become ‘The BPPA Press Photographer of the Year’. We are del ..read more

In an email message to members of the association, Chair Lindsey Parnaby wished everyone entering the competition the best of luck. He wrote: “2020 was undoubtedly an incredible year for the press photographer. The impact of Covid19 changing the way we live our everyday lives for the foreseeable future as public events were forced to close their doors and socialisation banned under successive lockdowns. The NHS becoming the nation’s saviour at it’s darkest time. Brexit. George Floyd’s death and the global Black Lives Matter campaign. Captain Tom Moore’s epic £30m charity walk. Marcus Rashford ..read more

NEWS RELEASE: 8th March 2021 ‘Women’ is a photographic celebration of images telling the stories and achievements of women and girls launching for International Women’s Day 2021 To mark International Women’s Day 2021 The British Press Photographers’ Association has curated a new exhibition of pictures telling the stories and highlighting the achievements of women and girls as recorded through the eyes of visual storytellers.

 In accordance with the aims of International Women’s Day the exhibition seeks to celebrate the strength and achievement of women throughout society – socially, culturall ..read more