Reykjavík Museum of Photography

Never before has it been so easy to put one’s photos out in public. What used to take weeks and months can now be done in seconds.

Many people say that today’s photography is to be found on Flickr, which hosts millions of photo-blogs, and it is safe to say that it is the most popular site of its kind in the world today. Flickr has flourished with the transformation of photographic methods in the new digital environment, where there are no limits on quantity of pictures and the possibilities appear to be infinite.  Photo-blogs, which have been enormously popular in recent years, may be defined as a forum for photos and interaction, where people meet, observe the development of each other’s work, and form groups with particular interests. This has led to an interface between professional and amateur photography, and today it is easier to acquire good equipment and gain skills in the field. Possibilities have opened for sophisticated photographic experimentation, and today all that is needed is Photoshop and a good printer to make high-quality prints. Hence Flickr may be said to democratise photography, and challenge accepted views of what photography is. 


Photo-blogs, which have been enormously popular in recent years, may be defined as a forum for photos and interaction, where people meet, observe the development of each other’s work, and form groups with particular interests. 

The Reykjavík Museum of Photography invited Icelandic Flickr users to send photos for the exhibition to a Flickr account opened last summer by the Museum. In just over two months nearly 3,000 photos were submitted, from which the Museum’s exhibition committee has made a selection. In the presentation and scope of the exhibition, the aim has been to transfer the virtual Flickr world to the material level. Photos by 85 people are included in the exhibition, which comprises some of the most popular Flickr categories: Daily Life, Portraits, Black and White, Fashion, Music and Environment. Yet more contributors can see their work at the exhibition, as nearly 500 photos, the initial selection, will be projected on the wall. Part of this exhibition has been shown at an Icelandic cultural event in Prague in 2007, in August 2008 at the Filminsulaire festival in Groix, and in December 2008 a selection from the exhibition will be shown at the Icelandic Cultural festival Air d´Islande  in Paris.

Flickr Era - Digital Horizons

The exhibition "Flickr Era – Digital Horizons" focusses on Icelandic photographers, professional and amateur, who have found a forum in the internet photocommunity Flickr.

Flickr Era - Di­gital Ho­ri­zons

The exhibition "Flickr Era – Digital Horizons" focusses on Icelandic photographers, professional and amateur, who have found a forum in the internet photocommunity Flickr.

Flickr Era - Digital Horizons