Amateur photographers from Huddersfield and Calderdale are exhibiting at The Artworks 1830 Gallery in Halifax this weekend and next.

The show, which was opened last week with a talk by Greg Hobson, Curator of Photographs at the National Media Museum in Bradford, is open to the public on Saturdays only (August 1 and 8). It can be seen from 10am until 4pm and closes on Sunday, August 9. Viewing during the week can only be arranged by appointment.

Paul Railton, a former Press photographer, who now teaches classes in photography at The Artworks, says the work on show represents subject matter of all kinds and a wide range of styles.

He explained: “There’s everything from landscapes to street photography and food – and it’s by everyone from GCSE students to retired people. There’s black and white, and colour, and it’s nice to see the contrast between them.” Four of Paul’s own students are also showing.

“It is an open call exhibition,” said Paul, “for people in the area. Most of the photographers are from Huddersfield and Halifax but we have got someone from Cheshire and even someone from London showing.” A total of 25 photographers are exhibiting 75 images in the gallery space, which occupies one floor of the former mill building.

Greg Hobson, invited to talk at the opening, says he wanted an inspirational topic and so chose to speak about the work of Tony Ray Jones, who he describes as “one of the most important and skilled photographers of the 20th century.” Because Jones died at the age of 30 his photography is little known, but was recently the subject of a major exhibition at the Media Museum, which holds the complete archive of his work.

The Artworks can be found in Shaw Lodge Mills, Shaw Lane (opposite The Shay) and is an independent art school with gallery and artists’ studios.

For more information visit www.theartworks.org.uk

Image by Oliwia Cios