Photomarathon Sheffield – the book!

Aim

Since 2016, 1,192 people have taken part in Photomarathon Sheffield. This book will celebrate them all and pay tribute to our lovely city.

UPDATE: Wow, thanks! We're blown away by how quickly you helped us reach our target! Your support has meant that we can definitely go to print, as it has covered the minimum we needed for a portion of the print costs. Any additional pre-orders now will mean we can cover even more of the costs up front – and means you can benefit from reduced postage, as well as get your copy in time for Christmas.

Each year since 2016 hundreds of eager snappers have taken part in Photomarathon Sheffield, exploring the city with their cameras and smartphones. At Our Favourite Places and Harrison Cameras (the teams behind the event) we want to celebrate each and every one of them, by publishing a Photomarathon Sheffield book.

Five years of Photomarathon Sheffield
Photomarathon Sheffield is a photography adventure for all ages. An annual, one-day event, encouraging people to explore the city with curiosity, creativity and spontaneity.

The challenge: 6 hours to take 6 photos on 6 topics revealed on the day. No set route. No need to run, or even walk, fast.

The first four events (2016–2019) took place in person, and the 2020 event became an online Virtual Photomarathon due to Covid-19.

Photos from 2016 to 2019 were turned into exhibitions, and every image is shared on the Photomarathon Sheffield website.

Fantastic judges pick the winning snaps each year, and the folks at independent camera shop Harrison Cameras and photographer Alwin Greyson provide the prizes.

The Photomarathon Sheffield book
A whopping 1,192 entrants have joined in the Photomarathon in the years 2016 to 2020 – from three-year-olds to teams in their 80s. This book will feature one image by each of them.

From the four physical events to the one virtual event showing life at the start of lockdown, entrants have shared some truly poignant, imaginative and hilarious photographs of Sheffield. It’s been a joy looking back through the archives to pick out our favourite image from each entrant to feature in the book.

The Photomarathon Sheffield book will be a beautiful tribute to the city we love, and to the creativity of everyone who has taken part. Together these photos will document five days, across five years, in the life of this lovely city – from 1,192 unique perspectives.

The book's retail price will be £15. Choose your reward to pre-order it either alone or in a bundle with a t-shirt or tote bag. Get in quick and select the EARLYBIRD option and we'll throw in a free tote bag! By pre-ordering here, you'll get reduced postage prices. 

The Photomarathon Sheffield book will be printed in Sheffield by Northend. Specifications: 170x240mm, 196 pages, paperback, FSC certified, full colour CMYK, perfect bound.

If we don’t hit our target by the deadline of 27 November, you’ll be refunded in full via Crowdfunder within 5–10 days.

Why we’re crowdfunding
Like many cultural organisations, we had to cancel events that we’d put time and hard work into organising this year and adjust to operating online. And our design team at Eleven has felt the pressure and uncertainty that most small organisations have felt recently.

We’re taking pre-orders of the Photomarathon Sheffield book through Crowdfunder so that we can ensure we have enough up-front costs covered to send the book to print.

If we reach the target, we’ll publish the book and aim to deliver it in time for Christmas.

Other merch
We’ve included the remaining 2020 Photomarathon Sheffield t-shirts (very limited numbers!) and brand new tote bags as additional rewards. 

T-shirts are white Gildan 100% cotton, classic fit. They feature a screen-printed graphic design in black and pink by Eleven. Available sizes:
S (width 18 inches, length 28 inches)
M (width 20 inches, length 29 inches)
L (width 22 inches, length 30 inches)
XL (width 24 inches, length 31 inches)

Tote bags are light grey in 100% cotton and feature a screen-printed graphic design in black by Eleven.

Credits
Design and text by Eleven (founders of Our Favourite Places and Photomarathon Sheffield).

Photography by Photomarathon Sheffield participants 2016–2020.

Photomarathon Sheffield organisers: Our Favourite Places and Harrison Cameras.

Past judges: Theo Simpson, Andy Brown, Nigel Barker, Euy Suk Kwon, India Hobson, Gemma Thorpe, Alwin Greyson, Chris Saunders, Alex and Julie Maxwell, Florence Blanchard, Sharna Jackson, Anna Potter, David Bailey, TADO, Our Favourite Places, Harrison Cameras.

This project successfully funded on 27th November 2020