Groups gathered with cameras in hand before setting off through the streets of West Bromwich. Blast! Festival of Photography 2019 combined organised walks, public talks and exhibitions, encouraging participation across different ages and experience levels. The emphasis was on access and dialogue rather than spectacle.

Photographing the event meant documenting interaction — speakers in discussion, attendees on location shoots and informal exchanges between participants. As a West Midlands event photographer, I focused on engagement and process, capturing both the structured programme and the quieter in-between moments.

The coverage reflects a festival rooted in community, built around shared learning and open conversation.