John Bolloten's evocative pictures among works at festival
Uncover the raw realities of marginalized communities through the captivating lens of John Bolloten. The documentary photographer, celebrated for his compelling and unfiltered exploration of social and cultural issues, is among a number of Bradford-based artists whose work is being featured at a national photography festival in West Yorkshire.
Photo North Festival, a vibrant UK photography event, is set to captivate audiences with its exhibitions, talks, screenings, and a creative market area. John's work, deeply rooted in capturing the raw realities of marginalized communities, often focuses on themes like addiction, poverty, and urban life.
"I arrived in Bradford in 1983 at the age of 18 to start a new life away from the problems I had with using drugs. It took me almost another five years before I managed to completely stop taking illegal substances and start to get myself back into ordinary society,” he says.
"Then one must take each day at a time to begin to deal with the trauma and issues that the drugs block out and to simply manage the mundanity and problems of everyday life. Having my own lived experience helps to explain why I'm often drawn to photographing people on the margins of society."
Wheelies by John Bolloten
Man and lamb
Bolloten adds, "I spent a couple of years photographing cricket in Bradford. I just fell into it, it was really, really enjoyable, because the people were so lovely, so welcoming. So I made this little project, which is called Shabash, which is a Hindi word for bravo. I really enjoyed that and self-published it as a small edition. I finished that and I thought maybe I would do one about football. And I have always focused on the lowest possible level. So the cricket was the lowest league and so was the football."
Bolloten has produced many books on the city, including Field of Broken Dreams, a record of Bradford's lower league weekend football scene, and Welcome to Bradford, photographs from over a decade shooting the streets. Through his lens, Bolloten sheds light on overlooked narratives, using photography as a powerful medium for social commentary and change.
A Patron of Photo North, he will be at the festival to answer questions from the forthcoming film about him made in collaboration with Brandon Spivey. Bolloten's work is part of the Portrait of Bradford project, involving six photographers, including Ed Bylina and Peter Harvey. The project is curated by Sebah Chaudry.
The festival also includes work by Bradford-based artists Carolyn Mendelsohn and photographer Simon Hill with his project The North Revisted. Guest curators LIAAF are bringing their vibrant celebration of African photography to the festival with an exhibition themed Earthwise- An Exhibition of Creativity, Community Reflections and Renewal, featuring multiple photographic artists including Arteh Odjidja, Tobi Dosumu, and Ruth Agbolade.
Bradford's Impressions Gallery is making a guest appearance. Selected works will be exhibited at PhotoNorth Festival, 13–15 March 2026 at The Carriageworks, Leeds, and later in Centenary Square, Bradford. Follow @portrait.of.bradford on Instagram. Also visit photonorthfestival.co.uk/festival.
But here's where it gets controversial... Do you agree or disagree with Bolloten's approach to photography? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
