Jon Levy
Encyclopedia
Jon Levy is the founder and director of Foto8, a British-based photography company responsible for the publication of 8 Magazine, the Biannual of Photography, as well as its sister website Foto8.com and the HOST gallery in London.
Jon Levy studied Economics at Manchester University 1985-1988 and went on to develop his interest in photojournalism at the International Center of Photography in New York where he took the one year certificate program in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism. He remained in New York following graduation and freelanced as a news photographer most notably for the Independent Newspaper in London working with their US correspondent Daniel Jeffreys, who incidentally had been his economics teacher at Westminster school in London. In addition Jon worked on a freelance basis with the photo agency Gamma Liaison under the stewardship of editor Marion Mertens (currently photography director Paris Match). Later Jon joined the French wire service Agence France Presse (AFP) in the New York Bureau working with seasoned photographers Don Emmert and Timothy Clary.
In 1998 Jon Levy moved back to his home town of London and whilst photographing there began his internet venture on the website he founded, Foto8.com. With colleague Gordon Miller he launched 8 magazine (known previously as ei8ht) as a quarterly publication of photojournalism. The issues of the magazine, very much like the website on which it was based, publishes new works by independent photographers covering current affairs and personal photo stories. With photo editor Lauren Heinz and text editor Max Houghton in charge of the editorial content of the magazine, 8 magazine has won numerous awards for its design, layout and treatment of photography. It is commonly regarded as one of the leading lights in independent photography publishing and most recently in 2009 Foto8 built on its reputation for innovative and meaningful photo project publishing with the release of their first book: Maurice Broomfield
, Photographs, looking at the vast archive of industrial photography from the 1950s by this Master of British photography.
In 2006 Jon moved Foto8 to new premises in Honduras Street, in East London's burgeoning arts community, where he founded HOST Gallery to further explore the publishing, exhibition and presentation of photographic projects. HOST has a vibrant program of shows, talks, screenings and other events the largest and best known of which is the annual street party launch of the Foto8 Summer Show at HOST in which photographers are invited to exhibit their latest works on the walls of the gallery during July and August.
From its inception in 1998 as a website (foto8.com), Foto8 has been a place for photojournalists to share and develop their issue-based documentaries. In Print, Online and On Display Foto8 aims to provide a platform for storytelling as well as a venue for photographers to connect to and nurture an audience for their stories. In 2009 he was one of four invited guest curators at the annual New York Photo Festival
with the “Home for Good” exhibition. In 2010, Levy completed Rise, a six-month, eight-photographer commission and book for the Legatum Foundation, and Taking Land, a book with Alban Kakulya for the Zoi Environment Network.
Levy is a often invited to speak about the role of photojournalism in society and the future of it as a tool of social communication.
Biography
Levy was born in London in 1967.Jon Levy studied Economics at Manchester University 1985-1988 and went on to develop his interest in photojournalism at the International Center of Photography in New York where he took the one year certificate program in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism. He remained in New York following graduation and freelanced as a news photographer most notably for the Independent Newspaper in London working with their US correspondent Daniel Jeffreys, who incidentally had been his economics teacher at Westminster school in London. In addition Jon worked on a freelance basis with the photo agency Gamma Liaison under the stewardship of editor Marion Mertens (currently photography director Paris Match). Later Jon joined the French wire service Agence France Presse (AFP) in the New York Bureau working with seasoned photographers Don Emmert and Timothy Clary.
In 1998 Jon Levy moved back to his home town of London and whilst photographing there began his internet venture on the website he founded, Foto8.com. With colleague Gordon Miller he launched 8 magazine (known previously as ei8ht) as a quarterly publication of photojournalism. The issues of the magazine, very much like the website on which it was based, publishes new works by independent photographers covering current affairs and personal photo stories. With photo editor Lauren Heinz and text editor Max Houghton in charge of the editorial content of the magazine, 8 magazine has won numerous awards for its design, layout and treatment of photography. It is commonly regarded as one of the leading lights in independent photography publishing and most recently in 2009 Foto8 built on its reputation for innovative and meaningful photo project publishing with the release of their first book: Maurice Broomfield
Maurice Broomfield
Maurice W Broomfield was a photographer whose images of post-war British industry were credited with capturing the optimistic spirit of the time....
, Photographs, looking at the vast archive of industrial photography from the 1950s by this Master of British photography.
In 2006 Jon moved Foto8 to new premises in Honduras Street, in East London's burgeoning arts community, where he founded HOST Gallery to further explore the publishing, exhibition and presentation of photographic projects. HOST has a vibrant program of shows, talks, screenings and other events the largest and best known of which is the annual street party launch of the Foto8 Summer Show at HOST in which photographers are invited to exhibit their latest works on the walls of the gallery during July and August.
From its inception in 1998 as a website (foto8.com), Foto8 has been a place for photojournalists to share and develop their issue-based documentaries. In Print, Online and On Display Foto8 aims to provide a platform for storytelling as well as a venue for photographers to connect to and nurture an audience for their stories. In 2009 he was one of four invited guest curators at the annual New York Photo Festival
New York Photo Festival
The New York Photo Festival was founded in January 2007 by Frank Evers and Daniel Power in an effort to establish a world-class photo festival in the United States dedicated to the "Future of Contemporary Photography"...
with the “Home for Good” exhibition. In 2010, Levy completed Rise, a six-month, eight-photographer commission and book for the Legatum Foundation, and Taking Land, a book with Alban Kakulya for the Zoi Environment Network.
Levy is a often invited to speak about the role of photojournalism in society and the future of it as a tool of social communication.
Publications
- RISE: Images of Life Change, The Legatum Foundation; 1st edition (1 Nov 2010). ISBN 978-0955958045. Levy is the editor of this eight-photographer book commissioned by The Legatum Foundation.