Hackney Urban Survey #07 - Sports Grounds with Madeleine Waller and Chris Baker (20 Mar '25)

£50.00
sold out

Photography workshop and pop-up exhibition

20 Mar – Workshop (full day)
21 Mar – Exhibition Opening and Social (evening)

Hackney Urban Survey is a series of photography workshops and pop-up exhibitions created by Mass Collective to explore Hackney’s rich and diverse urban fabric, building a collective archive of what Hackney is today. In our seventh edition, we’ll turn our lenses to the sports grounds — the fields, courts, and surrounding spaces where Hackney’s communities come together to play, compete, and connect.

In this 7th edition of the workshop, we’re excited to welcome not one but two guest tutors: Madeleine Waller and Chris Baker.

Madeleine will present her project East London Swimmers, published by Hoxton Mini Press, a series of portraits revealing the secret life of Hackney swimmers who brave all conditions to escape city life.

Chris will talk about Sunday Football – also published by Hoxton Mini Press, documenting British Sunday league football at it’s best at Hackney Marshes, the spiritual home of amateur football.

The workshop is open to 20 photographers, both amateurs and professionals are welcome. After a full day of talks, photography and collective reviews on Thursday the 20th of March, the work produced will take centre stage and each participant will have the chance to showcase one print in a flash exhibition at our Hackney studio on the evening of Friday 21st.

Student Concession: use code HUS20 at checkout to get £20 off your ticket. Discount available only for students with an active student card for the current academic year.

Photography workshop and pop-up exhibition

20 Mar – Workshop (full day)
21 Mar – Exhibition Opening and Social (evening)

Hackney Urban Survey is a series of photography workshops and pop-up exhibitions created by Mass Collective to explore Hackney’s rich and diverse urban fabric, building a collective archive of what Hackney is today. In our seventh edition, we’ll turn our lenses to the sports grounds — the fields, courts, and surrounding spaces where Hackney’s communities come together to play, compete, and connect.

In this 7th edition of the workshop, we’re excited to welcome not one but two guest tutors: Madeleine Waller and Chris Baker.

Madeleine will present her project East London Swimmers, published by Hoxton Mini Press, a series of portraits revealing the secret life of Hackney swimmers who brave all conditions to escape city life.

Chris will talk about Sunday Football – also published by Hoxton Mini Press, documenting British Sunday league football at it’s best at Hackney Marshes, the spiritual home of amateur football.

The workshop is open to 20 photographers, both amateurs and professionals are welcome. After a full day of talks, photography and collective reviews on Thursday the 20th of March, the work produced will take centre stage and each participant will have the chance to showcase one print in a flash exhibition at our Hackney studio on the evening of Friday 21st.

Student Concession: use code HUS20 at checkout to get £20 off your ticket. Discount available only for students with an active student card for the current academic year.

  • The workshop aims to visually explore Hackney’s sports grounds, fthe sports grounds — the fields, courts, and surrounding spaces where Hackney’s communities come together to play, compete, and connect. There are only 20 places available for this workshop and it’s open to amateur and professional photographers, on a first come first served basis.

    The photography activity will be followed by a collective review and a selection of images will be printed and presented the day after at a pop-up exhibition open to the public.

  • Madeleine Waller’s work explores the relationship between people and their environment. She specialises in intimate natural portraits and aims to draw out the in-depth and noteworthy in everyday life. Her intention is to make a connection and have a genuine exchange with the people she photographs, and to portray them as authentically as possible. 

    Her work has been published and exhibited widely including The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2024, The National Portrait Gallery, The V&A Museum of Childhood, Mantelpiece Stories at the Bolton Museum, The Guardian, Portrait of Britain, and a range of editorial, commercial, and private clients.  Madeleine has worked on several creative community projects in and around East London and her home borough of Hackney, including East London Swimmers, Dogs and their Walkers, Women’s Inclusive Team, ZCD Architects: child friendly cities,  and Bikeworks all Ability Cycling .

    Published books include; East London Swimmers by Hoxton Mini Press, Sister Brother by The Wind in the Trees and Portraits, by the Swedenborg Society. She also works as an Artist Educator planning and delivering specialist creative photography workshops to children and schools. 

    Chris Baker is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker and publisher whose lifelong love affair with sport has seen him deliver campaigns for brands including Nike, Umbro and Vivo. His editorial work – including Sunday Football (Hoxton Mini Press) – has been featured by the BBC, The Sunday Times and Esquire. He’s also behind the movement-focused magazine and podcast weMove. His work is always true to the subjects he shoots; a natural style that allows their stories to be authentically told.

    • Produce photography work in collaboration with a group of photographers

    • Learn how to edit your work in a documentary series on the built environment

    • Learn about relevant and inspiring work related to the subject of the workshop

    • Share and review your work with Mass’ team and other photographers

    • Participate in the curation of a flash exhibition

    • Get to know like-minded creatives

    • Celebrate your work at a pop-up show at Mass Collective exhibition space in Hackney

  • Thu 20 Mar

    9.30 am: Meet at 215 Mare Street, tea and coffee provided

    9.45 am: Welcome, presentation of the day and talks by the guest tutors Madeleine Waller and Chris Baker

    11.15 am: Photography session in the field

    3.00 pm: Archiving and editing of the photos produced during the shooting session

    5.00 pm: Collective review and sequencing

    6.00 pm: Ends

    Fri 21 Mar

    6.30 - 8.30 pm: Exhibition Opening and Social (snacks and drinks provided)

  • Bring your own photography equipment (camera, tripod, etc.) and your laptop to download, select and retouch the images. If you do not have a laptop or a camera please let us know so we can assist you.

    Technical note: because of the short time available to produce the exhibition it’s mandatory for everyone to shoot with digital cameras.

  • The workshop will be at Mass’ studio in Hackney at 215 Mare Street, London, E8 3QE. Photography will take place around Hackney.

  • In case of light rain the workshop will still take place, though if the weather conditions are forecasted to be unsuitable for any outdoor activity (i.e. heavy rain or storm) we will notify you the day before at the latest to postpone the workshop to a near date. In case you are not available to reschedule you will be eligible for a full refund.

  • The participation fee is not refundable but can be transferred to another attendee. To transfer your participation, please email us at info@mass-collective.com and let us know the new attendee's full name and email address.

    This excludes cases where the workshop is postponed due to adverse weather conditions. See the Weather section above for details.

    The workshop will be confirmed with a minimum of 10 participants, if that number is not reached Mass reserves the right to cancel the workshop and refund the tickets to the subscribers.