Review: Stereoscope “Everyday Issue” Launch

I went to the Everyday launch as a blank canvas; I had no expectations and was ready to be amazed. I imagined an exhibition space full of loitering people and an undercurrent of German house music, contributing even more hipsteriness to an already eccentric atmosphere.

When I entered the boathouse (after a prolonged attempt to follow paper arrows but completely unintelligible in the darkness and in our drunken state) I was hugely impressed – and pleasantly surprised.

Overlooking a starlit East Sands, the sailing club was decked out with comfy sofas, a floor space sufficient for dancing and a cosy balcony where smokers (and non-smokers) could get a breath of ‘fresh’ air. Covering each and every wall were rows, lines and curved sequences of images from Stereoscope’s latest issue. People, shadows, architecture, skies, trees… Name something you see on a daily basis and it was probably somewhere on those walls – photographed beautifully and presenting itself to you in a way you’d never seen it before.

Disposable cameras hung from beams on ceilings, Cliff and Clara played their buzzy beats; while some danced, others sat chatting on the armchairs. Jasmine Picot-Chapman, editor-in-chief of the magazine went around with her point-and-shoot taking pictures of everyone/everything – I’m pretty sure she took about six of me in one go. There’s a definite ‘catch-you-off-guard’ reportage style of photography, which pervaded the entire magazine, committee and event.

I’ve never heard a bad word said about last’s year’s launch (also held in the sailing club – in fact, this is the only event they’ve (re-)allowed to be hosted there since), so much so, that I’ve always regretted not going. This year’s launch certainly didn’t let me down. I really hope Stereoscope continues this tradition – its nice to go to an event in St Andrews that isn’t ticketed, for starters, which doesn’t revolve around getting drunk, and for which you don’t have to get dressed up. (Though, I think most people did.)

Bravo, Stereoscope!

images © Stereoscope