Of course, it frequently results in shoddy pics as some kind of interior d'cor to be overlooked. Small wonder then one group of savvy photographers sidestepped this trend altogether.
Fotografica is a rough diamond: a kind of roving gallery of quality fare but no fixed abode. From 2003 to 2005 it settled at AMC Cinema in the Great Northern building off Deansgate, producing some excellent shows.
That relationship has now ended, but the core group of Simeon Machin, Sue Fuller, David Oates, Layla Regan and Sarah-Jayne Eyre are striving forward. Founder member Eyre updates me on their story.
"We're looking for a new space. But we're quite hard to please because we're looking for an unconventional space."
Meanwhile this self-directed bunch has ventured 'back' to the gallery context. Why?
"Obviously we don't want to use Fotografica to show our own work or our mates' work," Eyre explains. "So we approached some galleries. Sim' has some contact with Ashton and he'd followed their exhibition programme. That was our lead."
And what have they ended up with? "We decided the underlying, uniting, thing in our work was an interest in film, film noir, but it's not literal in all of our work. It's more an idea in the back of our heads," says Eyre.
"So we made work, met up regularly - kind of critiquing each other."
This solid group cohesion is no doubt why Fotografica are strong (something entirely different to the cliques in art who ponce about at art openings).
TO read the rest of this feature buy this week's City Life (issue 603). Out now priced £1.50.
Light of a kind is on at Central Art Gallery until Saturday, November 12.
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