AMONG the luminaries attending this weekend's opening of Hereford Photography Festival are Tom Reynolds, former art director of The Sunday Times Magazine, chair of the photography department at the School of Visual Arts, New York, Stephen Frailey and award-winning photo-journalist, Tom Stoddart.

Evidence, if it were required, of the international name that the festival has made for itself during its 15-year history.

On Saturday, there follows a seminar by Richard Heatly, principal of Herefordshire College of Art and Design.

The day of talks and interviews on photography will feature some of the festival's exhibiting photographers, who will give an insight into their work.

Tom Reynolds will be discussing the problems with accuracy and authenticity in photo-reportage and conflict photography with photographers John Bulmer and Tom Stoddart.

The festival, which includes eight countywide venues, includes a number of associated events, including opportunities to have portfolio reviews.

The Herefordshire Archive Service will be opening to reveal a number of old and interesting images of gardens and gardening (October 23).

Community projects include local school Lord Scudamore and the Beijing Children's Photography Institute at The Beijing San Li Tun Primary School, which involves children photographing their daily lives within a parallel 24-hour time frame.

A great side snack to main festival action is the online auction, which is available at www.photofest.org

Exposure runs throughout October and is the only annual photography festival in the UK, attracting a large number of visitors from around the country and abroad.