Paris Photo starts tomorrow!

We make no excuse for the fact that today is going to be all about the photography on Phaidon.com The reason? Paris Photo, the most important photo fair in Europe opens at the Grand Palais tomorrow and every agency and photographer will be there. Phaidon is on stand E29 if you want to come and say hello. We'll be bringing you lots of news from the preview and those taking part in it starting this afternoon. 

It was artist and physicist Louis Daguerre who announced at the French Academy of Science in Paris that he had created the world's first photograph (which he modestly named the 'Daguerreotype') back in 1839 and the city has been the hub for photography ever since with many of the world's most iconic and atmospheric photographs taken in and around the city. Robert Capa and his contemporaries founded photojournalism and the now internationally renowned photo agency Magnum in Paris in the 1930s (its headquarters are still in the city) and the annual Paris Photo, now in its 15th year is a reminder of the continuing importance of the city in the rapidly changing field of photography.

At this year’s festival, 117 galleries (double the number from last year) from 23 countries are showcasing their collections of 19th century, modern and contemporary photography.  Having outgrown its former home at the Carrousel du Louvre, the show is taking place at Paris’ Grand Palais (recently home to Anish Kapoor's Leviathan) and runs from 10 – 13 November.

This year the show is directed by former Magnum director Julien Frydman who has stated that they’re expecting between 40,000 to 50,000 visitors.

The main theme this year is African photography unveiling both historic and contemporary images from the continent, demonstrating Paris Photo’s dedication to covering an international spectrum photography. The festival spills into the city with an exhibition (African Artists, from Bamako to Cape Town) on show at the Paris-Nord train station.

Live platform discussions and interviews with photographers are taking place every day alongside a host of special exhibitions (a highlight of which will be the work of the four SFR Young Talents competition winners).

Big names in contemporary photography such as Martin Parr, Mitch Epstein and Steve Schapiro will be around and Phaidon.com is reporting live from the event to give you the inside scoop on what is going on starting today, before the show has even opened to the public. So stay tuned for all the latest on the event. And don't forget to keep checking back during the day. We'll also be posting our fifth Steve McCurry One-Minute Master Class later this morning.