Photographers with mild insomnia and an eye for the unusual will have the unique opportunity to play their part in an innovative global project to record and document the world before dawn.

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 27, 2010 – The global phenomenon that is the 4am Project returns for it's fifth event on 17th October, as bleary eyed photographers take to their local landscape to capture the moment during the dead of night.

Now in its second year, word has spread like wildfire about the arts project with people picking up their cameras in over 40 countries across the globe including India, Brazil, Italy, China, Swaziland, Libya, Germany, Laos and the USA.

The 4am Project is the brainchild of Birmingham based photographer, Karen Strunks. Supported by Channel 4’s 4iP, and Screen West Midlands, the 4am Project utilises the online photo sharing site Flickr to create a community of images representing 4:00am across the globe.

The 4am Project, a worldwide community experience, aims to capture a time of day that many people rarely see. Building on the ever growing phenomenon of social media, the 4am Project is an exercise in global solidarity to encourage the sharing of visual imagery that reflects the world we live in.

Utilising Flickr, the web space for sharing images, photographers around the world will be leaving the cosy confines of their beds to create a shared online gallery that illustrates the strange and wonderful life that goes on while we sleep.

Project founder Karen Strunks said: “Some of the world’s most beautiful photos are taken under the cover of night, but as most of us are all tucked up in bed at that time, the moment just passes us by.

“The 4am Project aims to bring both photographers and non-photographers together, to create a global community which demonstrates how amazing our surrounding landscapes can be.

“Streets which are usually teeming with traffic are deserted, shopping centres are empty and hillsides peaceful, the perfect time to grab your camera and take some shots."

Karen Strunks will play host to a very special 4am event on 17th October in Times Square, New York City. “I am delighted to be able to bring the 4am Project to the heart of Manhattan. Times Square will be pumping with energy and will promise some stunning images to photographers who want to capture the early morning activity in a 24 hour city”.

Speaking about the project Jason Hall from Screen WM said: “The 4am project is one of those wonderful ideas that just seems to capture people’s imagination the world over. Testament to this is the fact that from a standing start, it has already amassed over 4,000 superb quality images from 40 countries. This is a project with its roots firmly in the West Midlands but with an undeniable international appeal, as such Screen WM is delighted to be supporting its further development and growth”.

Claire McArdle, Digital Commissioning Manager for Channel 4’s 4iP said “The 4am Project exemplifies how traditional public service genres can work online. It’s an innovative, collaborative project that has captured people’s imaginations across the globe and Karen Strunks’ enthusiasm for the project is infectious. We’re excited to be able to help her to take this project to the next level and reach as wide an international audience as possible.

For more information, please visit www.4amproject.org

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About 4iP
4iP (4 Innovation for the Public) is a significant new initiative from Channel 4 designed to stimulate public service digital media across the UK. The 4iP Fund aims to deliver publicly valuable content and services on digital media platforms – this means supporting great ideas for websites, games and mobile services which help people improve their lives.

The 4iP fund forms part of Channel 4’s Next on 4 strategic blueprint, which outlines the ambitious public role the Group believes it can fulfil in the fully digital media sector of the future, and is collaboration between Channel 4 and a series of regional development agencies and funding partners around the UK. With over 1,500 ideas submitted since its launch last year, 4iP will be investing up to £50m over the next 3 years and has set up commissioning hubs in Scotland, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

Submissions can be made to 4iP via its website, www.4ip.org.uk, and all proposals will be considered as long as they support truly creative use of digital media and demonstrate genuine public value. 4iP’s editorial focus will be on working with the best talent from around the UK both individually and within digital production companies.

About Screen West Midlands
Screen WM is the regional agency which supports promotes and develops a sustainable and thriving screen media sector in the West Midlands. Screen WM will:

• Promote the West Midlands region by raising the profile of its diverse locations

• Promote the West Midlands by highlighting the abundance of talent within the region’s screen media sector

• Support businesses through skills development and financial assistance

• Develop talent, from new entrants to professional freelancers and employees, within the West Midlands through skills development

• Support the region’s moving image heritage and develop access to it

• Develop and inspire audiences across a broad range of screen media

• Promote and develop the cultural diversity of the region through the moving image

Screen WM is supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council, the European Regional Development Fund and Advantage West Midlands.

Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England whose role is to transform the English regions through sustainable economic development. For more information visit: www.advantagewm.co.uk

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Photographers with mild insomnia and an eye for the unusual will have the unique opportunity to play their part in an innovative global project to record and document the world before dawn.

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