Connected is a photography exhibition that started as an online Nottingham Flickr Group led by Rob Knight and Karen Leach of RK Photographic.

It is open to photographers of all ages, genres and status amateur and professional alike across the UK. Each year Rob and Karen work hard to bring love of and passion for image making to everyone through an exhibition at the Patchings Art Centre in Nottingham. They utilise strong partnerships with their official paper and print partner Fotospeed as well as their professional mounting and framing partners Picture Parade in Sheffield to remove as many barriers as possible and make it easier for everyone to exhibit their photography at a world renowned arts venue.

I only discovered the group and the exhibition on Flickr this year and was lucky to contribute with three of my images. I would like to say thank you to Rob and Karen for giving people like me an opportunity to connect together and to display our images in such an inspiring environment. They certainly proved that social media can be used in a positive way.

The official launch of Connected 2015 is on Saturday 25th April, and it will feature two guest speakers and excellent photographers, the Landscape Photographer of the Year winner Mark Littlejohn and Joe Cornish Gallery resident Lizzie Shepherd. The admission is free, but if you would like to contribute, you can help support Mind, the mental health charity by donating through Connected fundraising page on Just Giving.