The Fab Collective has captured a year of celebrations for their summer exhibition. Laura Davis reports

PHOTOGRAPHERS make natural wallflowers, standing on the sidelines looking in, recording events rather than taking part. But for the 24 members of the Fab Collective its more of a sociable affair.

The Liverpool-based groups second exhibition reflects just this and is a celebration of celebrations a patchwork of rites of passages, both happy and sad.

Its about celebrating the various events that take place in Liverpool over the course of a year whether they be big street events or private events at home, explains member Peter Goodbody.

We wanted to look at how people celebrate life in different ways by recording the various different types of dos we go to.

Most of the shots in the exhibition are uplifting, but some are more sombre and will make the viewer stop and think.

Whatever the mood, all of the shots are a celebration of life in this city.

Goodbodys own image is of his nephew, Agustin, taken last New Years Eve.

We had a large family gathering at our house, says the photographer.

Hes so photogenic, but you can see hes fighting tiredness to stay up for midnight. It has a timeless feel to it.

I think its important that we record these family events and although its a shot with just one person in it, the fact that you can tell that there are more place settings at the table gives a sense that this was a special do.

Sam Bytheway chose Ladies Day at Aintree as the setting for her image. A well-groomed race goer holds up her discarded shoes, her face glum.

For me this photo really sums up a big day or evening out from the female perspective, says Bytheway.

You get your hair and make up perfect and splash out on a great new outfit with absolutely gorgeous shoes. Quite often you fall in love with some amazing high heels in the shop and they maybe pinch a little bit but you convince yourself that they'll be fine what's a tiny bit of suffering for the sake of looking great?