With a camera in my hands, I naturally tune in to what is around me, and to the thoughts and stories in my head. When my attention is scattered, photography helps me slow down and see more clearly.
Photography found me around age twelve when my dad gave me his old Nikon camera. Soon after I formed a photography club at school and we built our own darkroom - that was back when film was all we had. I've always been drawn to the quirkiness of ordinary life, but over time I realised what I am really drawn to is the art of paying attention.
My style has evolved over the years; key influences have been Martin Parr, Uta Barth and Teju Cole. In my late thirties I had the chance to study reportage photography at Central Saint Martins with Karl Gruppe. He was a great teacher, who taught me to take imperfection and "dis-glamour" more seriously in my image making, and also reminded me how nice it is to print things out! And now here I am, still learning how to notice things.
Projects/Exhibitions
Some of my projects:
Snow-Man
Silent Solitude
What My Shoes See on a Rainy Day
Mindful photography
I am the founder of a global mindfulness community called Just Looking. Since 2017 we have been meeting for silent photowalks across London. The themes are based on different thought experiments each time: for example, testing the suggestion that “impermance is beautiful”, or that the “spaces in between are worthy of attention”. I have led workshops outdoors in the financial district, and cemeteries as well as places like the Museum of Happiness. Online we have a community mindful photography gallery which I curate on Instagram and a regular newsletter in which I share ideas and prompts about perception and photography. To join our community, sign up for the monthly newsletter.
