As my creative photography has progressed it has become more meaningful in tone. I’ve evolved into storytelling images and although they haven’t done anywhere near as well in competitions as my meaningless but ‘pretty’ pictures there is no way I could now go backwards.

Recently, I’ve produced my first photographic series. A series is usually a collection of between 3 and 10 pictures with one title and a cohesive theme and feel which is accompanied by a descriptive contextual statement. I produced my series for the recent Sony World Photography Awards which now contains a creative section, and although I didn’t get anywhere I really enjoyed the challenge.

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

“We keep pets so that we will have companionship, but in order to assuage our own loneliness we condemn most pets to a life of solitary confinement.  We remove them from their families, peers and natural communities.  Take away any interaction with members of their own species, or force them to live with members of a different species or tribe.  Imprison them in tiny, cramped, artificial environments and deny any form of natural expression.  We break their spirits and impose our human will and we call this “love”.  I wonder if we ever consider life through their eyes? “

Unfortunately there is no outlet for my series at the PAGB or in International Salons which only accept single images, but galleries prefer a series of pictures over a single photograph because they are more likely to sell so I’m now busily touting my wares to various contemporary galleries around the country. Finding galleries which accept photographs, though, as opposed to paintings is tough and of course the Covid lockdown isn’t helping the situation one iota.

What I love most about producing a series is that I can incorporate both my passions – creative photography and politics/activism. Many of my images contain messages in regard to women’s rights and experiences and the next series I have in mind focuses on meat production which, as a non-meat eater of more than thirty years who lives in a meat farming area, is an issue close to my heart.

There is a tendency to stand still with our art when we become successful, but I feel it’s important to keep moving. To find new challenges, learn new skills and push my boundaries. My current lack of success doesn’t worry me at all because I’m producing pictures which are meaningful to me and as long as I am happy with them, and love making them, that’s all that matters.