Last year I was very kindly asked by Jess McDermott, creator of the excellent photography podcast Scenario, to write something for the podcast’s blog about The Blood of a Woman. The Scenario blog gives photographers the opportunity to talk about how they produced an individual story. The story I picked was one I worked on … Continue reading The Blood of a Woman: Scenario blog
New South London Story: Mark
In October, to coincide with World Homeless Day, Mark and I published his story on the South London Stories website. It recounts Mark's time sleeping rough in Clapham as he struggled with addiction and his mental health. We worked together on it for two years. Now, thankfully, Mark is in a much better place, but … Continue reading New South London Story: Mark
South London Stories at Photojournalism Nights (and an update)
Next week, I've been asked to talk alongside three other photographers at Photojournalism Hub's first Photojournalism Nights event at Elephant West gallery in White City. I'll be talking about South London Stories (and this blog, where the project started in 2015) - the background to it, some of the ethical challenges it entails, looking at … Continue reading South London Stories at Photojournalism Nights (and an update)
Introducing South London Stories
Today I’ve launched a new website – South London Stories. Regular readers of this blog will recognise many of the stories it contains. This blog will continue, but South London Stories will house the more in-depth work that I do as I continue to explore the effects of austerity in the part of London where … Continue reading Introducing South London Stories
A Fragile Recovery: Life in a supported housing unit
To experience psychosis is to temporarily lose your connection with reality. It can involve hearing voices, delusional beliefs, confusion and difficulty communicating. Psychotic episodes are common to a number of severe mental health conditions, including schizophrenia. Not all experiences of psychosis are negative – but some people may be hospitalised after a particularly serious episode. … Continue reading A Fragile Recovery: Life in a supported housing unit
The Surgery: General practice in the age of austerity
Last year, the number of GPs in England fell by more than 1,000 – and a record number of surgeries closed. Earlier this year, the largest annual survey of GPs found that unfilled vacancies were at their highest ever level. There is a national shortage of GPs, and the situation is getting worse. So what’s going … Continue reading The Surgery: General practice in the age of austerity
Lavilla’s Story: Suffering in silence
One day, Lavilla just stopped talking. For over two years, she didn’t utter a single word, in public or in private. A series of traumatic events triggered a breakdown that saw her repeatedly hospitalised and lose contact with her son and her family. I met Lavilla through Ace of Clubs, the day centre that has … Continue reading Lavilla’s Story: Suffering in silence
Hawa’s Story: Disabled by war, judged fit to work by the Department for Work and Pensions
Badly injured in an explosion in Mogadishu, Hawa fled war to build a life in the UK. I was introduced to her by Sue Noel at Brixton Advice Centre, who has been advocating for her in her fight with the Department for Work and Pensions. She talked to me about what had brought her to … Continue reading Hawa’s Story: Disabled by war, judged fit to work by the Department for Work and Pensions
The Foodbank: A short film and a photo story
I’ve been spending time at the foodbanks in Norwood and Brixton since 2015, getting to know clients, staff and volunteers. Earlier this year, I worked with my friends at Hilow Films to produce a short documentary, focusing on the people they help and the reasons that bring them there. We filmed at West Norwood and recorded … Continue reading The Foodbank: A short film and a photo story
Just Nipping to the Shops: A photo story about disability and the Department for Work and Pensions
I first met Toni last year. She got in touch after reading some of my posts on Brixton Advice Centre’s blog, because of the appalling treatment she’d suffered at the hands of the Department for Work and Pensions. She wanted other people to know what she’d been put through – and I wrote about it here. Toni … Continue reading Just Nipping to the Shops: A photo story about disability and the Department for Work and Pensions
Lambeth: Living with the cuts 