Blink and you’ll Miss It
Islington Mill
8th - 11th May 2023
Blink and you’ll Miss It
We live in the modern digital age, where every day thousands of images are taken and consumed across the world - this continues to increase exponentially. Photographs exist as an extension of our memory - the instant an image is taken the decisive moment passes, and it becomes an object of time, significant or not.
What began as an expensive and slow scientific process, has become a disposable second thought through the accessability of smart phones. And in today’s digital world, what value does a photographic print still hold.
~ Exhibition Map ~
‘Saint Lucia’ is an exploration of how images contain a plethora of memories. Images hold more than just the memory they capture; they bring back recollections of personal moments that were not documented. The presentation of the images alongside the sound creates a personal and interactive narrative of a stranger’s trip to Saint Lucia, posing the question: what do our memories look like?
@ brodiewhittaker.co.uk
Libby’s work focuses on the physical change from childhood to adulthood and displays this from images showcases how relationships have had an emotional imprint on the way we are today. To present this, Libby uses one A2 print supported with other smaller prints hanging from a fishing line, this will allow the audience to fully immerse themselves into the imagery and by extension be engrossed in the full depth of the messaged being displayed.
@photos_bylibby‘Stuck in 2012’ is an exploration of childhood memories and looking back on the past with intense nostalgia. For her most recent project Olivia used an old family camera that dates back to 2012 to take photos at her favourite childhood places around Rickleton. The camera is temperamental with it withstanding the best of 10 years and sometimes does not let you take photos unless you change the batteries for each use, however it is special to the family as it holds many years worth of memories. Alongside her recently taken photos on the camera Olivia has montaged a few of these family photos.
@olivia.spalding
1 - Brodie Whittaker ~ ‘Saint Lucia’ 2 - Libby Waugh ~ ‘Connected’ 3 - Olivia Spalding ~ ‘Stuck in 2012’4
- Orrin Saint Pierre ~ “The crazy human game of forgetting remembering etc etc.”
In early January 2023 Orrin learnt that Raga, a friend of theirs now in her 80s, had been diagnosed with an early form of dementia. Photographs exist in a way as a form of object-memory - we photograph to remember. Though the diagnosis was the catalyst for this work, it’s not the sole focus - instead they attempt also to celebrate Raga and their conversations of life; love; pain; wandering; memory and the loss of it - this is just another step in the stumble of life.
@orrin.pierre
5 - Aubrey Tew-Weaver ~ ‘The Moment’
Aubrey has been doing photography for up to 4 years now, he is based in both Cheshire & Manchester. Aubrey’s work is mainly focused on fashion photography & editorial. Although he has also expanded into the world of bodybuilding & fitness photography, as this is a personal interest of his. Using Aubrey’s personal business of ‘2Networkers’ he has been able to branch out to work with agencies & also like-minded people, where he can explore new concepts. The focus of his shoots is for people to feel comfortable within themselves & especially have fun!
@adigitalshoots
6 - Thando Rusike ~ ‘Perception’
In her most recent project, ‘Perception’, Thando has chosen to explore body image. Showing the individual beauty and uniqueness of her subjects. It depicts a series of portraits as a creative expression for body positivity. This project shows the impact of social media and it’s unrealistic beauty standards. Every day through social media we are exposed to an ideal beauty standard, that we adhere to society’s expectations and compare ourselves to their standards. Thando disagrees with that by capturing the natural beauty of her subjects. Perception is purely about recognising beauty and realising the importance of self-love.
@shotsby_tee
7 - Lucy Warburton ~ ‘Are you as absorbed as the rest of us?’
Lucy’s work focuses on the absorption of social media and how much our phones have morphed into us, displaying the different ways people hold their mobile phones, Lucy helps you question how much this is truly affecting us and by playing into the idea of ‘Blink and You’ll Miss It’ she makes you wonder how much you truly are missing by constantly being on your phone. Lucy displays this by two A1 photographic prints with high contrast detail to get you to really focus on the intricate and disturbing positions we hold our phones and take away from the ‘who?’ in these images. She also uses a 3D mold to display her own personal odd hand positioning as she brings herself into the conversation and makes the work more personal, this 3D mold allows you to get the full depth of the uncomfortableness of these positions and is there to prompt the question, how do you hold your phone? Are you as absorbed as the rest of us?
@lhwarburton
8 - Archie Raper ~ ‘Lost Connection’
In Archie’s series ‘Lost Connection’ he focuses on how people of today’s society are letting the world pass them by. Looking at phones for long periods of time disconnects the user from the environment that surrounds them, leaving them with the appearance of disengagement from the world. Archie’s photographs are taken mainly around the centre of Manchester, apart from a couple from York. He used a technique called ‘shooting off the hip’ for taking these images which was perfected over many days of shooting. The camera is held in front of the waist instead of looking through it, so as not to make it obvious that a picture is being taken.
@archie.raper
9 - Lucy Rowe ~ ‘Oblivious’
For this exhibition Lucy wanted to explore social media and how people can become solely focused on their phone, meaning they miss everything going on around them and are oblivious to the world unless on social media or on their phones. To present this idea Lucy has decided to select three A1 prints to display the motion of people walking to a destination.
@lucyrowe_photography
10 - Amy Smith ~ ‘Nature’s canvas at a glance’
This piece is created to prolong the attention we give to nature and its continuous beauty that we may take for granted. Using surfaces as a canvas for light, these images capture temporary moments in the performance of light overtime. These photographs are about the first glance at that exact formation of shadows or reflections that will never be the same again: if you blink, you’ll miss it. These captured fragments of nature are a visualisation of an eye for detail that can often be overlooked.
@aosvisual
11 - Ben Redshaw ~ ‘Life is a Cabaret’
‘Life is a Cabaret’ is my own depiction of the character Sally Bowles. Sparking inspiration from the London West End Musical, I wanted to explore the memory of Cabaret. Sally Bowles is a tortured soul attempting to escape the spotlight. Adapting the theme of memory distortion, I intended to present the horrors that occur behind ‘showbiz hands’.
@benredshawphotography
12 - Indiya Poole ~ ‘Three Daughters’
‘Three Daughters’ is a project exploring the expectations and societal pressures on women, done through looking into the past experinces and memories of three generations of women in Indiya’s family. It features portraits of her and her two sisters, text from her mother and grandmother, and smaller photographs.
@exnihilist.photography
