There is something special about monochrome images that seem to focus the mind in a different way from when the glory of colour is present. Shape, line, contrast, tone, texture all become more important. Some basic truth appears to be exposed.

I work with both traditional film and wet processing, and digital imaging.

There is less space than ever for wildlife in our world today. More concrete and less earth, more chemicals and fewer insects. During the pandemic, people in cities could suddenly hear the birds again and animals rarely seen in urban streets wandered fearlessly into the spaces suddenly vacated by humans, like car parks and shopping centres. We talk endlessly about our need for connection with nature, but most of us prefer to experience “nature” in the right place at the right time. These images imagine what might happen at night in a town as creatures show their faces in our human spaces. They are strong, confident and do not seem frightened of us. Have they come to take over or are they our almost forgotten selves walking the streets as we lie sleeping in our beds?

As part of a 10 Parishes Festival, I set up my camera at three different locations across one day in the village of Milverton, Somerset, and took portraits of people who passed by and were happy to be part of the Photobooth. The result was a lovely day of meeting people, some great images and a documented moment in time. Sadly some of these lovely people are no longer with us and I hope it brings joy to those who knew them to see them here.

It is always surprising to find out how different people can be inside and outside. Their public persona may be very different from their hopes and dreams . This set of images was taken in pairs – two images for each woman; one that portrays how each person is seen in the world and one the shows something of how they would like to be perceived. It was fun to do, working closely with each subject to tease out ideas to express in a photo.