- Personal Projects -

- HANG IN THERE -

This project explores athletes trying to get through lockdown, using a play on words to link to the sport of climbing where you’re literally hanging on to the wall. However it is relevant to everyone who is hanging in there, in their own way, to get through lockdown. The project documents a climber called Martin at his private bouldering gym in the West Midlands, showing his journey of rebuilding the strength, muscular endurance and climbing ability that he lost during the original lockdown when he wasn’t able to train. With close up images highlighting all of the musculature needed to hang on to these tiny hand-holds, emphasising the repercussions that lack of training has on athletes.

FINAL DEGREE PROJECT - UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE (MAY 2021)

- TRY AND STOP US -

Through this project I wanted to explore women in male dominated sports, showing how they are breaking stereotypes and getting stuck in without being afraid to get their hands dirty. I photographed UCLan Women’s Rugby Team aiming to show how rugby allows women to become strong and empowered whilst having fun and creating strong relationships with like minded women. The title ‘Try and Stop Us’, came from a campaign by World Rugby with the same name which aimed to increase participation in women’s rugby. The campaign’s tag line was “start rugby, become unstoppable” which I felt really resonated with my project and so ‘Try and Stop Us’ became the title of my work.

“First rule: Try. Second rule: Try again. Life will hurt sometimes. This game will give you strength. To never give up, give in, or give an inch. Whatever your size, shape, or story. There’s nothing you can’t tackle. No line you can’t break. No obstacle you can’t get over. Or power straight through. There’ll be judgers, disapprovers, non-believers. Fear-less. Play more. Because once you’ve started, you can’t be stopped” - World Rugby

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE PHOTOGRAPHY SECOND YEAR EXHIBITION (APRIL 2020)