I was really impressed with Dr. Bella Smith, AKA, the Digital GP, and Baz Moffat of Strong to the Core, when I photographed their event in Putney last week. It was conceived to share vital information about the menopause, and both women are incredibly passionate about getting the message out.
Dr. Bella and Baz put on an amazing event while also raising money for the Get Lippy Campaign managed by Eve Appeal which encourages open and frank discussions related to gynaecological health.
We’ve all heard about hot flushes and mood swings but I had no idea forgetfulness could be a sign of the menopause. Attendees were reassured with tales about women visiting the surgery, wondering if they were experiencing early signs of dementia only to discover that they are, in fact, peri-menopausal. I can’t tell you how glad I was to hear that one. Any confusion or misaprehension related to HRT was also cleared up which could be so useful for some women.
There were some really generous speakers invited to share their stories too. All in all, a fantastic event and it would be well worth looking out for future dates. I only wish a greater number of people could hear talks like this.
Do visit the links below the photographs to find out more.
Baz Moffat Strong to the Core (See some of my previous photographs for Baz here too)
This has been by far the busiest year I’ve had since setting up as a photographer. One of the lessons I’ve had to learn and am still learning is how best to manage my time as I navigate parenting, studies, and social as well as commercial photography. It’s a good problem to have though!
I’ve been extremely pleased to carry on working alongside local charitable organisation Just Shelter throughout 2017 and will continue documenting their trips and the situation in Northern France in 2018. Long- and short-term volunteers I meet are involved in a number of projects devoting their time and energy to a range of causes both here and abroad. At a time when we see so much extraordinary violence both online and in the physical world it is great to be reminded there is also a lot of genuine goodness and kindness out there too.
Workwise, I was pleased to photograph teams in highly recognisable companies, such as Barclays, as well as several other groups in the same sector; a few up and coming businesses that are doing exceptionally well such as Aurelia Skincare; and lots of self-employed people after professional headshots. I was also very pleased to be made a Preferred Supplier for British Land and am looking forward to working with them again.
I was lucky enough to exhibit my work twice this year. The first time was at The Grosvenor Arms, now sadly closed down. I am grateful to Brendan Conway for his support and encouragement and wish him the best. The second show was Oxford House, Nexus, when I was invited by Keith Greenough to work alongside him and John Umney on a project celebrating Oxford House’s history. Thanks to Honor who I captured for the project and to everyone who supported me.
I continue studying, which keeps me from resting on my laurels. I was very glad to receive over 70% for the academic module I finished earlier this year as it was incredibly challenging. I absolutely loved that course, despite its difficulty – and have moved onto a new module where I continue to be challenged.
And of course, I photographed my children constantly. I’m about to put an album together recording our lives – I’ll certainly have lots and lots to choose from, as always.
Do see my website for details if you’re after photography for work or family, or follow me on Instagram to keep up with my visual sketchbook. And if you live in or visit South London, perhaps I will photograph you during 2018 at one of the community events I usually get along to – you never know! Here is a very small handful of images I took in 2017.
Happy New Year!
All images (c)SJField 2017
Taken in the Dunkirk Children’s Refugee Centre, but which has since burnt down.After the official Dunkirk camp burnt down and the Jungle was demolished, people are living in the woods across France.One of my very favourite images of actor and my good friend, Trudi Jackson, from a headshot session.Mandy who I have been working with on and off throughout 2017.A bridesmaid getting ready – the mirrors in this room made for some super shots.I was pleased to photograph the Paradise Summer Fete. This is a terrific community project that does lots and lots of wonderful work.I loved the light through the window combined with the dark walls in this home which made for some lovely family shotsBefore photographing Honor for Nexus, I spent time getting to know her and took quite a few photographs of her leaping through the air. She really works incredibly hard.Some people are just great to photograph – corporate headshotsA lovely bathroom to photograph in for this productI love capturing the hard work behind the scenes on the set of The Other Side with Valerie HopeAn inspiring new business, Strong to the Core, run by Bazz Moffat who is helping women all over South London and beyondLondon based writer Ken Wilson – from a headshot sessionAt a christeningToo cute!A special family shootAs it should be …One of my favourite landscape shotsMy oldest son can be quite strict about when I’m allowed to photograph him so thanks for this one!This lovely person is incredibly interested in photography although he sometimes insists on making some weird horrific faces – thankfully not here.Photographed intensely since birth – I’m always grateful to my youngest for his patience.Huge thanks to my very supportive mother who looks after my kids while I’m working, studying and just escaping for a few moments with my camera
For those of you in the SW18 area, or if this corner of London is easy enough to get to, do pop into one of my local pubs run by friend and businessman, Brendan Conway. Pictures from my project documenting the Grosvenor Arms’ refurbishment, along with a handful of images I took while covering events in the pub will be on display for the duration of half term and for a short time afterwards. The exhibition was part of a first year anniversary celebration held in the Grosvenor on Thursday evening; a successful evening attended by locals and supporters of the venture and the work.
Here is a short extract from the accompanying text that supports the images. The full text can be read in the pub or on the Grosvenor’s Facebook page.
“Brendan, who looks to the past when he narrates the touching memory he has about his father and the local pub, quotes social scientist, Gregory Bateson in his written work; “Stories are the royal road to the study of relationships. What is important in a story, what is true in it, is not the plot, the things or the people in the story, but the relationships in them.” (1972)
These images document social relations that are integral to here, this place and to now. They acknowledge multiple layers of past and make it welcome not only in the present, but in our imagined futures too.” (Field, 2017)
I’d like to say a very public thank you to the people who allowed me to photograph them, to Brendan Conway and his wife Rowan who have been extraordinary supporters of me and my work and to everyone in the community who have demonstrated their enthusiasm and continued backing. Following the exhibition, images will be be given to the people in the pictures.
Since I had an exceptionally early start on Saturday morning, I was only able to pop into my local pub, The Grosvenor Arms, for a short stint on Friday evening. Of course, Friday was a big night on the calendar for pub owner and landlord, Brendan Conway, and so it was great to see the place absolutely heaving downstairs, and also occupied upstairs with an event hosted by my children’s school’s PTA. I took photographs last year on Paddy’s night just before Brendan closed for refurbishment, so it was good to see how things had developed. Here are a few images from the revelling this year. You can see a short collection of images from my work documenting the pub last year here, and we do plan to exhibit the images very soon (life has been super busy for all so an earlier plan had to be delayed but we’re getting there and will let you know about it when everything has been confirmed).
I was so impressed at the Grosvenor Arms the other night. The open mike night run by It’s Ok, I’m with the Band was really fun and all the talented people who got up to join in were fantastic. A lovely way to spend a hot summer’s evening, although busy as I was taking pictures and listening, I did keep losing my shandy! Here are a few shots of some of the guests along with the band, and of course people just hanging out, listening to the music and enjoying themselves too.
Baz Moffat Strong to the Core (See some of my previous photographs for Baz here too)
Sarah Furniss Photography 