Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-03-28)

subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 28 March 2020 41

Tell us more about your
project U.N.C.L.E?
I started the project to see if
I could develop a relationship
with my estranged uncle. He
has lived abroad since I was
young and came back to
England unexpectedly four
years ago. He has always been
the black sheep of the family as
he has a tendency to be
repetitive in his nature and
have obsessions such as
rabbiting, and ferrets.
U.N.C.L.E was my
opportunity to explore whether
photography has the power to
build relationships.
Photographing over three
separate periods, I
photographed him in his
everyday environment. In the
beginning the images show a
sense of distance as we both
weren’t used to being around
each other. Over time we
began to feel more comfortable
and it became a collaborative
eff ort with him picking images
and creating his own scenes
with his ferrets. As the project

went on, we became closer.

Photographing on black &

white medium-format fi lm

allowed me to slow down the

process and concentrate on the

relationship that was building.

Fast forward to today, I no

longer have a relationship with

my uncle. But looking back at

the images, I achieved what I

set out to do – to build a

relationship from nothing.

Family dynamics change but

these images capture a

moment in time and hold

memories that I will always

remember, and hopefully

resonate with other people.

I made the project into a

book and the title was spaced

with full stops to show the

disconnect I had with the word

‘uncle’ and the disconnect of

our relationship. I was lucky

enough to be a runner-up at

the PhotoNorth Festival with a

selection of the work.

What has been the reaction

to this project?

The reaction to U.N.C.L.E has

Courtneywantedtotellthe

storythroughheruncle’s

skin,tattoosandscars

The sensitive portrayal

of Courtney’s uncle

is impressive

been quite positive. People

have told me that they can see

the relationship between us

growing throughout the

images, which makes me feel

that I have achieved what I set

out to do. Some people have

wanted to know the reason

why we don’t have a

relationship any more and

unfortunately I cannot discuss

that. But I just hope that if

there are people who are in the

same boat as I was in not

knowing how to communicate

with a lost relative, friend,

whoever, then maybe

photography can build that

bridge that connects us

and start a conversation.